Lamp Shade Ideas

I have a couple of floor lamps that need new shades. They are inexpensive lamps from Shopko, Kmart, etc. The floor lamps have 3-way lights. New shades cost almost as much as a new lamp would. The shade is about 9" high; the bottom diameter is about 14", and the top diameter is about 6-1/2".

I do not sew therefore that is not an option. I was thinking that maybe I could buy some inexpensive wide ribbon and wrap it from the top ring to the bottom ring around the whole frame, but I'm not sure if this would be safe with the heat of the light. Any inexpensive ideas or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Judy from WI

Answers:

Lamp Shape Ideas

I have recovered lampshades with fabric and used a glue gun to attach the material. You could use some double sided sticky Velcro. I have also painted the paper type of shade with craft paint. One of my shades, which was a plain cream color paper type, I used wallpaper cut outs on it (called Wallies) to give it a different look. I have never experienced any problem with the bulbs heating up too much, but then again, my lamps are only 60 watts or so; I wouldn't see any reason why you couldn't use some ribbon along the edges. (06/12/2007)

By Paula

Lamp Shape Ideas

I re-covered a lamp shade once with lightweight polyester fabric. Like your shades, it was smaller on the top, so I used a length of fabric the diameter of the bottom, plus an inch for lap over, and at the top, just took tucks in every 4 inches or so to make it fit. Or you could just run a gathering stitch across the top and have gathers there. Glue the vertical seam and glue your ribbon around the top and bottom edges to cover the fabric edges. There was no problem with the fabric heating up. (06/13/2007)

By Janice C.

Lamp Shape Ideas

I've seen your idea about the ribbon many times in crafting magazines so I guess it's safe as long as it doesn't come in contact with the bulb. I don't know how old you are, but when I was growing up a hundred million years ago lamp shades were made of paper or fabric, no plastic as they are today. (06/13/2007)

By joan pecsek

Lamp Shape Ideas

I like your ribbon idea, you could weave ribbon horizontally through the verticals, and stick fake flowers in the weave. Or something. Hey, if you can put your hand on the fabric inside the shade while the bulb is hot, then it's not hot enough to damage the ribbon or start a fire. (carefully, don't touch the bulb) Just think, sometimes things come out of the dryer almost too hot to touch when you stop the cycle early, and they don't get damaged, so you can let your imagination take charge. (06/13/2007)

By Kim Ch

Lamp Shape Ideas

I recovered a pair of lamp shades and I took the shade and laid it on a newspaper for a pattern, depending how big your shade is you might have to glue two together. Then I took the shade and rolled it along while tracing it on the news paper on top and bottom. After you trace it cut a one or two inch seam so you have a extra material to fold over the shade and glue in on. Round shades work the best for this.This way you don't have to take off the old shade. I used light upholstery material and some trim and they looked great. (06/13/2007)

By Jan

Lamp Shape Ideas

I have decoupaged the old shade and that really spruces it up. Also, you might want to try sponging several shades of craft paint over the old shade. Make sure you use soft, light colours or you will be disappointed with the result as my mum did many years ago. (06/14/2007)

By Lisa Austin