Ideas for Fixing Up Lampshades?

Suzanne

May 31, 20050 found this helpful

You can definitely recover them. I've used a hot glue gun to do it before and just make sure that no material will be anywhere near the bulb. You should be fine! I've also found that putting some sort of decorative cording around the edge helps to make a more "finished" look and hide some of the seams. Good Luck!!

Use fabric a little longer and wider than shade. Hem both top and bottom making hem wide enough to put elastic thru. Presto you have a new covering for an old lampshade.

Carol

June 1, 20050 found this helpful

I saw a real cute way to decorate lamp shades on HGTV - hot glue silk flowers all over the shade until completely full then attach some cord with hot glue around the bottom of the shade. Use your imagination - There are endless possiblities. Use the hot glue gun to put a favorite fabric on. Add beads, crystals- buttons - for a kids room you could hot glue those famous magnet alaphabet letters. P.S. when doing the silk flowers you might want to mildly cover the shade with fake moss - sold at any craft store with your hot glue gun first.

I haven't had great luck painting lampshades- when the light is on the paint looks uneven and yucky. I have used my trusty glue gun to add ribbon, seam tape, and beaded fringe to the edges to make a plain lampshade a little more interesting. You might try gluing on wallpaper (I buy full or partial rolls at the thrift store for a dollar or two) or try contact paper. If you cover with fabric, you will probably need to add something on the edges to cover any fraying.

I've successfully painted a lampshade. I had a lamp with a white fabric shade that didn't work with the new decor in my office. So I found a shade of inexpensive acrylic paint from the craft store that I liked. I watered it down (about 1/2 water, 1/2 paint) and mixed it really well. Then I used a sponge applicator brush and lightly brushed it on the shade.

jeanette anderson

September 12, 20070 found this helpful

these are great ideas i have all the materials to recover my daughters shade except the bottom rim (circle looking thing)is missing can i get by without the ring i would like to glue fringe or something around the bottom can i make a ring and attach it

AS for the person who states that painting her lampshade by diluting the paint with equal amounts of water, and painting the shade twice, that is the technique that I was going to do however; after reading about the person who painted her shade and it turned out "yucky" due to visual strokes of paint..... did she dilute the paint or just used full strength. so to speak?

Thanks