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You are here: Home / Best Of / How to make a lampshade with your favorite fabric

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How to make a lampshade with your favorite fabric

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This post was sponsored by I Like That Lamp.  This project and all opinions are my own.  This post also contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase using those links, I may receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you.  See my full disclosure here.

Thrift stores and yard sales are my favorite place to find really awesome lamps. New lamps are crazy expensive but you can find really beautiful and unique lamps secondhand for super cheap. The problem is they usually have either ugly, outdated shades or no lampshades at all.  That doesn’t sound  like such a big problem but it can turn into a huge headache.

A couple of years ago I found a gorgeous pair of turquoise lamps at a thrift store.  I was so excited because not only were they beautiful, but finding a matching pair is a total score!  Of course, they had no shades, but I figured I’d pick up a pair of new lampshades at Target and problem solved.  Except problem not solved.  All the cute drum shades I found at Target and my other usual spots were the wrong size.  It took me over a year to find a pair of lampshades that would work with my beautiful vintage lamps.

Well a few weeks ago, I found another fabulous pair of vintage lamps at a local thrift store.  Of course there were no shades, but they were tall and curvy and beautiful.  And only $7 for the pair!  So it seemed like the perfect time to learn how to make a lampshade.

thrifted lamps without shades

I wasn’t totally sure how it was going to turn out.  I’ve tried to make my own DIY lampshade once in the past and it didn’t turn out so great.  It looked good from a distance but up close, it was kind of a mess.  But I wanted to give making a lampshade another try and this time I had two huge advantages – I was using real lampshade parts and I had great instructions to follow.  So yeah, it’s probably no surprise that it turned out 1000 times better.  This time around my DIY lampshades look exactly the way I pictured them.

How to make a lampshade for any lamp. Making professional looking diy lampshades is much easier than you would think. Step by step tutorial.

 

Materials for making a DIY lampshade

materials for making a diy lampshade

*If you buy any of the lamp making supplies from I Like That Lamp using these Amazon links, save 10% with code RQQYZBC5*

Adhesive styrene sheet for making lampshades

Rotary cutter and cutting mat or scissors for cutting fabric

lamp glue and small binder clips

small paintbrush

set of wire lampshade rings

lamp harp set (if your lamp doesn’t already have one)

fabric of your choice  (I used Premier Prints Manchester fabric in french gray.  The 10% discount does not apply to this item.)

measuring tape

 

How to make a lampshade

Before you start making your lampshade or even order your supplies, you need to measure your lamp to figure out the correct size (both height and diameter).  It may seem like a small detail, but the right size lampshade makes a huge difference to the look of the finished lamp.  I Like That Lamp has a really good guide to figuring out what size lampshade you need right here. 

I followed this video tutorial from I Like That Lamp when putting together my lampshades and it was really helpful.  But if you prefer written directions and tips, read on!

Before you begin, you need to iron your fabric.  (I hate ironing and never iron my clothes, but I did iron my lampshade fabric because nobody wants a wrinkly lampshade.)

You may need to trim the length of your styrene sheet before you begin.  (Styrene is the stiff material that gives the lampshade its shape.)  Just follow the size guide linked above to figure out how big it needs to be.

 

Lay your fabric out on a flat surface and stick the styrene sheet to it. One side of the styrene is sticky so you simply peel the protective layer off the styrene slowly while unrolling it and sticking it onto the fabric.  adding fabric to lampshade

Trim the fabric so that there is a half inch border of fabric above and below the styrene.  Also leave a half inch border on one of the short ends but cut the other short end of the fabric flush with the styrene.  Fold the extra fabric from the short end over the styrene and glue it there with lamp glue.

Fold the fabric/styrene into a loop and use a binder clip to secure it together.  The short end with the fabric border should be on top.

fold lampshade fabric into loop

Set the lampshade up.  Slide the ring with the washer into the lampshade.  You might need to adjust the size of your lampshade so that it fits snugly around the ring and hold it in place using binder clips.

making a diy lampshade

 

adding ring to lampshade

 

Add glue to the excess fabric around the top of the shade in small sections.  Use a small paintbrush to spread the glue to cover the fabric as well as the metal of the ring.

gluing lampshade

The glue will become tacky after a few seconds and then you can fold it over the ring.  Use the binder clips to help hold it in place while you move on to the next section.

top of lampshade after gluing fabric

Flip over the shade and repeat the same process on the bottom using the plain wire ring.

Finally add a little glue to the seam going up the side of the lampshade.

finished diy lampshade

The whole process took about an hour for my first lampshade.  Once I knew what I was doing, the second went a bit faster.

Then they are ready to attach.  If all you needed was a lampshade then you’re set.  I also added a lamp harp set to each of my lamps to support the new lampshades.

adding harp to lamp

Here’s the finished product!  I am so happy that I learned how to make my own lampshades.  Now I have a pair of completely custom lampshades and my $7 lamps look like a million bucks.  Originally I was planning to paint the lamps themselves but once the new shades were on, they really didn’t need any other updates.

how to make drum lampshades

 

diy lampshade drum shade

These lamps came at the perfect time since I stole the lamps that were in here for my $100 family room makeover this fall.  This pair is perfect in here.

lamps with diy lampshades in living room

 

vintage modern living room with diy lampshades

Ok, so who else has been hoarding old lamps waiting for that perfect lampshade to come along?  Clear out the hoard and create the perfect custom lampshade!

And don’t forget, I’ve got a great coupon to help you along in your lampshade making.  When you buy any of the lampshade parts linked in the materials list above on Amazon, use coupon code RQQYZBC5 to get 10% off.  Woo-hoo!

Have a fantastic week!

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10 Comments

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Comments

  1. Coni says

    January 18, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    I have serious lamp shade issues at my house! Long story! But my lamp shades are smaller at the top and larger at the bottom. How do I do that?

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      February 5, 2018 at 1:43 pm

      I have always had lampshade issues too! I think it’s because I love to find cool thrifted lamps and the shades are never very nice. You could always switch to a drum shade style where the top and bottom are the same size. But if you don’t want to change the style, it looks like I Like That Lamp only sells the rings in sets of two of the same size. Possibly you could buy different sizes somewhere else. If it was me, I would be tempted to dismantle the shades I have and reuse the rings, although that make it difficult to use a straight piece of styrene/fabric.

      Reply
  2. Jane says

    January 19, 2018 at 4:14 pm

    Like you, I had no idea there were lamp-making kits. Thanks for the tip. Yours turned out beautifully.

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      February 5, 2018 at 1:44 pm

      Thanks so much Jane! I seriously want to make new lampshades for every lamp in my house now – but I’m trying to show some self-control!

      Reply
  3. Tina says

    August 18, 2018 at 9:21 pm

    Gorgeous ~gorgeous ~gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! ❤

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      August 20, 2018 at 4:59 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  4. Maidy says

    November 12, 2018 at 10:26 am

    Lovely. I will start on mine 2morrow. Guess it will take me much longer!
    Can i just use a glue gun for it, instead of lamp glue?
    Greetz from Belgium

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      November 28, 2018 at 2:23 pm

      Hi Maidy, I don’t know why but I have always struggled with glue guns – half the time I just end up with a big lumpy pile of glue! But any glue that works on fabric should work fine.

      Reply
  5. Caden Dahl says

    January 30, 2019 at 8:08 pm

    The lampshades that I have are a bit bland and old. I’m looking at going with some new ones here soon. I’ll probably see about attempting to make some first before I decide if I want to buy some.

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      February 14, 2019 at 9:50 am

      Making your own really is easy and worth looking into!

      Reply

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Thanks for stopping by Lovely Etc! While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the information displayed on this website, Lovely Etc. makes no guarantees as to the procedures and information contained here. The publisher will not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages in connection with the information displayed on lovelyetc.com. This website is not intended to substitute for advice from a professional. I work hard to be honest and upfront in all of my posts here at Lovely Etc., including sponsored content. Lovely Etc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
 
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