How to Decorate Lampshades

If you're tired of the same plain, boring lampshades, then all is not lost. Spice up basic lampshades with some everyday materials and crafts store finds. All one needs is a little imagination and know-how to brighten up the look of any room.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lampshade
• Spray adhesive
• Fabric glue
• Accessories

1. Remove the lampshade from the lamp, if not a newly purchased one. Clean it if necessary.

2. Change the entire look of the lampshade by applying fabric that matches the room's decor. Some new lampshades come with a template that can be removed from the shade and traced onto the fabric. If not, using a large piece of paper, roll your lampshade along 360 degrees to create a pattern.

3. Cut the pattern from fabric and mount to the lampshade using spray adhesive.

4. Apply fabric glue to the bottom edge of the lampshade and add a decorative trim. This can be anything from rickrack to ribbon to beaded trim.

5. Use another technique such as using a hole-punch to make holes in the lampshade from which light can seep. These holes can also be filled with stem-less artificial flowers or woven with ribbon.

6. Decorate the lampshade with personal touches, such as seashells from a beach trip or buttons from an old favorite shirt.

7. Place the lampshade back on the lamp.

Tips & Warnings

• Use different colored light bulbs to change the mood of a room.
• Using lots of seashells can make the lampshade very heavy.