How to Give Lamp Shades a Designer Look

Lamp shades that are beautiful and designed by well-known interior designers can really break the bank. A lot of people are searching for ways to conserve money on their purchases. More and more people are becoming do-it-yourself experts for the first time in their lives. Home decor is certainly one of those areas where corners can be easily cut. Instead of purchasing those high priced designer items, many of us are learning to embellish household items ourselves. One of the simplest household items to take on as a do-it-yourself project is a lamp shade. With a little bit of creativity and a few standard craft items, it is possible to turn a simple white lamp shade into something that will rival those on the shelves of today's most popular stores. Follow the steps below to decorate your own designer lamp shade.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Lamp Shade
• Non Heat Sensitive Paint
• Texture Paint (non heat sensitive)
• Paint Brushes
• Shade Covering Material
• Trims (fabric, braiding, roping, sequins, or jewels)
• Needle and Thread
• Glue (of the appropriate type for the work to be done)
• Applique
• Stencil(s)
• Stencil paint
• Beading

1. Determine where the new lamp shade will go in your home. The room's decor may have an impact on they type, color, size, and shape of lamp shade you choose as well as what you use to give it a designer look.

2. If you don't already have the lamp shade that you plan to decorate, then it is time to make a trip to the store to purchase one. Be sure to take measurements of the lamp it will top along with you to help you choose the proper size.

3. Change the color of your lamp shade if you had to settle for something other than the shade you ultimately desired. This can be done with certain types of craft paints that can handle high degrees of heat without cracking or fading. It can also be done with an overlay of fabric, plastic, or another substance that comes in the color that you want. See Step 6 below for this technique.

4. Add texture to an old or new neutral color lamp shade with one of today's textured paints in looks like faux granite, marble, cork, blackboard or anything else you choose. Just make certain that the paints chosen can withstand extra heat without cracking or changing the overall "look" of the chosen texture.

5. Hand paint a design of your choosing onto the lamp shade. You can do this free form or use transfer paper to make a pattern of your favorite design.

6. Handpleated lampshade. (Photo by author.)

   Add a fabric (or similar material) overlay. Some craft stores offer peel and stick fabrics and paper materials that make accomplishing this step very simple. All you have to do is follow the steps outlined within the instructions of the particular brand. However, because of the unusual shapes available in some of today's lamp shades, you may have to pleat, ruffle, or gather the material in order to make it fit the shade. Patterns are available to make this process as easy as possible.

7. Add beading for texture and accent. (Photo by author.)

   Decorate and add interesting texture to an old or new neutral colored shade with fabric trims, braiding, roping, sequins, jewels or whatever else you wish to use. Choose colors that will bring out shading you want to accent in a room or that will add the pizazz you are seeking.

8. Add an applique to the lamp shade. This could be a piece of embroidery or crewel work of your own, a pre-made applique that you found in a fabric or craft store, or a cut out from a fabric fabric. Adhere it with needle and thread if possible or use a glue that is appropriate to the material of which the shade and the applique are made.

9. Stencil a plain shade to set it off. (Photo by author.)

   Stencil a design onto the lampshade using any craft stencil and the right type of stenciling paint.

10. Add beading to a shade for a bit of pizazz. (Photo by author.)

    Add beading to the shade to give it a more upscale designer look. Purchase pre-made beading from fabric or craft stores or hand string your own beads to fit within your specific home decor.

Tips & Warnings

• Lamp shade "type" refers to the material of which the shade is made. Popular materials include fabric, plastic, resin materials and much more.

• Lamp shade "colors" can be somewhat limited unless you have big bucks to spend, so have a second and third color option in case you can't locate the exact shade that you want.

• Lamp shades now come in a variety of shapes but each should be chosen to match the design of the lamp it will adorn.

• You can double seal the edges of an applique with craft paints that squeeze onto the edges of the fabric and adhere it even more securely to the shade.

• Don't choose lamp shades that are too small for the lamp or the heat from the bulb may do damage to the shade.

• Be sure to choose products that are not heat sensitive.