How to Cover a Fabric Lamp Shade

Cover a fabric lamp shade to give it a new look.

Covering a fabric lamp shade is one of the easiest ways to repair a worn lampshade and give a new look to a room inexpensively. Also, covering a lampshade does not have to be a complicated or detailed process. Just take your time and soon your lamp will have a whole new look.

Things You'll Need

• Smooth plain lamp shade
• Plastic to cover work area
• Large sheet of paper
• Scissors
• Ruler or tape measure
• Spray adhesive
• Glue
• Pins
• Pencil
• Clips or clothespins
• Lightweight fabric
• Decorative trim (optional)

Instructions

1. Find a large piece of paper, newspaper, butcher paper or wrapping paper and lay it on a large table or floor. Make sure the paper is large enough to cover the whole shade -- you will be tracing around it.

2. Place the shade on the paper and trace around the top and bottom edge using a pencil starting at the seam.

3. Cut out the pattern you made, but do not cut along the edge. You will need extra fabric to cover the edge of the shade. Make sure you cut 1 inch above the drawn template line on the top and bottom and 1 inch on one seam side only. Take your time and cut out your template neatly because you will need it later.

4. Determine how much fabric you will need to cover your fabric lampshade. To do this, measure the longest edge -- the bottom of the shade -- and the height.

5. Place the fabric face down on a clean surface and place the template over it. Gently pin the template to the fabric making sure you use enough pins to hold it in place. Carefully cut out the fabric for your lampshade.

6. Remove the template from the fabric. Cover the table or floor area you are working on to protect it from the spray adhesive. Place the fabric wrong side down, on the covering. Carefully spray on adhesive. Make sure it is applied in a light, even layer.

7. Align the seam of the lampshade with the seam of the fabric. Gently place the lampshade on the fabric leaving the 1-inch seam on the top and bottom of the shade. Stretch and smooth the fabric until the whole shade is covered.

8. Fold the opposite seam edge to hide the raw fabric edge once you have covered the shade completely. Trim excess if needed.

9. Fold the edges of the fabric carefully over the top and bottom edges of the lampshade. Use clips or clothespins as needed to hold the edges in place until the adhesive dries.

10. Carefully fold the edges of the fabric over the top and bottom edges of the lampshade. Use clips or clothespins as needed to hold the edges in place until the adhesive dries.

11. Trim the top and bottom edges with beads or lace, if desired. Wait until all adhesive and trim is dry and firmly attached before using.

References

• CraftStylish: How to Restore a Lamp Shade