How to Make a Floor Lamp Shade
You might have a dingy looking floor lamp collecting dust in the attic or one in your living room that needs a makeover. Whatever the case, making a floor lamp shade is easy to accomplish. Here's how to make a floor lamp shade:
Things You'll Need
- inexpensive floor lamp shade (new or used)
- fabric of your choice
- trim for the top and bottom edges of the lamp shade
- spray adhesive
- hot glue gun
- pencil
- scissors
- measuring tape
- beads, crystals, rhinestones, gems, stones etc for the rim (optional)
Instructions
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1
Find the floor lamp shade. Get one from around the house or go to your local home improvement or lighting store and buy an inexpensive unfinished one to use in this project.
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2
Measure the floor lamp shade by laying it on its side and rolling it around on the fabric. Trace the outline as you go. Use the existing seam on the lamp shade as a start and end point.
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3
Cut the fabric to the dimensions of the floor lamp shade, leaving 1 inch of overlap at the top and bottom and 1 inch of overlap past the seam.
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4
Evenly apply the spray glue to the back of the fabric and carefully roll the lamp shade onto the fabric (place the fabric flat on the table, adhesive side up, then roll the lamp shade onto it, pressing firmly as you roll). Make sure there are no pockets of air or wrinkles as you roll it.
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5
Once you get to the end of the fabric, fold over .5 inches on the end to conceal any unfinished edges, then hot glue it overtop the starting point. Once you have the fabric around the entire floor lamp shade, hold it in place for a few minutes to ensure a good seal.
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6
Apply the spray glue on the top and bottom overhang fabric and fold it over the inside rim of the floor lamp shade. Hold it in place to ensure a good seal on both ends.
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Add the top and bottom trim pieces with a hot glue gun to complete the new look of the floor lamp shade.
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Let it dry for 3-5 hours, then install the lamp shade on your floor lamp.
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Be sure to check out the Resource links listed below for more fun projects.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also use beads, crystals, rhinestones, gems, stones, etc to embellish the trim of your lamp shade. Hanging them from the bottom rim of the lamp shade is an option too.
Another way to embellish a design on a lamp shade is to cut designs out of rice paper and spray glue them to the inside of the floor lamp shade. When the light is turned on, you can see the pattern shining through.
Vinyl designs with adhesive on the back (letters, patterns, shapes) can also be applied to the outside of floor lamp shades to help create a new look.
Make sure you unplug the lamp if you apply the fabric to the floor lamp shade while it's still attached to the lamp (not recommended).
Resources
- Photo Credit stock.xchng: microboy, elmers.com, fatorangecat.wordpress.com
