How to Decorate Glass Lamp Shades

Glass lamp shades are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they may need an added design element to fit in with your room's decor. You can decorate glass lamp shades to fit any style with glass paint or embellishments such as beaded fringe and flat-backed rhinestones. Transform your plain glass lamp shade into a work of art with a few simple techniques.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Soft cloth
• Glass paint
• Artist's brushes
• Paint sponges
• Self-adhesive leading
• Measuring tape
• Jeweler's glue
• Beaded fringe
• Scissors
• Flat-backed rhinestones

Painting Glass Lamp Shades

1. Remove the lamp shade from the lamp and clean it all over with rubbing alcohol. You will not be painting the inside, but clean it anyway for optimum light.

2. Paint the lamp shade all one color or create a design with stencils or templates. Make sure that you use glass paint as it is designed to adhere to slick surfaces. Apply the paint in very light layers to avoid dripping. If you are only using one color, two coats should be sufficient. Allow the paint to dry completely between layers. If you are painting with stencils, tape the stencil to the lamp shade and swirl a very light amount of glass paint onto the design with a stencil brush.

3. Create an Arts and Crafts or Tiffany-style lamp shade with stained glass paint. Make a design outline on the surface of the lamp shade with self-adhesive leading. You can create any design you like; trace a geometric pattern or a floral theme. Apply the stained glass paint between the leading. This process can be time-consuming, but the results are worth it.

Embellishing Glass Lamp Shades

4. Remove the shade and clean it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol removes fingerprints and allows paint and glue to adhere better.

5. Measure the circumference of the base of the lamp shade. Cut a section of beaded fringe to fit the measurement. You can find beaded fringe at craft, fabric and discount stores. Glue the fringe to the base of the lamp shade with jeweler's glue. Let the glue dry. Consider adding fringe around the top of the lamp shade as an added design feature.

6. Glue flat-backed rhinestones onto the face of your glass lamp shade with jeweler's glue. Look for flat-backed rhinestones at craft and discount stores as well as online retailers. You can create vertical or horizontal lines with the rhinestones, or you can randomly place them around the perimeter of the shade. You could also make a bold statement by decorating the entire surface of the glass lamp shade with the rhinestones.

References

• About Jeweler's Glue

Resources

• Painting with Stained Glass Paint
• How to Paint with Stencils