How to Design Beaded Lampshades

You can design a lampshade to coordinate with any room in the home.

Decorative beaded lampshades are a stylish addition to any home or office. The lampshade should reflect your personal style and add to your environment. Similar products are available in many home goods stores, but with a pretty high price tag. These same shades can be made at home for a fraction of the cost. The advantage of creating these at home is the ability to change and rearrange the designs whenever desired.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Examples for ideas (Internet or home goods store)

Instructions

1. Look at some completed examples online or in stores for ideas of what you could do with your shade. The possibilities are endless when you factor in the different material and bead combinations available. You also need to decide what you would like to do with your beads on the lampshade. Beads can be used on the top and bottom edges of the shade as beaded fringe or used to add depth and texture to fabric that will be attached.

2. Pick the shade that you would like to use. Lampshades come in many shapes and sizes. If you have a lamp but do not like the shade, you can simply select another one that better suits your style.

3. Choose the fabric you would like to use if you want to change the color or texture of the lampshade. Fabric is not required, but it can hide some minor imperfections of an older shade as well as hide the ribbon of any beaded fringe you add to your shade.

4. Browse the bead department at your local craft store or your own bead collection for beads that complement your chosen fabric and decor. Some things to keep in mind when choosing beaded fringe are how low it hangs and how the beads reflect the light. If you have a particular bead in mind, you can create a lampshade design around that bead.

5. Sketch your design on paper to discover any changes you would like to make before starting the lampshade. You can color your diagram with the colors you intend on using or even keep a swatch of fabric and some beads with the sketch to visualize your design.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose beads that have facets over beads that don't. These will reflect the light and add more sparkle than regular round beads.

• Consider adding beads to the fabric on the lampshade to create even more visual interest.

References

• DecoratingStudio: Adding Beaded Fringe to a Lampshade
• HGTV: Create Lovely Lampshades

Resources

• HHGTV: How to Design a Fabric Lampshade
• HGTV: Embellished Lampshade