
On of the simplest and relatively inexpensive ways to change the look of a room is by recovering a lamp shade. There are several methods of recovering a lampshade. Here is the easiest way to do it. First gather some material that you want to use on the shade, scissors, a hot glue gun, braided gimp to coordinate with the fabric and a self adhesive lampshade. Then simply follow these instructions….
I purchased a lampshade with a self adhesive surface. Most lighting stores will carry these. I find mine online at Fogg Lighting. It will have a paper pattern covering the adhesive surface. You simply remove the pattern, trace it on a piece of fabric, cut the fabric out and apply to the sticky side of the lampshade. When the fabric is applied completely, you trim the top and bottom excess fabric off. Then you apply braided gimp with a hot glue gun to the side seam and the top and bottom of the shade to cover the raw edges of the fabric.

Now you have a “decorator shade” that is custom made for your decorating style. It only takes about a half hour to do too! Click on the pictures to enlarge for detail. Do you have lamps that need updating? Give this a try!
1. Great idea, Penny!
~elaine~
by Elaine L. 2/7/09 at 4:10 pm #
2. Penny, this is a perfect way to transform an exisiting lamp shade. I love, love, love lamps..so I’ll be trying this soon. I love your lamp here.. thanks for sharing.. hugs ~lynne~
by lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) 2/7/09 at 8:20 pm #
3. Very clever idea! I need to change the lampshades in the condo but I had planned on buying new ones. I may need to experiment with this technique! Very nice!
by Lavender Dreamer 2/7/09 at 9:54 pm #
4. You made it sounds so easy, Penny but it will probably take me hours to complete it.
I have plans to re-cover an old lamp shade, now, that project will probably take me days to complete. ;P
Love all your creations!
by Nance 2/8/09 at 9:11 am #
5. Hi Penny,
Thank you for sharing your tips on recovering a lampshade. What a great way to get exactly what you want at the same time saving money.
I am going to give it a try.
Erin
by Erin 2/8/09 at 5:17 pm #
6. Hi Penny
That is such a pretty lamp! I love the little bird’s eggs and nest detail in it and the new shade complements the ceramic picture and color so well. Gorgeous!
Hugs, Pat
by Pat 2/8/09 at 9:15 pm #
7. LOVE it penny! Thanks for the how-to! xo chris
by chris 2/9/09 at 11:30 pm #
8. Thanks so much for showing us how to do this…xo bj
by bj 2/10/09 at 6:20 pm #
9. Girl I have never had anything explained so simple and easy….I have some old lamp shades in the shed…I will have to give this a try….thanks for the lesson girl!
by Picket 2/11/09 at 12:14 am #
10. Thanks Penny! I had no idea about adhesive lampshades! That would make it so much easier! Thanks for the tips!
~Alice W.
by Alice W. 2/11/09 at 12:27 pm #
11. Penny, I would LOVE to do something like that. What a nice idea. I am short on patience but I think this is doable. (so…have you thought it over? I mean about my coming to live in your lovely home?
I’m teasing you!
by Mona 2/12/09 at 7:08 pm #
12. I have never come across lampshades with a sticky surface, perhaps they haven,t come acrss the pond yet
by Kathleen 3/1/09 at 12:50 pm #