How to cover a lampshade with a simple method and using a glue gun. Cut fabric, fold and glue and before you know it, you’ll have a new lampshade
How to Cover A Lampshade
So, I’ve done a lampshade covering tutorial before, but thought I’d throw it in here again, with my newest project underway. You’ve seen the yardsale lamps I found for the guestroom redo & I spied some fabric that I really wanted to use on these lamps, so that meant recovering my own. That also meant I sure didn’t want to pay much for lampshades that I was just going to recover. So, back to the junk store that I told you about last year..where I found 2 of these beauties for $1 each…just right for this budget. You can see they were in sad shape, but the price was right. The fabric on there was literally falling apart, so I went ahead and ripped it off.
And ended up with just the metal frame. Now, I’ve never covered a lamp with just the metal frame before, but I figured I’d wing it. Since my new fabric needed something to stick to, I pulled out some old white lining fabric I had laying around.
And pieced it together, hot gluing it at the top and bottom of the framing, overlapping it as I went around. I pulled it as tight as I could to get a taut framework for my new fabric.
I snipped off the extra fabric and turned it just under the top and bottom of the frame, pulling and gluing, pulling and gluing (man, does that hot glue hurt!).
It looked like this when I was finished. Nothing pretty about it, but it’s not going to stay like this.
Found this pretty zebra fabric at Hobby Lobby (30% off this week) and picked up 2 yards. Enough to recover the lampshades AND to cover that pretty little Big Lots bench too. I showed you how to make a pattern for your shade before, but here’s a refresher. This is just old wrapping paper that came out of a shopping bag that is pieced together. Lay your shade on it and pencil around the top & bottom (leaving about 1″ above and below) as you roll the shade across it, meeting at the back. This gives you a pattern to follow when you’re cutting out the fabric. I cut out 2 pieces for my shades. I wing things a lot and didn’t even pin this down, just held with one hand and cut with the other. I take shortcuts like that. Did I tell you I’m not a perfectionist. Well, I’m not. 
I missed a couple of pics, but next step is to spray the outside of the shade (on top of my white fabric) with spray adhesive. This stuff works great on a project like this. It keeps that fabric smooth and will help it lay down correctly. So above, I’ve already sprayed with adhesive spray and have started to smooth out the fabric. This part takes a little time, but you can pull the fabric back up and keep working with it until you smooth out the wrinkles. Work your way around until both pieces meet on the back of the shade.
Then you’ll want to turn under one side and glue it down. I also take the iron and run over that seam to help it stay down. I used my glue gun to then pull and turn under the top and bottom edges just like the white fabric that I put on first. Pull and glue until you get it all tucked under the inside of the shade. You’ll have to trim it again with scissors. Doesn’t matter how neat the inside is anyway, that won’t be seen. I used a little fabric glue on the main seam but the glue gun would be fine too. I then added some simple ribbon from Hobby Lobby around the top and bottom of the shades with fabric glue and here it is….
Two finished lamps for the guestroom redo. Total cost: $38 for both lamps. I’d say that’s pretty cost effective, wouldn’t you?
And they are custom lamps, one of a kind…even better! So don’t throw out those old lampshades. Look at them in a whole new light…get it?!
What a beautiful redo on the shades. I love the fabric, so chic. You made it look easy, which I am sure it is not. I would hot glue myself to the shade. ha ha But I just love them great job!!.
Hugs;
Alaura
This was a brilliant post. I am honored to place you in my “kindred spirits” section.
Tres adorable! I love that fabric! And this post is very timely. I just broke a cheap plastic shade on a curb-shopped lamp. Thanks ever so for the hints
Thank you so much for giving directions on how to do this Rhoda! I really want to try it, but I’ve been a bit chicken, so now I think I can 😉
Hugs,
rue
Nice Job Rhoda. Not afraid of any old naked lampshade are you??? You did a fabulous job and I love the print. Thanks for sharing again how to take something that someone might deem useless and making it beautiful.
Blessings,
Linda
How awesome! I just never would have thought of this. And I’m so glad you gave instructions so I could try it. Now I just need to run across some lampshades at the thrift store. 🙂
Rhoda! These lamps look fantastic! I’ve thrown so many yucky lampshades away never realizing I could recover them. You’re the best!!
be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
That is wildly creative! I am so inspired by your know how. I have a lampshade I stripped down to the frame also, but I had my grandma make me a slipcover shade out of an old linen monogrammed pillowcase… turned out cute!
-Kari
I love the lamp re-do! Looks so fabulous for so little money! Way to go!! 🙂
Blessings,
Stacey
You did it! Those lamps turned out so good, thanks for teaching us how to cover lampshade.
Blessings-
I love it! This is the first time I have been to your site but I’ll be back for sure.
Great site!
Dora Renee’ Wilkerson
Beautiful lamps!! I think the fabric for the shade is perfect. I can’t wait to see the Big Lots bench when you are done.
Good job, Rho! 🙂
Well, look at you!! Crafty goodness.
I think you need to pick up a cool temp glue gun at your next Hobby Lobby outing. 🙂 I still think I think I’ve still not quite regained full sensation in my finger tips from years of glue gun abuse!
Wow, that is beautiful! I really love the fabric — it is so you!
xoxo,
Mary
Woowee. Looks amazing. I would never be able to do that!
~Stacy
So THAT’S how it’s done!!! Awesome. I so enjoyed watching you do that—so you want to do two for me, too? 🙂
Good news about your g.sale and meeting blogger buddies!!! We don’t eat out much–because the cost just kills me and because both of us try really hard to watch our sodium intake–it’s really hard to do that when you eat out! BUT I do love to once in awhile. We eat very healthy (most of the time), so I am used to cooking a lot. I will say, it is not cheap cooking healthy–especially if you are watching carbs and fat and sodium.
Basically, it was so much more fun to cook when I could make lots of creamy, pasta-filled casseroles!!! But, oh how I enjoy one once in awhile!!
Dana
Years back you could find lamp shade frames in craft and fabric stores and now your lucky if you do. So the idea of reusing old lamb shades makes the best since. I have searched for months to find the right color and styles for my lamps.
Thanks for showing us your recycled shade.
Ciao
JUST AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
M ^..^
I would not have thought to do that myself. I’m impressed. You actually made it look like even I could have done this.
Wonderful job.