Lamp Shade Ideas

By

rforbes

I love it! I did mine and used a glue gun to glue and you were so right about it showing. I was able to remove it but I never thought about the blow dryer. I used an iron. I will do the spray this time. I wish you lived near me. Looks like you did a great job!

By

sigma28

I recovered a vintage shade just last weekend. Drum shades (perfect cylinders with no slope on the sides) are the easiest to do. First, remove any trim from the top or bottom edge and take off any existing fabric if possible. Then, measure around your shade and add an extra inch to this measurement (for folding over the extra and creating a "finished" edge).

Measure your shade top to bottom, and add an inch to this measurement also (so you'll have enough to fold over and glue inside the shade top and bottom). If this is the first time you've ever recovered a shade, choose a fabric that doesn't have a pattern like stripes or a plaid, because it will be tricky to match. Iron your fabric well and spray the WRONG side with spray adhesive. If you use hot glue all over the shade instead, it could show through once the lamp is on.

Line the edge of the fabric up with the edge of the seam on your lamp, and carefully roll on top of the fabric, making sure you have equal amounts of fabric top and bottom of the shade for later. Stretch and press the fabric firmly against the shade to encourage it to stick well. A blow-dryer can be used to reheat the spray adhesive if you fear it's not sticking tightly enough to the shade after it's applied.

When you finish, take the extra inch of fabric and fold it over at the seam to hide the raw edge, and hot glue it down. Then, fold the extra fabric inside at the top and bottom of the shade and use the hot glue gun to secure it. You may need an x-acto knife to trim it evenly later if the edge isn't even. You may decorate your edges with ribbon, fringe, beads, you name it! You can also stencil on designs, decorate with silk flowers, tassels, or whatever. Here's my rummage sale lamp with its $1 Goodwill shade, wearing a new cover of broadcloth and grosgrain ribbon. Enjoy!

By

rforbes

Thanks for the advice again. I'm glad I didn't start yet. I am so excited with the new ideas coming in.

By

clynnaltemus

If you still have the old shades, buy fabric and cut panels the same size as the old ones, and using a glue gun, glue the panels to the frame. You can use old curtain from a thrift shop. Then use grograin ribbon or tape to glue at the edges.

By

alexsma

Here's something you might like to try. http://simplyspray.com/

Also, hit the fabric/craft stores for all sorts of trims (fringe, braids, etc). Can do this for almost nothing. All's you'll need after the spray is a hot glue gun for your trim.

Hope you can post before/after pics. HTHs
Theresa :)

By

rforbes

Thanks so much for the advice. With all the great ideas, I can't wait to get started. Thank You All!

By

fatboyslimsmom

I think some burlap would like nice, it would look rustic with the glass and wrought iron, and then you could trim it out with some ribbon to match or coordinate with the color of the glass or the decor. You could whip stitch the burlap onto the existing shade frame, then glue the ribbon or trim on to cover the stitching. My mother had an old set of lamps like that---the glass was orange colored, and she trimmed the burlap in some avocado velvet ribbon. It went along with the 1970's Spanish style she was looking for!

I have a couple of floor lamps that need new shades. They are inexpensive lamps from Shopko, Kmart, etc. The floor lamps have 3-way lights. New shades cost almost as much as a new lamp would.