Upcycle Your Old Lampshade: Easy DIY Fabric Refresh

Want to transform your old lamp with a budget-friendly and stylish DIY fabric lampshade? Learn how to upcycle your old shade and give it a fresh new look. This no-sew fabric project is perfect for beginners and can be completed in no time, giving your lampshade (and your home) a whole new look.

I’ve never been happy with one of my lampshades. As luck would have it, I recently came across an old lampshade at the thrift store that would be perfect in size, but it needed a little updating. I decided on this quick and easy lampshade makeover DIY project to give it a new lease on life. The results were amazing, and I’m sharing my experience with you!

So get inspired, and let’s start creating!”

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Why Are Pleated and Fabric Lampshades So Popular Now?

Have you noticed that all your major retailers are selling pleated fabric lampshades? Ballards, Anthropologie, and Pottery Barn all have colorful lampshade options. So why are they so popular now?

Country, Vintage, Cottagecore and Cozy Trends

First, there’s been a growing interest in traditional and vintage aesthetics, which often incorporate fabric lampshades. They add a warm, cozy atmosphere to any room. Cozy trends are popular with people seeking to create more relaxing and inviting homes, and fabric lampshades contribute to this trend. They absorb sound, reduce noise, and filter harsh light for a more relaxing environment.

Versatile, Sustainable, Decorating

They come in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures, making them suitable for various interior styles. As sustainability becomes increasingly important, fabric lampshades can be a more eco-friendly option compared to some synthetic materials. As you will see today, you can easily upcycle lampshades for a cottagecore trend.

In conclusion, fabric and pleated lampshades offer a curated, cozy aesthetic for any style home. For a budget-friendly approach, consider making your own upcycle lampshade project, and I’ll show you how.

How To Upcycle Thrifted Lampshade Or Your Old Lampshade

Upcycle lampshades from thrift stores or one of your old ones is an easy project. You may have a lamp that the shade is the right size but you’d like to update it. If not, search around at thrift stores. I found my shade for only $2.87 and it’s the perfect size.

You will first need to measure the height to determine the amount of fabric needed to cover it. I needed 1 1/4 yards of 45-inch wide fabric. I’ll explain how I cut my fabric later. Once you have your fabric, you are ready to deconstruct the lampshade if needed.

The thrift store lampshade I purchased has heavy welting along the top and bottom and strips that run vertically around the shade. I removed all of these pieces, which were easy to pull off. If the glue is difficult to remove, you can use scissors to cut the welting from the frame.

How To Cut The Fabric For Pleats

I decided to make a pleated fabric lampshade, and here is how I cut the fabric to cover the thrifted shade.

First, I cut the fabric into three sections: 14 inches long and 2 inches wide. 14 inches allows more than enough room to play with as you go around the lampshade. In fact, I would probably only cut my fabric 1 inch longer than the height of the shade on any future projects. You can also cut the 2-inch strips wider if you have a larger barrel shade or want fewer pleats.

Next, use a hot iron to press under one side of the fabric strips. I folded under about 1/2 inch. Press all the fabric before beginning to attach it to the lampshade makeover DIY.

How To Attach Fabric To The DIY Fabric Lampshade

To begin attaching the fabric strips to the lampshade, find the most prominent seam on the back of the shade. Use the seam as your guide to hang the first strip straight.

Apply hot glue to the top edge of the upcycled lampshade and press the fabric until it is secure. Be sure to overlap the fabric with the pressed sides going in the same direction. The next strip of fabric will hide the raw seam. Keep the top of each strip at the upper edge of the shade.

If your lampshade is wider at the bottom like mine, you will need to overlap at the top more than at the bottom to keep the pleats running vertically and straight. Do not secure the bottom of each pleat until you have completely surrounded the top portion. This will allow you to adjust if needed. When you reach the end, gently lift the first pleat and tuck the last pleat underneath, securing it with hot glue.

Once the entire lampshade is covered, you are ready to attach the bottom of the fabric to the shade. Begin at the seam where you started originally. Add glue at the bottom of the shade rim and pull the fabric pleat tight to secure. Continue around the bottom of the shade, ensuring that each pleat is smooth and straight as you go.

Once you have completely covered and secured the DIY fabric lampshade, turn it over and cut away the excess. Use sharp scissors and cut as close to the bottom rim as possible.

How To Make Finish Trim For Lampshade

You are ready to finish the lampshade makeover DIY with the trim fabric. I used the same fabric to make bias tape. I used the largest tape maker and cut the fabric 2 inches wide. To create the bias tape, insert the fabric on the wrong side up into the tape maker and pull the fabric through. Then, with a hot iron, press the fabric as you go. Once you have enough to cover your lampshade’s bottom and top rim, fold and press again. You should not see any raw edges.

Now, attach the bias tape to cover the raw edges of the pleated lampshade. Add hot glue to the very top of the shade and attach it with the folded edges of the bias tape facing upward. Allow enough to cover the beginning of the tape, fold under the raw edge, and secure with hot glue.

Finally, repeat the process at the bottom with the folded edge facing downward this time. Now you have a neat, covered shade.

DIY Fabric Lampshade

How do you like the finished DIY Fabric lampshade? This shade is more appropriate for the lamp base.

The lampshade makeover DIY project was very budget-friendly and only took a few hours to complete. I am using the upcycled lampshade on this previous thrift store lamp makeover.

The DIY fabric lampshade adds a warm and cozy feeling to the bedroom. I’m looking forward to changing the bedding give the entire room an update.

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• Old Lamp Easy Makeover
• Hobnail Style Thrifted Lamp Makeover

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