Is it adviseable to try and spraypaint a dingy lamp shade ?
+7
I have some discolored lampshades that I would like to paint white. they seem to be in good condition but have been in a home where there were smokers and are now discolored a dingy yellow color. I have tried dusting them but they would look better if I could get the dingy color out.. Help!!!!!!
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Try a fabric paint if the shade is fabric-
Not sure if they are nicotine coated they will take the paint. I would wash them. Get a deep sink or bucket full of warm water and add some Awesome Orange from the Dollar Tree, dunk them a few times, change the water and dunk again. If they need support while they dry, crumple up newspaper in a plastic kitchen bag and set in the sun to dry.
100% yes! There are a lot of great ideas out there on Hometalk and other sites.
if you use LED bulbs...
that depend on the material of the lamp shade???
You can find fabric paint that will breath better than a typical spray paint. I'd use a low-heat bulb, like compressed florescent or LED. Another thing to consider..paint is opaque. You might want to use a stain in sizing instead of "paint." ,You will want the lamp to glow, not cast shadows.
Talk to someone at a fabric store. If you are really adventurous, you could try to take off the old cover and recover it. I've never tried that, but it could be fun.
I might buy new lampshades if the previous owner was a smoker and you aren't.
You can spray paint just about any kind of lampshade (fabric, metal, plastic, wood, paper etc.) with light coats. I know that KILZ and Zinsser stain primers cover nicotine, and there are spray versions.
Once they are dry and cured, there should not be a problem with heat. If you are concerned use a lower wattage CFL or LED bulb.
Be careful if you wash them, I ruined some with water.
I have dyed some, with so/so success (the colour was very light). If they're washable, maybe you can dip them in water with OxiClean or powdered Resolve.
If you are thinking of possibly changing them anyway, it is worth the risk.
I just found these links.
I can't see the MS video, hopefully you can!
http://www.marthastewart.com/911978/how-paint-lampshade
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/change-color-lamp-shades-56737.html
It depends upon what the lampshade is made of. If it's painted, you will not get any light through the shade, only from the top and bottom. Good material shades have a certain glow about them with the light shining through the shade.