How to Make a DIY Lamp Shade

by Audrey Kuether

10 Materials

$15

1 Hour

Medium

Have you ever wanted to make your own unique DIY lamp shade? I’ll show you how I made mine with I Like That Lamp and Versa Chalk markers!

Gather your supplies

Wire Lamp Shade Rings

Lamp Finial

Glue Kit

10” Harp Set (optional)

Adhesive Styrene Sheet

Fabric

Chalk Markers

Iron

Fabric Scissors

Lamp base

Iron your fabric, and grab your styrene and scissors. Lay your styrene over your fabric.

Slowly peel the backing off until you have gone smoothly over the length of your styrene.

Once the fabric is smoothly attached to the styrene take your fabric scissors and carefully trim the fabric until it is a quarter-inch wider than the styrene. I started with about an inch, but then trimmed to a quarter.

Use your glue kit to glue down the fabric to the ends of the styrene. Leave the overhanging fabric at the top untouched.

Now that your fabric is attached it’s time to make your fabric totally unique with your versa Chalk Marker(s).

I decided on an organic polka dot pattern. I tested on some excess fabric, and then hand drew them in different sizes and shapes all over the fabric.

My kiddo even got in on the action, which worked well for such a random and organic pattern. 🙂

She worked for a few minutes and I took back over until the entire span of the fabric was covered.

Now it’s time to make your DIY lamp shade! Gather your shade rings and wrap your fabric around it until it slightly overlaps at the edges (cut off any excess if you have any). Use the clips provided in the glue kit to secure the pieces together.

Once all secured, it’s time to glue the lamp shade to the rings.

Get your glue and orange stick and start to slowly and carefully glue the fabric overhang to the rings. Try to be as neat and even as you can since you see the fabric overhang at the top and bottom of your lamp once the light is turned on.

I used the binder clips to secure the fabric to the shade and rings, which worked well for me! Let your lampshade dry for a few hours and attach it to your base. I scored mine from a thrift store for $5.

Most lamp bases come with the harp already attached, but you can purchase a new one if you need a larger size or if the harp is missing. I switched the one that came on this lamp out with the larger version from I Like That Lamp.

That’s it! Find a perfect place for your beautiful new DIY lamp shade to live and enjoy the view!

Ours works well on the nightstand in the master! Have you ever wanted to make your own DIY lamp shade? It’s much easier than I ever thought. You cant go wrong with an I Like That Lamp kit.

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Frequently asked questions

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1 question

Elizabeth Haire on Jun 27, 2020

Where do you buy the site lampshade rings?

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3 of 8 comments

Butters on Jul 11, 2020

This came out great. I’ve always wanted to cover a lampshade with fabric. I think I would have updated the brass by painting it with chalk paint.

1 Reply
- Audrey Kuether on Jul 11, 2020
  
  Thanks! I love brass so it works for me, but chalk paint would look cool too :)
  
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Kathy on Jun 28, 2021

I'm glad to see you keep that brass lamp. I have one just like it and would never paint it. The shade looks great.

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