Transforming a Lamp {DIY Project}

Transforming a lamp seemed a daunting task to me, at first. However, it really was pretty simple with only a few supplies needed. For over 9 years, I’ve had the same lamp in our office…. an old brown lamp that just felt, “meh.” Now, the lamp has a chic feel to it, and it only took a few steps.To transform your “meh” lamp, you need the following supplies:

Paint in your choice of color
Matching fabric (amount depends on size of shade)
Bias Tape
Elmer’s Craft Bond (spray & stick)

This was what I started with….Painting was the first task. Just a tip: For smaller projects like this, you can purchase a small sample can of paint at Lowes for about $3. I actually had this can on hand from a previous photo frame project in our living room. You’ll probably want to tape off your cord and socket. I wiped the lamp down and then jumped right in, painting, giving the lamp about 2-3 coats of paint.Next, cut your fabric. I cut a long strip of fabric, leaving enough excess on each end of the shade.In between, you may have to teach your 4 year old that a lampshade is not a hat….After cutting the fabric, spray both the lampshade and the wrong side of the fabric with Elmer’s Craft Bond.Next, it’s time to wrap the shade, wrapping tightly and smoothing wrinkles as you go; be careful to situate your fabric, so that your pattern will line up the whole way around the shade; otherwise, you’ll have a crooked design. Also, as you finish wrapping, fold the edge of your fabric under so you don’t leave a raw edge on the shade.Now it’s time to trim the excess of your fabric on both the top and bottom of your shade, leaving about 3/4-1 inch of fabric to fold in to the inside of the shade.

Next, take your bias tape, and cut the lengths you need to wrap around the bottom/top edges of your shade. Use your Elmer’s Craft Bond stick on the bias tape, as well as on the inside edge of the lampshade, both top and bottom as you go.

Wrap the bias tape on and over the edge of the shade, and press well all the way ’round the shade. Again, do this on both the top and bottom edges.Voila, you have a lampshade transformed….….and a beautiful new lamp that will never look the same.What projects are you working on this week? Have you transformed a “meh” piece into chic?

(Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. This is simply my own project, recommending products I love to use.)