When I wasn’t looking, the lampshade industry made a big change.

You might not have noticed.

I think it happened overnight.

 

Who changed all the lampshades? Skips shopping for a new shade, makeover your old one with this tutorial from AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

You see, in the past, I would pick up decorator lampshades at some of my favorite decorating stores to replace the Plain Jane lampshades that came with my lamps.  It was so easy.  Pull the lampshade off the bulb and clip on a new shade.  No DIY skills needed.  I loved that I could get pillows and curtains and chair pads to match, too.  Yay for Waverly.

And then things got tight financially and I made do… decorating with what I had in my last house.

And I never noticed this”improvement.” Until now.

At first, I was really disappointed.  A hand-wringing kind of disappointment.  Every store I went to only had one choice and it was the new style lampshade… sans magical light bulb clip.

You see, I had just purchased a really nice desk lamp for only $2 at a yard sale and all I needed was a pretty new lampshade to make it work in my new temporary apartment.

And I couldn’t find one.

I have no idea why I didn’t throw the lampshade away when I got home from garage “sailing.”  It certainly was in sad shape.

I’m grateful I didn’t. Especially when the lightbulb went off in my head and I realized I could makeover that sad sack of a lampshade.

So I did.

And I transformed it in less than an hour… including taking photos to show you.

Fortunately, I had all the supplies on hand and got right to work on my bright idea.

Here’s a simple tutorial so you can do the same.

 

How to makeover a tired lampshade or garage sale find with this tutorial from AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

How to Makeover that Tired Old Lampshade

 

Supplies

(includes affiliate links)

  • Disgusting old lampshade
  • Decorator fabric (I prefer this heavier weight decorator fabric [Waverly from Walmart] as it is easy to handle and covers well.)
  • Pencil
  • Newspaper or wrapping paper
  • Scissors
  • Straight pins
  • Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
  • Clips – mine were small snack bag clips
  • 1/2″ Twill tape (A friend gave me the tape which came on some kitchen towels she purchased.)

 

Instructions

Gently pull the fabric from the sides of the lamp until all that remains is the top and bottom trim.

 

First steps to making over an old lampshade. AnExtraordinaryDay.net tutorial

 

Take a sheet of newspaper or wrapping paper… place your lampshade down on its side… on the paper… and using the top and bottom edges as a guide… trace a line with your pencil as you roll the lampshade.   Be sure to allow a little extra overlap for making a nice folded seam.

Cut along the tracings. Double check to make sure that you have allowed extra fabric for the vertical overlap (seam).

Lay the cut newspaper pattern on your fabric, pin it down, and cut the fabric following the edge of the newspaper.

 

Quick and easy tutorial for refurbishing an old tired lampshade from AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Squeeze a small bead of Quick Dry Tacky Glue underneath the edge of the lampshade’s “old” top trim.

Carefully slip the top edge of your fabric under the top trim… continuing around the lampshade… pressing down well with your fingers.

 

Upcycle an old lampshade with tips from this tutorial at AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

When you get to the point where the sides overlap… use some clips to keep the fabric in place.

Then gently fold under the top edge of the fabric to create a lovely and clean finished side.

Run a thin line of glue along the edge and press in place.

Keep the clips in place until it seems mostly dry.

 

Lampshade makeover and tutorial from AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Run another bead of glue along the bottom edge of the lampshade.

Starting with the “seam,” carefully turn over the extra fabric at the bottom of the lampshade to create a clean polished look and press down to glue in place.

 

Makeover that tired old lampshade you discovered at the garage sale in minutes with this tutorial from AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Because you’ll want to give your lampshade a lovely finish….

Run a bead of glue over the unfinished edge that you just turned over to cover the bottom of the lampshade.

And then carefully apply the twill to cover the unfinished bottom edge, making sure to keep a tiny bit of the lampshade fabric exposed at the bottom.

Once that is finished, run a thin bead of glue on the top and bottom of the top trim and be careful to keep the tape even as you go around the shade to glue in place.  Give the tape a little overlap for the finished edge.

 

Give new life to a disgusting old lampshade with this step by step how to makeover from AnExtraordinaryDay.net

And that’s it!!

A beautiful “new” lampshade that no one will suspect as being a trash to treasure project.

Now if someone could only explain to me why it seems that clip-on lampshades are now a thing of the past.

 

Pinterest Click to Save - AnExtraordinaryDay.nent

Great lamp... tired lampshade? Don't toss it out... See how this disaster got a new life on a dime! How to Makeover an Old Lampshade Tutorial from AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Be sure to save this image to your Pinterest boards for future reference and inspiration.

So tell me… do you have a lampshade just waiting for a pretty makeover?

This little DIY makeover was much less expensive than purchasing a new lampshade.  In the end, it was a big win for me and my thin bank account. I guess you could say it was an unexpected blessing.  Kind of like my lamp and shade that was half-price at the garage sale.

 

If you’ve got a Plain Jane lampshade you’d like to dress up…
check out this post for another quick and easy idea!

Quick and Easy Lampshade Makeover - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

How to Give a Lampshade a Quick and Easy Makeover

Speaking of makeovers… Check out my latest room makeover
and learn how I chose this fun geometric pendant light.

Tips to Make a Small Space Live BIG at AnExtraordinaryDay.net

Make a Small Space Live Big with these Easy Decorating Tips

Thanks for stopping by today… I can’t wait to hear your lovely thoughts!

Wishing you... An Extraordinary Day!

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Comments

  1. Kim says

    You certainly made that look easy, Diane. A definite improvement, too! I was overdue for checking to see what you’re up to these days. I’ve missed you, and it’s totally my fault! I’m glad to see you’re still making beautiful transformations. I’m heading over now to check out your Sunday post – always my favorites. Your joy is contagious! Blessings~

    • You are so sweet, Kim. 🙂 Thanks for blessing me today with your kind thoughts. <3

  2. I have always, always loved fabric covered lampshades. They are just so much prettier and more customized. Love the fabric you chose for this one, Diane. 🙂

    Happy Thoughts of Home.

    • I agree! If a room can handle a little extra pattern, fabric really does give it a little extra punch. 😉
      You are so sweet with your thoughts, Stacey. Thank you so much!

  3. Hi Diane. Just wanted to let you know that I’ll be featuring this tomorrow at TOHOT> 🙂

  4. Carol says

    Looks great and makes a real impact!

    • Thank you Carol! It’s amazing how a little change can make such a big difference. It’s a pleasure to have you stop by today. Hope your weekend is extraordinary!

  5. Jaybird says

    Greetings,
    You did such a beautiful job with that shade!!!
    FYI…in a couple of big box stores, and any lamp supply place, you can purchase a little gadget that goes on your lampshade where the hole is for the finial peg. It is a “clip on” that goes over the bulb like the old shades, but is held on the newer shades with a peg on the gadget and the finial on the lamp. I just switch them from shade to shade as I have a twitch to change things around :^)
    If you can’t find them, e – me and I will send you a couple.
    Blessings to you,
    J

    • Jaybird… I used to do that, too. But, these newer shades have a wire thingy that goes over the bottom of the lightbulb and that just didn’t work with my lamp. It was all wobbly. Thanks so much for your kindness. You made my day! {{hugs}]

  6. Wendy says

    This was a great help! I have two lampshades that I’ve been meaning to cover, but put off doing it because I wasn’t quite sure how I would go about it. You have rescued me 🙂

    • Yay!! I love it! So glad to be a part of that perfect timing.
      Best wishes for a fabulous makeover, Wendy!

  7. Emily says

    Your lampshade turned out lovely! Thanks for sharing with Merry Monday!

  8. What a great makeover! Thanks for sharing. You are one of the features at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to this week’s bash. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2016/09/make-pretty-monday-week-191.html Happy week to you! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

  9. You did a fabulous job on making over the lampshade. It is great to be able to redo them because they can get pretty pricey.

    • Thanks, Debra! And the ones I like best usually are the pricey ones!!
      All the best for an extraordinary weekend!

  10. Margarete Pereira Silva says

    I find very good to get some idea of to learn how to reappearing the lamp,thanks very much appreciated your adorable page

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