How to Recover a Lamp Shade with Fabric
Learn how to easily recover a lamp shade with fabric to create the exact look you want for your space. This no-sew update is both simple and affordable!
You would not believe how difficult it has been to find lamps for our bedroom. I mean, they’re just lamps…it shouldn’t be that hard, right? I had this vision in my head of walking into a thrift store and finding the perfect lamps for 2 or 3 dollars, giving them a fresh coat of paint, and calling it a day.
Aaaaannnnd after searching just about every thrift store in my area, that definitely did not happen. Apparently people in Pittsburgh hold on to their lamps and don’t donate them to thrift stores. Or maybe I just didn’t have the right vision for the ones that I saw. Either way, no lamps.
Choosing Lamp Bases
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
So I headed to my old standby, Target, and I found these:
Perfect! White lamp bases are great because they are neutral, allowing us to add color, texture, or pattern with a fun shade and changing it out as our decor or decorating styles change.
Here are a few white lamps to consider:
Shop White Lamps
My lamp bases didn’t come with shades, so I just grabbed two plain white shades and did what any crafty little blogger would have done… I created my own dream shades!
7 Simple Starting Points: A Guide to Starting an Overwhelming Organizing Project
Click the button below to request your copy of the free guide, and get ready to get organized!
Supplies You’ll Need to Recover a Lamp Shade with Fabric
How to Recover a Lamp Shade with Fabric
Step 1: Create a Paper Template
If your lamp shade is tapered at all, I would highly recommend making a template before you start attaching your fabric. Getting the fabric into the right shape can be tricky without one, and if the fabric isn’t cut to the right curve, it can be really frustrating to try to make it smooth.
To make my template, I taped two pieces of newspaper together, wrapped them around my shade, and used my pencil to trace the top and bottom of the lamp shade.
I then simply cut along the lines I had drawn, and I had a pattern all ready to go. I wrapped it around the lamp to make sure it fit–wouldn’t want to find out it doesn’t after I’ve already cut my fabric!
Step 2: Measure and Cut Fabric
Using my template as a guide, I drew an outline on the back of my fabric, measuring a 1/2 inch margin on each side of the newspaper template so that I would have additional fabric to fold over the edges of the lamp shade.
I cut out my fabric, and I was ready to attach it to my shade.
Tips for recovering lampshades
- I used scissors to cut my fabric, but a rotary blade would definitely work well too!
- When choosing fabric, keep in mind that stripes and similar patterns are much harder to line up and need more precision.
- Hot glue can also be used in place of fabric glue when securing the seams if you prefer.
Step 3: Attach the fabric to the lamp shade.
Laying my fabric on a plastic bag so my table wouldn’t get sticky, I sprayed the back with spray adhesive, lined up my lamp shade, and wrapped the fabric around it, smoothing out any bumps or wrinkles.
My fabric was relatively easy to line up because I didn’t have to be exact. If you choose fabric with stripes, chevron, or another pattern which requires the lines to be perfectly straight, you will need to be extra careful on this step.
The instructions on my bottle of fabric glue said to apply a thin coat of glue, let it dry until a skin forms, and then apply a second coat of glue and press the fabric together.
I did this first to attach the seam where the fabric came together at the back of the shade (1) and then repeated the process on the bottom and top rims of the lamp shade (2), folding the fabric over the glue and pressing down firmly.
I let the glue dry for a few minutes, and it was ready to go! Quite a big difference, don’t you think?!
Recovering a Lamp Shade with Fabric: Final Thoughts
The white base really makes it pop!
(Update: I ended up using these lamp shades for years, and they held up perfectly! The glue and adhesive didn’t give out at all, and the fabric stayed looking good.)
This was such a simple process, and I love that it allowed me to get the exact lamps that I was looking for in my space. DIY projects like this one are so great because they’re easy, but they also make a big impact.
How to Cover a Lampshade with Fabric
Learn how to easily recover a lampshade with fabric without dragging out your sewing machine that looks stunning!
Materials
- Lamp Shade
- Newspaper/Craft Paper
- Spray Adhesive
- Fabric Glue
- Fabric {1 yard covered both of my "medium" sized shades}
- Scissors
- Pencil
Instructions
- Wrap two pieces of newspaper or craft paper around the shade and trace the top and bottom.
- Cut out the template.
- Use the template to cut the fabric.
- Spray the backside of the fabric with the adhesive and place it on the shade. Smooth as you go to get rid of bubbles.
- Use fabric glue on the top and bottom to fold the overhanging fabric inside the shade.
Recovering Lampshades: Frequently Asked Questions
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Have you had any makeover success stories lately?
Thanks so much for following along! Have a great day!
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
Abby, the lampshades look great! Sometimes, it takes a while to find that right thing, but you did it! I love your comment 100th trip to Target. 🙂 Love the fabric that you selected! Thanks for sharing, pinning and have a great week!
Thank you so much, Cindy! Yes, that Target is a killer. We just got a brand new HUGE one and I love it, but I’m not sure my bank account does. 😉 Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Love it, Abby!! Great job! Those lamps are so pretty! You are so right – sometimes it is SO hard to find the perfect ones! Thanks for linking up! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Thank you, Jenna! Who knew lamps could be so stubborn, right?! 😉 Thanks for hosting such a fun party! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
That looks great girl!! Love it!
Thanks so much, Erin! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Adorable! I love them and I do the same thing, often. When you can’t find exactly what you want, make it! Great job!
Thank goodness for DIY, right?! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, Kim! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Great job, Abby! I love them!!~~Angela
Thank you, Angela! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Great job! Patience does pay off in the end!!
Thank you, Anjana! Yes, I’ve had lots of practice being patient with this project, lol! 😉 Have a fantastic week!
~Abby =)
Fantastic – I love that you were able to make something yourself that was better than anything you could buy! Fab enjoy those awesome new lamps!
Thank you, Martina! When in doubt, make it yourself, right?! 😉 Thanks for stopping by my blog! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
They turned out lovely, Abby!!! Love the lamp base and the fabric…so pretty! I so need to do this to one of my lamps in my living room…it’s a boring white right now…eek!
Visiting from Give Me The Goods Monday!
Thanks so much from popping over from Give Me the Goods, Selene! You are so sweet! Hope you had an awesome weekend!
~Abby =)
This is awesome – though I might be a bit partial because I HAVE THE SAME LAMP! Sitting in a closet… waiting for the right shade! Thanks for the inspiration to create my own!
You know what they say…great minds think alike! You have excellent taste in lamps! 😉 Let me know if you create your own shade…I want to see!! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
<3 it! They're so cute.
Thanks, friend! I thought we were going to just have to live in the dark there for a while, lol! Have a fantastic week!
~Abby =)
Great work! I think I can do that!! I think I can . . . Very pretty!
I’ve seen your blog, girl! You could do this with one hand tied behind your back! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Oh my goodness! This looks so lovely! Thanks for sharing the tutorial!
Thank you, Meegan! You are so sweet! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Love it!! It was definitely worth it in the end!! It looks beautiful!!
Thank you, Crystal! Who ever would have thought that some silly lamps would be so much trouble?! Lol. I’m so glad you stopped by! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Oooo, I love a great lamp re-do and yours is just perfect. The fabric is awesome. Funny thing: our Target didn’t have the white base like yours. I bought the turquoise and just wasn’t happy with it after quite a few months, so sprayed it white like yours. 🙂 I guess great minds think alike.
Girl, we are totally on the same wavelength! I think if you give bloggers long enough, we’ll add our own touch to anything! We just can’t help it! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Looks awesome Abby! I did a large lamp shade before… I think I might take on another for my son’s room update too… I remember that it is a little bit of a tricky process! But well worth it… they look perfect:) Great job!
Thank you, Krista! I am so excited to see how your son’s room works out! We are planning on putting our boys in a room together when they get a little older, so I’ll need all the tips I can get to re-do their space. Have a wonderful week, my friend!
~Abby =)
Wow, you went through a lot for the perfect lamps! And, they are wonderful. You did a great job. 🙂
Blessings,
Kim
Thanks so much, Kim! My poor kiddos spent so much time on the lamp hunt with me that we would walk into a store and my one year old would start calling out, “Lamps!! Laaaaaaamps!!” Lol! I’m so glad you stopped by–have a great week!
~Abby =)
These are fabulous! Great idea and they look amazing. Can’t wait to try!
Thank you, Terri! I was actually surprised at how simple it was! Have fun with yours! Hope your week is going well!
~Abby =)
The lamps look great! I am planning to do a similar project soon with an old drab brass lamp I’ve had for years. My best revamp of an oldie though was these heels… Bc glitter makes everything better!
https://dramafreemama.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/pinterest-project-glitter-heels/
Ooh I just popped over to check out your glitter heels and they are CUTE!!! I agree–glitter on everything, I say! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by the blog, Deborah! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Lamps are hard to find! You did a GREAT job of creating your own perfect lamp. I love the fabric. Thanks for the tutorial!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks finding lamps is tough! I think I’ve browsed just about every lamp out there at this point, lol. Thank you so much for stopping by, Kirsten! Hope your week is going well!
~Abby =)
Great job! It looks lovely!
Thank you so much, Bethany! I just popped over to check out your silver earrings, and they are stunning! So classy! Thanks for stopping by the blog! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Wow, your lamp looks gorgeous! Thanks for the tutorial, I never would have thought to make a template first. Pinning 🙂
~Katie
Thank you so much, Katie! I had actually read some horror stories from bloggers about trying to cover tapered shades, so I figured I had better go the safe route and make a pattern. 🙂 Thank you for popping over to my blog! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Love the lamps and I am still on the hunt for a perfect lamp. I need to go to Target and see if I can find these little beauties! I also like how you covered the shade with fabric! Hope you are having a fabulous week!!!
Lamps are tough, right?! Who knew? Good luck on your hunt as well! Thank you so much for stopping by, Miss Melissa! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
very nice Abby, you are so right, don’t know why it’s so hard to find lamps, I’m still looking for ours 😉 thank you for the tutorial, you did a great job, really like the fabric too! 🙂
I’m so glad I am not alone on the lamp-hunt! They are difficult little buggers, aren’t they?! Thank you so much for stopping by, Ingrid! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Super adorable, Abby! I love the fabric. I’m going to be covering lamps in my bedroom as soon as I find the perfect fabric.
xoxo
Denyse
Thank you, Denyse! Good luck with your lamp-covering project! I know they will be adorable! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
What great step-by-step instructions, and I love your final result! I found you through the Give Me the Goods Monday Party #14 and I’ve pinned your great post to my Five Heart Home Pinterest boards. Have a great night! 🙂
Thanks so much for popping over, Samantha! I’m heading over to check out your blog as we speak, er, type! 😉 Hope your week is going well!
~Abby =)
Fabulous tutorial Abby!! I love the lamps…and I am with you on trying to find good ones!! 😉
Thanks so much for sharing on Project Inspire{d}! Pinned!!
Nancy
It is so comforting to know that I’m not the only one who can’t find a cute lamp to save my life! I couldn’t believe how long it took, lol! Thanks so much for stopping by, Nancy! Have a great night!
~Abby =)
They do look perfct Abby!!!! Great job and kudos to you for patience and perseverance! thank you too for that short and sweet tutorial for the shade, want to try that someday! 🙂
Thank you, Vel! You are so sweet! I enjoyed visiting your blog yesterday…I so admire your style! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Wow…what a great transformation and clever idea ! Love how you did it !
Thank you so much, Marlin! Hope your week is going well!
~Abby =)
If you can’t find what you’re looking for… make it yourself! Great job, Abby! I actually found those lamps in teal a few months ago on clearance at Target and I sprayed them white… they are sitting in a storage closet because I haven’t figured out what I want to do for the shades 🙂
Thank you so much, Chelsea! Good luck with your shades. Knowing your creativity, I’m sure they will turn out gorgeous! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Absolutely PERFECT!!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!
Thanks for hosting an awesome party, Christine! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
I love the lamps and you make it look so easy! I think I might actually be able to attempt this! Thanks so much for sharing!
You could totally handle it! It’s seriously simple. Thanks so much for stopping by, Kim! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
What a beautiful Lampshade makeover!
(new follower and fellow PA resident…lol)
Morgaine from Madcap Frenzy
P.S. I would also like to invite you to join my June Totally Tuesday Link Party:
https://www.madcapfrenzy.blogspot.com/2013/06/june-totally-tuesday-link-party.html
Hugs!
Yay! Thanks so much for popping over, Morgaine! I love meeting fellow Pennsylvanians! I just checked out your super-cute blog. What an awesome roundup for the 4th! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
So, so cute! Not only your lamp, but your whole nightstand. Thanks so much for sharing. I need to do the same to my nightstand lamp. Have a great weekend!
Thank you so much, Brooke! You’re so sweet! I hope you have an awesome week!
~Abby =)
I love it when I accidentally find what I’ve been looking for. I have had a makeover success story. I recently stenciled a lazy susan that really was a challenge. I’m co-hosting a linky party and we would love to have you share this. https://calliescrafts.blogspot.com/2013/06/co-hosting-tgif-link-party-no-2.html
Just popped over to check out your lazy Susan…It turned out so great! I have SO had projects like that–I’ve had to do them over and over and over. Yours was worth it though. The final product is gorgeous! Thanks for popping over and checking out my blog! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
how cute is this? Wish I was crafty! Saw you at practically functional 😉
Would LOVE to have you link up at our Super Sunday linky party (it’s live now!) https://whoneedsacape.com/2013/06/super-sunday-party-4/ Stop on over!
Thank you so much, Heather! I’m so glad you popped over. And thanks for the invite too! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Making a template before covering your shade…duh! It turned out great. (Also had to comment on your title b/c no one else had. Love him. Can’t wait for the second one!)
Thank you, Amy! Nice to find another Anchorman fan out there, lol! Hope you have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
This is cute. So I will be honest. I am not very domestic…I don’t really do home projects like this. But I will read your blog because this stuff is pretty and maybe one day I will want to do a project. I like that lamp a lot too!
Thank you so much for visiting my blog, Akirah! I look forward to getting to know you and your blog better!
~Abby =)
Hi Abby –
Love how the lamps turned out and the fabric you went with! I was looking at the same lamp bases for my home office.
I think making your own lamp is the best!
Chernee
I agree, Chernee! Pieces have so much meaning when you make them yourself! Good luck with the home office. Thanks for stopping by!
~Abby =)
The lamp looks great. I wish there was a Target where I lived as the base of the lamp is outstanding, let alone the improvements you made by the DIY lampshade. Love it!
-Steph @ http://www.twozeroone.ca
Thanks so much, Stephanie! We just got a new huge Target really close to us and it is dangerous…believe me, your bank account is glad that you don’t have one nearby! Lol. Thank you for stopping by! Have a fantastic 4th!
~Abby =)
I love the use of newspaper for a pattern, great idea!
Thank you! Hope you’re having a wonderful 4th!
~Abby =)
Super cute Abby! Next time I need to make a shade. 🙂 ~Sonya
Lol, I was just thinking that next time I need to do a fun base like yours! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Sonya! Hope you’re having a great 4th!
~Abby =)
Love your lampshades! And as a fellow Pittsburgher, I’ve gotten lucky at the Habitat store in Washington, PA. A bit of a drive for me but I got great lamps and chandeliers for cheap!
Yay! Pittsburghers unite! I didn’t even know there was a Habitat store in Washington. Thanks so much for the tip! Thank you for stopping by my blog, Miss Diana! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Love the lamp! Thank you so much for linking up to my linky party. Hope to see more from you next time.
Thanks, Rita! Thank you for hosting such a fun party! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Trying my first ever lamp makeover. Love your tutorial. Where did you get your fabric? What is the shape on it called? I can’t seem to find the right fabric but I love yours. Is it blue or gray? Thanks!
Hi, Tricia! I got the fabric at Jo-Ann Fabrics. It is gray with circular bunches of flowers. Hope this helps! Have fun with your project!
~Abby =)
I knew these lamps as soon as I spotted them on Throwback Thursday. Sure enough, I had commented on how much I loved them! And it’s good to know I’m not the only one that has a difficult time searching for the perfect lamps!
Thank you so much for hosting, Miss Alli! What a wonderful idea for a link party! Thanks for popping over here again! Have a wonderful day!
~Abby =)
I love both the lamps and the fabric that you selected for your shades. Great project!
Thanks for sharing at Throwback Thursday!
Thank you so much, Paula! I never thought I’d actually find THE lamps, but these ones finally worked out, lol! Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Abby =)
I always thought that would be a good idea to make my own lamp shade since is so hard to find a nice one in a good price. Thanks Abby, now I’m ready to make my own now. Nice to know you live in the Burghs, my husband is also from there and I love that place 🙂
Yay! I always love meeting fellow Burgh-ers! 🙂 Have fun making your shade!
~Abby =)
Looks good, Abby! My daughters each just got new bedrooms, and I have been meaning to recover their lampshades, which are looking like they need some help right now. (They are now more off white than their previous white.) Thanks for the tutorial!
great tutorial! I’m going to try this with some old shades I have
I’m so thankful you linked this tutorial from your house tour! I have a white lamp with a plain white shade and I was trying to figure out how to recover the shade. Thank you!
Love your lamps, great idea and great tutorial. Thank you for sharing, on my to do list!
So glad it was helpful for you, Fran! Have a great weekend! <3
~Abby =)