Fabric Covered Lampshade Tutorial

There are some big changes beginning in my finished basement.  The closet is almost done.  We are in the process of pricing out an a/c unit for the room and once that is installed we will be making some other changes as well.  The a/c is holding us up right now, but not stopping me from going forward with some smaller projects for the room.

I love this aqua lamp I bought from Home Goods a few years ago. 

 The shade is plain white. I have been wanting to to do something with the shade for a while now.

I recently moved the lamp to this side of the room. The lamp and the fabric coordinate so well.  That's when it hit me that I could cover the lampshade in fabric and really take this lamp to another level.

I had a little of my favorite fabric left over - Aviary by Thomas Paul.
Luckily, it only takes a little fabric to completely transform a lampshade.

I started by using fabric glue and ran a thin line of glue along the seam of the shade. I use Fabric-Tac glue.  I think it's the best fabric glue out there - it bonds instantly and dries clear.  I adhered the fabric to the seam and then cut the fabric on the top and bottom of the lamp shade leaving about an inch on each side.  I cut the fabric as I rolled the shade to end up with a curved piece of fabric.

Then I folded the fabric under and again used fabric glue to adhere the fabric and end up with a clean edge.  You don't want too much fabric to fold under or else when the lamp is on you will see a big seam.  You don't want too little fabric either or it is hard to glue.  It's sort of the Goldilocks and the Three Bears of projects.

I alternated from top to bottom until I made it all around the shade.

Once all the way around I cut the remaining fabric leaving approximately an inch.  I folded it under and used my fabric glue to make a perfect seam.

Using fabric glue again, I adhered matching ribbon to the bottom...

 and then the top.

I love my new lampshade and it was so easy.
Now I can't wait to finish up the basement so that I can put it back in place.
Hope you will try covering a lampshade.
Let me know what you think.

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Fall into Fall party.

The link opens at 8pm EST.  

Hope to see you then.

-Judy

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