Transform a lifeless lampshade into a work of art with just a few strips of decorative fabric! This project requires minimal sewing, a hot glue gun and can be finished in about one hour. You may use fabric scraps from previous projects, or browse our online store to view our latest fabric styles. A variety of lampshade fabrics will add more depth and interest to the finished product.
A fabric strip lampshade is an easy way to brighten up an old or lackluster lamp
You will need:
- Several coordinating decorative fabrics
- Hot glue gun
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- About an hour!
You may opt to add pleats for appeal, or leave the fabrics flat
What to do:
- Decide how thick you want the fabric strips to be and cut accordingly, ensuring that you have enough length to wrap around the lamp as it widens. Also be sure to allow for the folds in the strips.
- Fold the strips in half, meeting the rough edges in the center, press and then glue. If you have the skillset you may opt sew them into tubes, though it is not a necessity.
- Sew down the center of the strips, adding the occasional pleat for appeal.
- Finish each strip and arrange in preferred order
- Finally, use the hot glue gun to secure each strip to the lampshade!
Pro-tip: Once your lampshade is covered, you may wish to add embellishments like fabric flowers, felt leaves, cutesy fabric covered buttons and more!
Make sure you add the pleating prior to cutting the length of the fabrics to make sure they are long enough to wrap around the lampshade. Remember to account for the bottom of the shade being wider if yours is like the one pictured above!
Post by J&O Fabrics
Finally found something I really want to do with my nightstand lampshades. I even have a ruffler foot for those pleats. Whoever came up with this should get a Noble prize!
Opens up a whole new door for interior decor. Thanks for your comment Sheryll!