Change Up Any Boring Lampshade With A Little Thrifting Secret

Have you been eyeing your décor with dissatisfaction lately? Often, we just ignore this feeling if updates are too costly. They don't have to be. Upgrade your home on a budget by recovering your lampshade. If your existing shades are boring, cracked, or dingy, snip up a new coat for them. Fabric, wallpaper, vintage posters, old maps, or any other thick, non-stretchy material can reface tired or damaged lampshades with just a few steps.

If your shades are beyond salvaging, don't fret: Head to the housewares section of your neighborhood Goodwill and change up any boring lampshade with thrifted fabric and an upcycled jar. There are almost always a few of these common thrift store finds up for adoption. Rifle through the stacks of linens and fabric yardage. Bedding, tablecloths, and even a maxi skirt are fair game when it comes to a lampshade refresh, with these different materials enabling you to customize your shade according to your aesthetic. A 1970s skirt would add some boho décor, while vintage tablecloths offer rustic chic to your lamp.

Set out on the road to a new-to-you lampshade with a pair of scissors and spray adhesive. Depending on the material you're using to recover the shade, grab something to mark its outline; chalk is great for cloth, and pencil is good for paper-based material. To hide the cut margins of your shade covers, find some double-fold bias tape in white or a color that complements the recovering material. Don't leave the thrift store without checking to see if they have any! Search in the crafting and sewing supplies section. You can attach this trim with craft glue.

First, wash the fabric, and wipe paper material and the shade with a rag. Don't worry about the bias tape, since washing it may mess up the folds. If it's particularly dirty, revive your stained lampshade with a hydrogen peroxide spot treatment.

Iron the cloth and bias tape if you're using it. Flip your material face-down. Place your lampshade at one end of the material, and roll it 360 degrees to see the arc of what will make up the covering. Trace the path of the top and the bottom of the shade as you roll it. Instead of bias tape, it's possible to finish cut ends with a hidden fold. To do this, add an extra 1- or 1 1⁄2 -inch margin to each edge of your fabric cut. Cut out your shape.

On a protective surface, smooth your material, and spray the first few inches of it with adhesive. Match the material with the rims of your shade, spraying more adhesive as you place the cloth or paper over the shade. If you're not using bias tape, tuck under the excess material along each border of the shade as you glue. Smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles; you can remove and reposition the material while you're working, but you may need more adhesive. Tuck under the unfinished fabric edge once you reach the fabric's starting point. Secure the edges with craft glue. If you're using bias tape, glue it folded edge-up to the rims of the shade. Place your lamp in your thrifted jar, light it up, and admire the effect.