This Mod Podge lamp shade makeover project takes less than 30 minutes and it’s incredibly easy to do! Use your favorite fabric.
Skills Required: Beginner. I recommend having basic experience with Mod Podge to complete this project. The most difficult part will be cutting the fabric to fit the shade, so work slowly.
Let’s face it – I have such a hard time sticking with my home décor plans. When that happens, it’s nice to know there are ways to mix up my style whenever I feel like it. I change my mind too often, but this Mod Podge lamp shade hack comes in handy when I do!
The lamp on my entryway table always had a white lampshade that had begun to change colors due to wear and tear, so in order to save money and get a nice change of décor, I simply made over the lampshade with new patterned fabric and Mod Podge medium.
The entire decoupage lamp shade project takes less than 30 minutes and it’s incredibly easy to do when you have a shade that is either square or smooth and round.
If you have a bell-shaped lampshade, this DIY may be more difficult. Mod Podge perfectly bonds the new fabric to the existing canvas-like lamp shade, but I still feel like I have a brand new lamp!
If only I could achieve such a simple makeover with every aspect of my home. Let me know what you think of my Mod Podge lampshade makeover in the comments.
Learn how to make this craft below.
Decoupage a Lampshade
Equipment
- Large paint brush
- Pen or pencil
- Iron
Materials
- Flat lampshade round (drum) is easier than bell shaped
- Mod Podge Gloss
- 1 yard Fabric cotton; not home decor weight
Instructions
- For best results, iron the fabric beforehand to remove creases. Otherwise, iron the fabric once cut to shape.
- Lay the fabric out on a flat surface, backside facing up. Place the seam or edge of the lampshade at one edge of the fabric, leaving enough room above and below because the round lampshade pattern will curve.
- Lightly trace the top and bottom of the lampshade as you roll it across the fabric and reach the edge again.
- Cut out the pattern, leaving about 1 inch around your marks to allow for folded over seams. It should be a long, curved shape for a tapered lampshade.
- Starting at the seam or edge of the lampshade, apply Mod Podge Gloss all over the shade with a paint brush. Press the fabric on top, smoothing it with your hands. Work in sections until the entire lampshade is covered with fabric.
- Where the two ends of the fabric meet, fold one side over about a half inch and glue on top of the other edge to create a clean seam.
- Fold over the remaining edges of fabric on the top and bottom of the lampshade and glue in place on the inside. If there are bars in the way (that attach the lampshade to the base), simply cut a small slit with scissors and fold the seams in around it. Allow to dry before using.
If you like lampshade makeovers, we’ve got a few others. Check them out in addition to these other home decorating projects:
Decoupage Wood Tray • Decorate a Memory Box • Decorate a Mirror • Decorative Wine Bottles • DIY Cork Boards • DIY Floor Cloth • DIY Lamp Base Covered with Fabric • DIY Photo Pillows • DIY Recipe Holder • DIY Tile Coasters • Doorbell Box Cover • Dried Flowers on Glass • Fabric Covered Books • Magazine Collage • Paper Mache Bowls • Photo Wall Collage • Vintage Inspired Decoupage Lampshade
I am excited to try this. What an inexpensive way to renew the old into something modern and colorful, if colorful is what you’re looking for… you can do any pattern you want
It’s one of my favorite crafts!
This looks really simple, easy & attractive. With step by step images, this looks really doable. I hope soon I will give it a try 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us! Have a great Sunday.
Thanks for the idea and instructions. I tried it in order to create to matching lampshades on thrifted lamps. Although mine are not perfect I did it in less than thirty minutes and I’m happy with the result. I’m not sure how the midge PDFs will hold but definitely a quick fun project!
Wooo! Sounds fun!