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Mod Podge Lamp Shade Makeover in Minutes

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.

Mod Podge Lamp Shade Makeover in Minutes

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!

Bottle of Mod Podge with a piece of fabric, pair of scissors, paintbrush, pen, and a round lampshade

Learn how to make this craft at home below.

Mod Podge Lampshade Makeover

Gather These Supplies

Step 1: For best results, iron the fabric beforehand to remove creases. Otherwise, iron the fabric once cut to shape.

Step 2: 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.

Tracing a lampshade on a piece of fabric with a pen

Step 3: Lightly trace the top and bottom of the lampshade as you roll it across the fabric and reach the edge again. The marks do not need to be exact because you will not cut along them.

Cut out piece of fabric with orange handled scissors laying on top

Step 4: Then 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 round lampshade.

Mod Podge on a paintbrush with lampshade in the background

Step 5: Starting at the seam or edge of the lampshade, apply Mod Podge Gloss all over with a large paint brush and press the fabric on top, smoothing it with your hands. Work in sections until the entire lampshade is covered with fabric.

Smoothing fabric down on a lamp shade with Mod Podge

Step 6: 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.

Trimming fabric with orange handled scissors on a Mod Podge lamp shade
Fold over the fabric on the edge of the Mod Podge lamp shade

Step 7: 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.

Mod Podge lampshade

Once the glue is dry, which should only take a few minutes, place the lampshade back on its base and enjoy a fresh look!

Decoupage lamp shade

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.

Yield: 1 lampshade

How to Cover a Lampshade

This lampshade makeover project takes less than 30 minutes and it’s incredibly easy to do! Use your favorite fabric along with Mod Podge.

Learn how to cover a lampshade with fabric and Mod Podge! This is such an easy home decor project.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Active Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $2

Materials

  • Flat lampshade (square or round, not bell shaped)
  • Mod Podge Gloss
  • Cotton fabric - 1 yard

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Large paint brush
  • Pen/pencil
  • Iron

Instructions

  1. For best results, iron the fabric beforehand to remove creases. Otherwise, iron the fabric once cut to shape.
  2. 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.
  3. Lightly trace the top and bottom of the lampshade as you roll it across the fabric and reach the edge again.
  4. 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 round lampshade.
  5. Starting at the seam or edge of the lampshade, apply Mod Podge Gloss all over 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Fold over the remaining edges of fabric on the top and bottom of the lampshade and glue in place on the inside.
  8. Allow the glue to dry completely before replacing.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


If you like lampshade makeovers, we’ve got a couple other ones here. Check them out:

Callie Goodman

Wednesday 28th of September 2022

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!

Amy

Wednesday 5th of October 2022

Wooo! Sounds fun!

Creative Khadija

Sunday 1st of October 2017

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.

Cynthia Villegas

Friday 29th of September 2017

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

Amy

Friday 29th of September 2017

It's one of my favorite crafts!

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