Thursday, January 20, 2011

Tutorial: Recovering a Lamp Shade

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This is one of those projects that is really useful to spruce up a space. I purchased a lamp I loved… only problem was the stark white shade. I wanted the shade to go next to our office furniture, which is an off-white color. After assembling the lamp I realized the shade is custom fit to the base, so no other shade could fit. I had planned on buying a new shade, but that option was out.

So I found a couple tutorials online, merged some ideas together, and altered some of their suggestions to finish this project.

We love our lamp.IMGP2390_thumb1

Here’s how you do it: start with your shade, a fabric of choice—only about 1/2 yard depending on your shade size (I recommend a thicker décor fabric), fabric glue, fabric scissors, tape, and a pencil. Pretty simple so far, right?IMGP2377_thumb1

Lay your fabric out with your shade. Place the shade in the middle, then roll it to the right to trace it’s angle to one side, then roll back to the middle, then roll to the left to trace its angle for the other side. Trace both the top and bottom of the shade as you roll it. This will ensure the fabric follows the shade curve.IMGP2378

Next, add two inches to each side that you traced, and cut two inches away from this line. You’ll need to leave extra room on either side to fold. Then iron, iron, iron your fabric. Make sure all seams are out.

Then, take the fabric end and match it up to your shade’s seam. Before you glue it, hold it in place to make sure it is aligned to cover the shade evenly as it rolls around. Then run your fabric glue along the seam and secure the fabric end. If you have a thick fabric, you won’t have to worry about the glue showing through; if you have a thinner fabric, smear the glue with a paintbrush. IMGP2379

All other tutorials I read said to pull the shade around and tape it back at the original seam. I tried this and realized the shade wasn’t pulled nearly tight enough this way. I wanted it really really tight. So I began pulling the fabric as tight as I could, then gluing about every 6 inches around.

By the time I’d glued it all the way around, it was tight and easy for me to cut and fold the ends in without disturbing the body of the shade.IMGP2380

After it’s all glued, cut around each side, leaving about 1/2 inch of fabric to glue under. IMGP2384

Then fold the seam under all the way around to make sure it looks even.IMGP2385

And glue.IMGP2386

When you get to your final edge, glue it under so it follows the shade’s seam nicely.IMGP2387

That’s it! Very easy. Place your shade on and admire it.IMGP2397IMGP2399IMGP2395

1 comment:

  1. It is the simple things that really spruce up a space. I love buying things that are workable, but then making them really fit your style.

    I need more info on that bookshelf/hutch! I have been looking for one exactly like it (but dark brownish) for our dinning room, for my china.

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