Personal Lamp Shades

I am forever grateful to my friend for showing me how to recover lamp shades. I'm kind of addicted to it now.

This shade is found in our family room. 

And, this shade is found in our master bedroom.  

I honestly don't think I own a plain white or beige shade in my entire house. I love how a simple thing - like recovering a lamp shade - can add so much color and design to a room. Here's the play by play on how you can personalize your own lamp shades.

First, find that shade that is just itching for a make over. This lamp is in my daughter's room on her night stand. I've been anxiously waiting to recover it.

Second, with tissue paper, make your own pattern. Wrap a single sheet of tissue paper around the shade and delicately tape it in place. You may need to tape two sheets of tissue paper side by side length wise to get the length you need to wrap. With a pen, mark the edge of the top and the bottom of the shade. This does not need to be an exact science. You'll be covering up the edges. You just need a basic measure of the shade's width and shape.

Third, carefully peel the tape off and cut out your pattern. Lay your pattern on your material and pin down before cutting it out. You will want to add about a half inch to the length at both ends. You need to do this because sewing the two ends together will take some length off your material. Adding a bit of material to each end will ensure that your material will fit over your shade.

Fourth, wrap your newly cut material around your shade ("good" side toward the shade) and pin. Your pins mark where you will sew. You want the fit to be snug.

Fifth, sew using your pins as markers for your seam. And,

iron your seam open faced. You will want to be sure to do this so when you fit your material over the shade you don't have a weird bulge.

Next, turn your material inside out and slip over your shade. You are almost done!

Finally, hot glue bias tape to the top and bottom edge. See it's ok if your edges aren't straight. You're covering them up! You'll want to buy extra wide double fold bias tape. Because I was using a gray pattern for the shade, I wanted to add a pop of color with the bias tape. I love the bright pink up against the lamp's light blue base. For gluing, use a high temp glue gun and make sure the fold of your bias tape is down. You don't want the tape's fold to fall open because it was glued upside down. You will put a dot of glue and then cover it with your bias tape. You will continue this process slowly inching your way around your shade.

You are now done! I love the design element a simple, covered shade can add to a room!