How to Recover a Fabric Lampshade (DIY Step-by-Step Tutorial)

How to update a lamp shade and take it from drab to fab! Don’t spend tons of money on fancy designer lampshades – pick one up at the thrift store and learn how to recover a fabric lampshade with these 6 simple steps.

How many times have you walked into Goodwill and looked at a lamp and thought “man that “could” be a cute lamp but didn’t know how to make it cute?  Or think I’m not sure how to recover a lampshade?

I used to do it all of the time…until now!! I found this gold brass floor lamp with lampshade for only $5.99!! I just had to buy it! I brought it home and my husband said “where the heck did you get that ugly thing? I hope you didn’t pay for it!” – bahaha, oh the joys of husbands 🙂

I’ll be honest—this lamp sat untouched for almost 2 months before I finally had a chance to redo it. But now that it’s finished, I’m completely in love! What do you think?

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Supplies

• Lamp
• Lampshade
• Spray Paint of Choice, I like this one
• Spray Glue
• Hot glue gun (needed for bias tape)
• Fabric of Choice (best fabric to cover a lampshade is cotton, linen, or light upholstery fabric)
• Fabric Scissors
• Bias Tape (be sure to choose a color that matches well with your fabric)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1) Remove the lampshade

Take the lampshade off the lamp base so you can work on it easily.

2) Strip off the old covering

Carefully remove any existing bias tape or trim, then peel away the old fabric from the shade.

3) Create a pattern

Lay the old fabric flat and use it as a template to trace the shape onto your new fabric. This ensures your new cover will fit perfectly.

4) Cut your new fabric

Using sharp fabric scissors, cut along the traced lines. Leave a little extra allowance if you’d like room to adjust while gluing.

5) Attach the fabric to the shade

Spray adhesive on the back side of your new fabric, then carefully smooth it onto the lampshade frame. Press firmly as you go, and trim away any excess fabric with scissors.

6) Finish the edges

Apply bias tape (or trim of your choice) along the top and bottom edges of the shade using glue. A hot glue gun works well if the spray adhesive doesn’t hold.

7) Optional: update the lamp base

If you’d like a completely refreshed look, spray paint the lamp base in your favorite color and allow it to dry fully before reassembling.

Ta Da!! So easy huh?!?!?!

Do you guys love it as much as I do? I’m honestly amazed at how such a simple project can make such a big difference in a room. The best part is, you can choose absolutely any fabric you like—bold prints, soft neutrals, farmhouse linen, or even something colorful to match the seasons.

The possibilities are endless, which means every lampshade you recover can have its own personality and style. There are officially no excuses for keeping an outdated or boring lamp around when you can give it a completely new look in just a few easy steps!

Printable Instructions Card