16 DIY Lampshades to Brighten Up a Room

Lamps are commonly overlooked in home design but can make or break a room. Scale, style, and function all play a part in how well a lamp will work in a space.

In fact, changing out a lampshade to better coordinate with your decor is much more cost-effective than buying an entirely new fixture. Whether your room needs a facelift or you're just feeling crafty, these DIY lampshade projects are a great place to start.

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Incorporate Bold Floral Fabrics

Place of My Taste

Since lampshades are easy to change out, DIY lampshade projects are a great way to experiment with prints and bold colors. However, keep in mind that this lampshade design works best if you keep the lamp base neutral. Consider painting the base white or black matte to make the lampshade pop.

DIY Lampshade from Place of My Taste
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Cast a Lampshade Out of Concrete

HomeMade Modern

Pendant lighting is trendy right now, but it's difficult to find affordable and modern lampshades on the market. If the idea of working with concrete doesn't intimidate you, consider casting your own to make these high-end looking lampshades.

Concrete Pendant Lamp from HomeMade Modern
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Repurpose an Old Sweater Into a Lampshade

Unskinny Boppy

Any old piece of fabric or clothing can be converted into a lampshade. See if you have any sweaters or leggings that you want to donate, and consider turning them into a lampshade instead. Opt for clothes that are not stained or ripped.

DIY Lampshade Tutorial Using a Sweater from Unskinny Boppy
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DIY a Lampshade That Looks Really High-End

Mad in Crafts

West Elm has some beautiful designer lighting, but not everyone can afford the price tag. With a little ingenuity and patience, you can recreate this designer knockoff for a fraction of the price.

West Elm Inspired Lampshade from Mad in Crafts

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Use Hair Dye to Create an Ombre Effect

Paper Buttons

Ombre lampshades look beautiful because of the way the light travels through them. However, did you know that you don't need standard fabric dye to transform a lampshade? This project uses two different types of hair dye!

Ombre Hair Dye Lampshade from Paper Buttons
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String Some Beads to Create an Elegant Chandelier

Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body

This DIY lampshade might take you a long time to create but the end result will be totally worth the effort. To get this look, make sure you purchase light toned beads in three or four different sizes.

DIY Chandelier From Wood Beads from Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body
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Spruce Up a Hanging Light With Jute

The Handmade Home

Buying jute in bulk is relatively inexpensive, so this lampshade transformation shouldn't cost much. Just make sure the jute is tightly wrapped so the piece looks custom and not flimsy.

DIY Jute Wrapped Light from The Handmade Home
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Wrap a Lampshade With Different Colored Yarn

Vintage Revivals

If you want to attempt this DIY lampshade project, first make sure that you create a cohesive color story with the yarn you want to use. Don't just go into your scrap yarn and pick a bunch of colors at random. The yarn colors should work well with one another and with your existing home decor.

Yarn Ombre Lampshade Tutorial from Vintage Revivals

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Add Handmade Rosettes to Create a Shabby Chic Look

Simply Ciani

Shabby chic decor is still very popular, but it can be expensive to purchase. The solution? Learn how to make your own faux florals. Get into the zone by mastering rosette making. Once you have the process down, creating enough rosettes to make this lampshade shouldn't be a problem.

DIY Shabby Chic Rosette Lampshade from Simply Ciani
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Use Geometric Shapes to Create a Unique Pendant Light

Pearls and Scissors

For a very modern lampshade, consider attempting this geometric lampshade by using black cocktail straws. This project won't cost you a lot to make, but it will look really expensive once finished.

DIY Geometric Pendant Light Fixture from Pearls and Scissors
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Shape Copper Wire Into Skeleton Light Fixtures

Vintage Revivals

This lampshade tutorial skips the fabric lampshade altogether and instead opts for a copper wire casing. Unlike the previous project that looks very modern and geometric, these lampshades look much more traditional and feminine.

DIY Copper Wire Pendant Lights from Vintage Revivals
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Stencil on Fish Scales Using Paint

Deco Art

Did you know that you can paint a lampshade? Before you get out your paintbrushes and go to town, think about what you want to paint first. To get the best results, use a stencil and keep the pattern and colors consistent throughout. Take your time and if it doesn't turn out, paint over the shade in gesso and start again.

Fish Scale Stenciled Lampshade from Deco Art

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Create a Whimsical Lampshade for a Nursery

Dwellings by Devore

When designing a nursery, many parents want to add as much whimsy as possible. This lampshade is both whimsical and functional because it doubles as a mobile. Any infant would love to watch these birds spin around as they drift to sleep.

DIY Tweet Lampshade from Dwellings by Devore
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Master the Dip-Dye Technique to Replicate This Look

I Love to Create

The thing about this DIY lampshade is that no two lampshades are going to come out alike, which is part of the beauty of dip-dyed home decor. To complete this project, you only need four supplies: fabric dye, water, a paintbrush, and a large tray. Remember, once the initial dye job is complete, the dye will continue to travel up the lampshade until it's completely dry.

DIY Dip-Dye Lampshade from I Love to Create
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Learn How to Fake an Embroidered Lampshade

So Much Better With Age

Anything that is embroidered is not cheap unless you are able to fake it. This DIY lampshade project took inspiration from an embroidered pillow that had two intertwined pieces of cording. To replicate that look, a piece of white cord was hot-glued to linen fabric, then that fabric was glued to the lampshade. It's much easier to lay down the cording on a flat surface than to try to glue it directly to the lampshade.

DIY Faux Embroidery Lampshade from So Much Better With Age
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Upgrade a Builder's Grade Light Fixture

Heathered Nest

Is your home riddled with unattractive builder grade light fixtures? Create a capiz shell lampshade for under $10 and use that on a ceiling light fixture to create instant interest.

DIY Light Fixtures from Heathered Nest