How To Embellish Lamp Shades

Have you ever wondered how to embellish lamp shades for your home?

I’ve embellished lamp shades over the years, but for some reason I cannot find the photos of them to show you. Oh well, another time.

Vintage linens were used to cover a lamp shade I had a long time ago. I have no idea what happened to it. It was created with doilies and embroidered linens from my linen collection.

However I did find others who have DIYed lampshades that I thought were very creative.

Colorful Fabric Lamp Shade:

In how to embellish lamp shades, this one was made with colorful fabric decoupaged on.
Place Of My Taste

You could use fabric or wallpaper for this project. Or if you are good at art, you could even paint the lamp shade yourself.

Doily Lamp Shade:

This one was embellished using doilies.
A Beautiful Mess

This one was created using vintage doilies. This is a good way to display those doilies you may have collected over time. And it also showcases the history of the doilies. Maybe some of them were made from family members years ago.

Decoupaged Lamp Shade:

In How To Embellish Lamp Shades, this one was made from cut out shapes on watercolor fabric.
BHG

This lampshade was DIYed with cut out shapes of watercolor fabric, then decoupage them onto the shade.

You can find the instructions here.

Ruffled Burlap Shade:

Burlap covered lamp shade
Cottage At The Crossroads

This lamp shade was embellished with burlap. Go here for her post and instructions.

I sneeze around burlap, though I’d love to be able to use it for projects!

Felt Lamp Shade:

In How To Embellish Lamp Shades, this one is made with felt shapes
Pillar Box Blue

This project was created with felt. The DIYer had shapes of the templates she wanted to use, and then traced them onto felt.

She says to download the templates and print them off, reducing or enlarging the size as you desire. Then trace the shape onto the felt with a embroidery marker pen.

Click here for instructions.

Fabric Or Wallpaper Lampshade:

Wallpaper or fabric will both work on this project
House Beautiful

For this lamp shade, you could use fabric or wallpaper, whichever you choose. And then use glue to attach it.

In this photo, a black ribbon is used as an accent on the bottom of the shade. Which serves to dress it up a little more.

DIY Photo Lamp:

In How To Embellish Lamp Shades, this one is made with photos
Mommy Moment

Maybe you want to display more photos of family or friends, but have run out of surfaces to place framed photos. This idea will allow you to show quite a few photos at one time.

You can find the instructions for this lamp shade project here.

Embellishing Lamp Shades:

There are all kinds of ways to embellish lamp shades and make them look special. I have used lace, embroidered linens, and ribbon.

You can come up with a unique lamp shade that no one else will have, because you created it all on your own.

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I'm Brenda, creator of Cozy Little House. I live with my cat, Ivy, who keeps me laughing. I graduated from journalism school with a degree in professional writing and won awards for feature writing. I practice gratitude and enjoy my solitude. The glass is always half-full.

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11 Comments

  1. Love these lampshades – I often see old, yellowed lampshades at Thrift shops that would be good candidates for a make-over. Your examples were so pretty like in the fancy decorating magazines and didn’t look that difficult if one is crafty.

  2. I love the photo lamp shade! What a cool way to display your photos. I have a lamp that I hang crystals from the bottom rim of it. Since it’s metal, and the crystals have magnets on them, they were easy to attach, and it makes a huge difference in how beautiful the lamp shade is now. I also ordered some really cute felt houses from Etsy, and I didn’t really have anywhere to put them. I just thought they were pretty. Well, I clipped them onto the top rim of the lamp shade using tiny clothes pins, and it turned out so cute. And I bought a lamp shade that had beaded fringe hanging off the bottom. They are all so fancy looking.

  3. Lots of beauties here! I’ve never tried because I know I’d make a huge mess. Definitely missing that decorating gene. LOL

  4. I remember When you were in that lamp shade decorating contest. That was about the time I found your site. I loved your embroidered vintage scarves you put on your shade. I voted for you every day. That was a very beautiful shade. I really lusted after that shade.

  5. Some of these are really pretty. I’m not too crafty so I’ll have to check some of these sites and see if they’re doable for me.

  6. I have two plain white lampshades. I am going to try putting the photos on them. These are great! I never thought of embellishing lamp shades.

  7. I’m going to have to get an inexpensive shade to practice one of this. Always wanted to do this. These are gorgeous

  9. I have never attempted to embellish a lampshade but I have 2 ginger jar lamps that I put some twine around the neck and I can tuck or clip seasonal decorations onto it. Easy. As I get older my get up and go gets up and goes! Stay cool everyone.

  10. There are lots of original ideas here for inspiration. I remember you posting pics of your beautiful embellished lampshades from time to time…maybe you saved them on Pinterest? Hope your weather is cooling off. Wisconsin is being broiled today with high temps and high humidity, too. I hate to wish for fall so soon…but 🌡️🥵. I have several birdbaths where I have to change the water a few times a day because it gets so hot!

  11. I have embellished my lamp shades in the past and loved the way they turned out. These are all wonderful. I love the photo shade how sweet and fun it that one! Have a great rest of the week. Hugs. Kris

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