How to Make a Lampshade

There are various types of lampshades available, they all come in various shapes like conical, circular, cylindrical which can be placed on the floor, tabletops as well as the walls. Lampshades are available in various fabrics and materials. Glass lampshades add an additional charm to the interior decoration. The many attractive designs of lampshades can confuse the customers as to which lampshade they should go for. Home decor with lampshades is a trendy way to create a new look. The other important consideration regarding the ready made lampshades, is their cost. The readymade lampshades may look beautiful, but you have to pay a very high price for them. There is one simple solution to all this and that is to make a lampshade! Yes, you can make a customized lampshade, a lampshade with your personal touch of style and decoration. Do you know how to make a lampshade? Let me help you with some simple instructions.

Ideas to Make a Lampshade

• You can create customized lampshades using innovative materials. Try making lampshades using materials like magazine sheets, plastic lids, yarn and yarn strings, dress materials etc.
• All you have to do is to make sure that the material that you use to make a lampshade is totally heat friendly.
• When you make a lampshade on your own, also make sure that you do not put any high voltage light fixture in it. Constant emission of high voltage lamps can be harmful for the durability and the safety of the lampshade.

How to Make a Lampshade?
Material

• Raffia fibers
• Parchment
• Lightweight paper (white)
• Glue tape (double sided)
• Glue
• Coolie lampshade
• Knife and cutting mat and tapestry needle

Directions
Open up an old lampshade to get its traces on the blank paper. Cut out the traces and make eight equal sized sections of it. Now open the last (8th) section in half, so that you can subdivide it into another eight sections. Mark each of the fold line with a pen/pencil at every half inch and join your markings to get a curved line. Create a V shape on the 3rd, 5th and the 7th fold lines. Use this traced template to cut the parchment by placing it on the cutting mat. Keep the parchment on top of it. Cut out V shape finely and open up all the V shapes with the help of the ends of the knife. Move around the parchment and make similar set of V shaped sections. Repeat the procedure until you mark each of the previously cut sections, with the V shaped marks.

Overlap the back edges of the parchment and stick them up with the double sided tape. Spread the edges of the lampshade rings with the regular glue and stick the parchment to the rings. Make sure you stick the top ring first. Let it dry completely, before you sew the top and the bottom edges of the parchment using the tapestry needle and the raffia. Create tight knots to the loose ends of the raffia to make sure it will not fall apart. Your homemade parchment lampshade is ready. Wasn't that easy!

You can try the above lampshade making process for other homemade lampshades that you can make using papers and fabrics. I hope you enjoyed the tips and learned how to make a lampshade!