Floral Louvered Translucent polypropylene White Foamex with Die Cut
How to Paint a Lampshade
This was such a fun little DIY. And easy too. I was giving this corner of my living room a little face-lift a couple of weeks ago (Yes, yes. I’ll show you real soon!) and my plain old off-white, kinda stained, nothing special lamp shade really started to bug me again.
A few hours later, when I was sitting in the parking lot at Kennedy’s school, I found myself dreaming up ideas for changing it up a bit. As usual, the simplest, easiest idea won out. I wasn’t sure if it was going to work, but I could always just cover it in fabric. Or use one of the umpteen lamp shades hiding out in my basement.
I asked Kennedy if she would help me and, of course, she agreed! What kid wouldn’t want to do something ridiculous like paint their mom’s lampshade?
Can You Really Paint a Lampshade?
We used a sample pot of regular wall paint that I had in a Martha Stewart color called Crevecoeur.
We basically just slopped it on until we thought it looked pretty good. All in all it took about 20 minutes. Notice the little piece of after-school granola bar sitting on the coffee table there.
Here’s the trick: When you think it looks good and all the spots are covered, you put the shade back on the lamp, turn it on, and continue painting it until no more light shines through. It was incredibly easy to get good coverage, actually. You can see that after our initial covering, there were only a few little areas that needed extra paint!
The Finished Painted Lampshade
I absolutely love this lamp in the corner of our room now. It focusses the light perfectly and the dark shade really classes things up quite a bit.
More photos of the whole corner refresh coming up soon!
Courtenay Hartford
Author at The Creek Line House | Website | + posts
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.
Courtenay Hartford
https://www.creeklinehouse.com/author/easypeasy/
Courtenay Hartford
https://www.creeklinehouse.com/author/easypeasy/
Courtenay Hartford
https://www.creeklinehouse.com/author/easypeasy/
Courtenay Hartford
https://www.creeklinehouse.com/author/easypeasy/
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Comments
- Susan (My Place to Yours) says February 4, 2013 at 11:25 am
You and your little helper did a great job! I should try this on a boring shade at my house… Since you and your little one obviously enjoy being “crafty” together, perhaps you’ll like the project I just shared here: http://myplacetoyours.blogspot.com/2013/02/celebrate-love-this-ones-for-girls.html?m=1
- Alice says January 19, 2016 at 8:45 pm
I love the idea of painting a lampshade as I have one that I was thinking about recovering, but this seems so much easier. can’t wait to try this
- Nancy says August 18, 2017 at 5:22 pm
I tried this, and I didn’t like the fact that no light shows through the shade after it gets painted…
- Jane Ginter says November 11, 2017 at 5:05 pm
I was wondering if light could get through. Thanks for the post.
You should try thinning the paint by adding water to it
Water the paint down
Use craft paint, after I soaked the shades first, I gave it a shower. Leave it wet, drizzle craft paint from the top edge down, play with it. Then let it dry, the result is amazing, I did all my lampshades, never will I have plain white shades again.
- Karen says March 12, 2018 at 9:03 am
Do you have any pictures you can share? Sounds interesting
Can u post a pic of one of the shades u did
Fabric paint will work better.
What a great idea! I love that you had a little helper, too! I think your lamp turned out lovely!
Very Cool! Pinned it! XO, Aimee
I’ve been in love with the idea of black shades on a gold lamp lately. This is such a brilliant (thrifty AND easy!) way to get that look. LOVE.
holy moly…I had no idea you could paint a lampshade! Pinning this for sure.
I did this, too and went from dark burgundy red to white. Sold those lamps lickety split at one of my shows! wish I had done it sooner.
- Sherri Smith says December 29, 2016 at 9:37 pm
Do you think it would be possible to go from Dark Burgundy Red to Gray. And how exactly would I do it.
Just had a friend ask me last night about painting a lamp shade and then here you are! Thank you, it looks fabulous!
- virginia Gorman says May 21, 2017 at 6:58 pm
Did you paint the under side also? I have been staring at this shade foe about a year and after reading all of the responses I am going to get the paint and do it. I just have to know if I have to paint the underside also. Thanks foe all the info. Virginia
- Lynda says September 29, 2022 at 3:10 am
No need to paint the underneath of shade
From white to gold
Do you need a special paint for this or anything works ? Thanks a lot !
- Patricia Barry says September 4, 2016 at 10:38 am
Can you use any kind of paint i.e., from Home Depot (Behr) (Martha Stewart) ?? Or is a special craft store paint better?
I’ve been thinking about doing this and you’ve given me more courage. It does look pretty easy…
I painted checks on a lampshade before. Yours looks great.
Who would’ave thought that you could paint a lampshade…. Yours turned out very elegant and chic looking! What a great idea! xoxo laurie
YES! I shall grab a granola bar and paint my ugly shades! TYVM!
Will this work on all types of lampshades? I’m looking at two of my lamps right now, they have a small pleted lampshade. I can’t imagine it working on that fabric..was your lampshade sort of linen like material? Great idea though and I’m looking at my little desk fan and the dust/dirt on the blades, wondering how to paint it. What I would really like to paint is an old box fan that we’ve had for probably 30-40 years that still works like a charm but the screws are rusty from moisture. Sure came in handy when a neighbor’s A/C unit went out and couldn’t be repaired, so her landlord decided to have a new system installed since the other was the original unit installed in 1977. I took soap and water and a rag and cleaned it up and it still worked like a charm. She couldn’t belive how old it was and still working. Has anybody ever painted a box fan? Spray paint or via brush?
- Cindi says November 4, 2015 at 4:43 pm
I painted an old box fan and it looks great! I used red gloss oil paint (Valspar). I am sure that you could use a good spray pain, too.
I’ve always read where one should have at least one black lamp shade, it dresses up the entire room and adds class to the look. Just like a good black dress..think of what you can do with a plain black dress.
Thank you for this great tip! I have a lamp shade that is stained and this will be a perfect fix. You Rock!
I had never thought of painting lampshades – so this is a fantastic idea. I noticed you just used plain old paint. My thought is that you could add fabric medium (purchased in a craft store) – You mix it 1:1 ratio and it is ready for fabric!
To Betty i also had a pleated shade i spray painted it turned out great. Im wondering if it will work on shades that are paper
What a nice looking lamp shade. I have painted one before and it looked pretty good. I like yours thinks for sharing. Cute helper you have there.
So inspired ♥
My husband won’t let me because he believes it’s more flammable this way. True or false? Lol
- Courtenay says March 6, 2015 at 10:03 am
Well, I’d say it’s false based on my experience and observations. Most lampshades are quite far away from the bulb so there isn’t much heat transfer. There are lots of lampshades that you can buy with a painted finish too. Like those black shades that you often see in high-end design with the metallic interiors. Also, if you have any concern at all, you can just use a compact fluorescent bulb instead of a traditional one since they give off less heat. You may have a special kind of lamp that’s really risky, but for most lamps, I think this is a really great project that really makes you feel like you’ve made a big change in your space in such a short amount of time! Good luck convincing your husband.
- Brooke says March 6, 2015 at 11:03 am
Thanks. I covered the lampshade in fabric and that was ‘flammable’ too. *sigh* But maybe your experience will convince him otherwise. Thanks!
Your painted shade looks great! Many years ago I painted a shade and have used it several hours a day almost every day with no problems at all. I don’t think using acrylic craft or fabric paint would present a fire hazard.
Oh my, thanks for sharing this….I was just looking at one of my shades last night and was thinking it looked a bit dingy! Now I must try it!
- Courtenay says May 13, 2015 at 10:23 am
Yes! You must! I love what a big difference this makes in a room and how easy it is! It’s a winner for sure!
Hi, Courtenay:
Thanks for the great DIY you did on that lamp a couple of years ago! Very nice job, ladies!! I just pinned it to my DIY projects board. Why I was looking was that I just bought a sweet little white lamp (for a bedside table) with a butt-ugly coloured shade. I think the colour is called “puce”. Change that ‘c’ to a ‘k’ and you get the idea… Now I think I’ll go through all the bedroom paints, as hubby painted all the bedrooms after the flood in our house (another big story!!) and I should be good to go! Thanks so much!! Hello from CANADA!!
- Courtenay says July 20, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Hello right back from Canada, Laurie! So glad you liked the idea! I can’t believe how well it works, especially since buying new lamp shades can be so ridiculously expensive. Still one of my favorite easy DIYs! Good luck!
I do this all the time, but have no patience for fooling with paint cans and brushes. Just grab a can of spray paint and in about a minute-you´re done. Sometimes I just spray intermittenly creating a nice cloudy type look….using BLUE.
When I painted my shades, I watered down the paint and used a small makeup sponge to apply. It soaks into the fabric better that way. It lightens the color, but if you want it darker, just apply another coat after it dries.
- Courtenay says September 10, 2015 at 9:52 am
Neat trick! I bet the sponge gave you really good coverage too! Thanks for sharing with us, Mary!
I did this many years ago looked good & was a quick update for the lamp but found that after the light had been on it keeped smelling like paint ended up covering it with fabric to solve the problem
- Courtenay says November 6, 2015 at 10:05 am
Mine has never had a painty smell at all! I wonder if it’s because the newer paints are so low-odor compared to the old ones? I have to admit though, that I do miss that fresh-paint smell that you used to get when you painted a room!
Great lamp shade! I’m interested to know if that would work with spray paint. Do you know?
Thanks, Rach
- Courtenay says December 6, 2015 at 9:11 pm
I definitely think it would! I’d be a little cautious about the type of spray paint that you use though because the shiny finish on a lot of paints might end up looking a bit weird. Good luck with it!
Looks good in want to do the same but wasn’t sure of what paint to use.
I am going to try this for an old shade!
still not sure what kind of paint i can use. i have enamel paint that i have been using on glass, not sure if i can use that or not.
- Courtenay says October 22, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Hmm, it might be worth it to just test that type of paint out on a scrap piece of fabric first. I think most paints will work though because the fabric on the shade doesn’t need to be flexible and the paint just kind of absorbs right into the fabric. Good luck!
Do you think it would be possible to go from Dark Burgundy Red to Gray. And how exactly would I do it.
What kind of paint should I use to paint my lampshades? Will the light shine through making it spotty looking when the lamps are turned on?
Hi, I have a lamp shade that I thought at the time was a good idea to rinse it off under water. I let it dry outside and it made water marks on the shade. Well I often thought of painting it as well because I don’t have the talent to cover one by hand. When you did yours, did any stains come through the paint? I guess if I use a dark color, maybe not. But I was just curious. Thanks
- Courtenay says July 20, 2017 at 10:45 am
Hi Emme! I can’t really say for sure, because my shade wasn’t really deeply stained, just kind of dull-looking, but if you’re worried, you could use a primer just like you would on stains on a wall first!
- melanie says February 21, 2018 at 2:44 pm
I went to off white to white colors. I first sprayed a can of primer on the shade and it covered it well. But when I sprayed the white it looked blotchy and looked like clouds and didnt cover it all. I was unhappy with the outcome. I suggest no spray painting it. I thing painting with a brush would look smoother.
Thanks for sharing that post, I would have never thought to try that. A really nice touch of class, a must try.
Make & Paint – 20cm Drum Lampshade Making Kit
Make and Paint your lampshade
Paint the pre-laminated textile panel included in the kit with your design or colour using your own personal style
and then make a unique lampshade that can be used as a pendant (ceiling), or with a suitable table lamp.
Create Stunning Decorative Effects with Painting Techniques.
Using simple painting techniques, you can create stunning effects when you light up the lampshade.
Dragging, Rag Rolling, Sponging, Flicking, Dabbing, Dry-Brush, Washing, are some of the methods you can use to create real decorative interest when lit.
How to make them
Easy to use, follow the step-by-step instructions included.
To view the instructions click on the PDF link below.
Video tutorial
If you would like to view our video tutorial click on the link below.
What type of paint can you use?
You can use any paint that is compatible for fabric and textile application, like Acrylic and Chalk paint products.
Acrylic paints
We supply a fantastic range of quality low-cost Acrylic paints that you can use with our kits, prices start at only £1.88 per 100ml bottle.
These paints can be used on almost any surface compared with other acrylics and can be used for all your projects .
We have 23 colours available in our range, If you would like to see our colour chart click the PDF link below .
For more details about our paints and how to order
Or take a look at related Items below
What type of lamp holder will the lampshade fit when complete?
The lampshade frame included in your kit will fit the standard bayonet cap (BC) lamp holder, this is the most common type of lamp fitting in the UK today.
It can also be used with Edison Screw (E27) lamp holders, most common in Europe, simply remove the converter plug in the centre of the fitting .
What’s in the box
1 x Lampshade ring, epoxy coated
1 x Lampshade ring, epoxy coated with fitting
1 x White Textile Panel (for painting) – 643mm x 206mm – Pre-laminated to 300micron PVC
1 x 3mtr roll self adhesive tape
1 x Rolled Edge tool for finishing
Specifications
Your lampshade can be used in Europe and the UK (includes converter plug)
Lampshade Assembled Size
20cm Diameter x 18cm High
Lining Colour
White
Bulb Advice
We recommend the use of low energy bulbs with your lampshades.
They use less energy and are cool to the touch, avoiding the problem of scorching shades and ceilings.
Testing
Our lampshade materials have been tested and passed the glow wire test carried out by the Lighting Association.
Contact us for test certificates.
Packaging
Cardboard Box Size 235mm x 230mm x 55mm
Weight 285 Grams
How to Order
Select “Add to Cart” at the top of this page
Diffuser
Why not add a diffuser to your frame. Very stylish the diffuser sits underneath the shade when it is used as a pendant, covering the bulb and diffusing the light.
Easy to install sits on the ledge of the bottom ring.
We supply lots of different types to fit your lampshade kit.
Floral Louvered Translucent polypropylene White Foamex with Die Cut
Acrylic paints
We supply a fantastic range of quality low-cost Acrylic paints that you can use with our kits, prices start at only £1.88 per 100ml bottle.
These paints can be used on almost any surface compared with other acrylics and can be used for all your projects .
We have 23 colours available in our range, If you would like to see our colour chart click the PDF link below .
