Creating a beautiful home for you and your family to enjoy is important.  With a little ingenuity, our homes can be a reflection of our family’s personalities and interests. The process of decorating your home does not need to be time-consuming or expensive.  How to make a charming pleated lampshade using only things you have on hand, with a zero budget? Now, that is the question!  I will show you how I created this easy DIY project using a recycled dress and lampshade to update my daughter’s room.  

I first saw this idea on Instagram of course!  The talented Erin from Southern Home and Living gave a tutorial that inspired me, which I adapted into the version and method depicted here at The Peaceful Haven!  You can check Erin’s video out HERE

 

Supplies

fabric (I used an old dress of mine)

sewing scissors

measuring tape

iron

straight pins

hot glue gun

hot glue sticks (I purchase these sticks in bulk)

lampshade (I reused the faded lampshade in my daughter’s room)

 

 

How To Make A Charming Pleated Lampshade

 

How To Make A Charming Pleated Lampshade

Step One

Find a fabric that you like and will look nice on a lampshade. For my size lampshade, I used approximately half a yard of fabric.  Measure your lampshade and cut your fabric strips four inches longer than the length of the lampshade and one inch wider than the finished width of the fabric strips.  The width and length of the fabric strips will be determined by the size of your lampshade.  These strips (pictured)  are 2 1/2 inches wide. 

 

 

How To Make A Charming Pleated Lampshade

Step Two

Fold both sides of the fabric strip under by 1/4 -1/2 inch and iron them into place. Be careful using a hot iron and follow all of the safety instructions for your particular iron. 

 

 

How To Make A Charming Pleated Lampshade

Step Three

This was the fun part for me! You will start by laying one strip at a time onto the lampshade, making sure to fold over each fabric strip, an inch at the top. Overlap each of the strips slightly on the top ring of the lampshade.  Take a straight sewing pin and attach each strip by sticking a pin straight through the fabric. You will see that there are triangle-shaped gaps on the larger end of the lampshade, that is OK because…once you have gone around the lampshade one time, you will start a second row that will cover the gaps at the bottom of the lampshade. 

 

How To Make A Charming Pleated Lampshade

Step Four

Now, it’s time to heat your hot glue gun. Make sure to read the directions for your particular hot glue gun and employ safety precautions.  First, glue in place each fabric strip around the top of the lampshade. Remove the pins as you go around. I found it easiest to glue the first layer and then the second layer of strips.  Lastly, glue the fabric strips to the bottom rim of the lampshade.  You should have at least an inch of fabric left on each strip to turn under the lampshade and glue. 

 

 

Are you looking for more Easy DIY Home Decor Projects?  Click HERE!

 

 

YOUR TURN…

What is your favorite DIY home decor project in your home? 

 

Peacefully Yours, 

Janelle 

 

*This post may contain affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting The Peaceful Haven! 

Janelle Esker

Janelle Esker is the grateful wife of Michael and homeschooling mother of six amazing children. She lives with her family, 4 cats, 1 dog, 3 ducks and 12 chickens in scenic Ohio. Janelle received her B.A. in Education from Ohio Northern University. She is the author of CHOSEN: One Family's Journey with Autism.

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