Lighting can both transform and make any room uncomfortable. Suffice it to recall the hospital cold corridors, and, for example, a cafe, where there is always soft warm light.
Especially in winter, people do not have enough sun, so it is very important that there is always light at home. A special cozy atmosphere can be created with the help of various lamps or floor lamps. However, it is not always possible to choose a lamp suitable for the interior of the room. But do not be upset, because for any lamp you can do.
Do-it-yourself frame and base for a lampshade
First you need to select a lamp or several lamps for which you want to make fabric lampshades. It is better to use lamps with energy-saving or LED lamps. Ordinary light bulbs can simply burn the fabric, so it's best not to risk it.
Before starting work, you need to remove the frame for which the lampshade will be created. If the lamp does not have a frame, then it can be purchased, for example, in a special store or building department.
Also, a frame for any lamp, whether it be a floor lamp, a table lamp or a chandelier, can be made independently. This will require thick wire and pliers.
The shape of the base can be any. It will be easier to make a lampshade for a cylindrical or cone-shaped frame.
How to choose a fabric for a lampshade
First of all, you need to choose the right fabric for the lampshade. You can use light, rigid or dense material. If desired, you can make a lampshade even from wool, it all depends on the idea of the creator and the interior of the room.
If the frame consists of ordinary wire, it is better to use an opaque material to cover it. Dark silk, cotton and taffeta will do.
It is also worth remembering that the color of the fabric can give both cold light and warm light. In the first case, you can use blue or green fabric, and in the second - yellow, orange or red.
Necessary materials for the manufacture of a lampshade
Fabric lampshades can be done in different ways. If the new lampshade is to be glued on top of a regular plain lampshade, then no preparatory work is required.
But if there is only a wire frame, then it is better to paint it first, and then wrap it with light or dark cotton tape.
To make the lampshade look neat, you need to sew it on a typewriter.
In addition, you will need:
- iron;
- simple pencil;
- ruler;
- textile;
- pins;
- threads that match the color of the material;
- kraft paper (or any thick paper, as well as whatman paper);
- glue (you can take a special one for fabric or universal).
When all the necessary materials and tools are at hand, you can start sewing DIY fabric lampshade.
Master class on making a lampshade with your own hands
First step
First you need to make a template to cut off the required amount of fabric.
There are two ways: if the frame is cylindrical, then you can measure the circumference and draw one line on the fabric, and then measure the height and draw a second line. After that, it remains only to draw two more sides of the rectangle and cut out the template.
If the frame is cone-shaped, then you can lay out the paper, take a pencil and gradually roll the frame along the sheet, mark the lines of passage of its sides with a dotted line.
The main thing is that the frame is completely scrolled, for this you can mark the reference point on it with a piece of thread, or a pin. After that, you can connect the lines and cut out the pattern.
Second step
In order not to cut off more, or even worse, less fabric, you need to attach a template to the frame of the lamp - it must fit exactly in size. If the template is larger, you need to cut off the excess paper, if it is smaller, you will have to take measurements again and make a new template.
Third step
When the size of the template matches the size of the base for the lampshade, you can begin to attach it to the fabric. If the material is patterned, you need to position the template so that the drawn elements “look” in the right direction. It is necessary to calculate everything so that, for example, not to cut off the head of a flying bird. Otherwise, the lamp will look ugly.
The template must be applied to the wrong side of the fabric, and then it must be secured with pins. After that, you can carefully circle the template along the contour. If the fabric is dark in color, you can use not a simple pencil, but special fabric crayons or a bar of soap.
After that, you need to draw allowances. To do this, you need to draw lines at a distance of one and a half to two centimeters from the borders of the template.
Fourth step
Without removing the template from the fabric, you need to carefully remove the pins one at a time and wrap the allowances inside. It is necessary to fix the fold lines with pins.
Now you need to remove the template and fill the sewing machine. The threads must be chosen so that they are almost invisible on the fabric.
Fifth step
Now you need to stitch the resulting part on a typewriter. This needs to be done only on three sides - one of the sides must be left unfinished in order to form a seam on the frame itself.
You need to stitch at a distance of five to seven millimeters from the edge. If you wish, you can process slices. But in any case, they will have to be hidden when the fabric is glued to the frame.
sixth step
After that, you need to turn on the iron and iron the fabric blank well. If wrinkled parts remain, the fabric will not adhere well to the base, and the lampshade will look ugly.
seventh step
The next part of the work must be carried out in a room that is well ventilated. First you need to cover the work surface with unnecessary paper or an old tablecloth and lay out the fabric. Then you need to apply glue to it and hold for some time, which is indicated in the instructions for the glue.
eighth step
Now you can glue the fabric to the frame. It is necessary to hide the raw sections, and make the seam in such a way that the lampshade is closed with a stitched edge.
If the lampshade is attached to a wire base wrapped with cotton ribbons, it is not necessary to apply glue to the entire surface of the workpiece, it is enough only to the part that comes into contact with the details of the frame. In this case, you need to stretch the fabric well.
Ninth step
The finished lampshade must be left for a while so that it is completely dry. After about a day, you can put the lampshade on your favorite lamp and enjoy a beautiful item that will definitely become an adornment of any interior.
Fabric lampshade decoration
Table lamp with lampshade looks much nicer than just an ordinary bare lamp. But if a solid color is chosen for the lampshade, then you can decorate it in an original way. Here are some ideas on how to make an interesting fabric lampshade decoration.
Lampshade in Provencal style
In order to decorate a plain lampshade, you will need a piece of fabric and a fringe. Usually used for green, turquoise and pastel shades of colors, checkered colors or floral patterns are also suitable.
First you need to choose a suitable fabric for a plain lampshade and cut out two strips from it - one to decorate the top of the lampshade. This strip of fabric should be long enough to completely wrap around the circle and make a bow. The second strip should have the circumference of the bottom of the lampshade, and a fringe must be sewn to it. You can do this on a sewing machine.
All free edges of the fabric must be processed so that it does not crumble. After that, using glue or thread with a needle, you need to attach the fringe tape to the base of the lampshade so that the fringe hangs down.
Then you need to decorate the top of the lampshade. To do this, you need to glue or also sew the ribbon along the circumference, and tie the free edges with a bow.
Lace can also be used for a Provencal style lampshade. This element is good because it can be simply glued to the fabric.
You can make lace flowers, stripes, or completely glue the fabric lampshade with lace napkins.
Lampshade with fabric flowers
Another unusual idea that will allow table lamp with shade become like a flower bed - decoration with fabric flowers.
Fabric of delicate shades is perfect for flowers, you can use, for example, organza or chiffon, or you can simply take, for example, an old sweater, cut strips and twist roses out of them.
A lampshade can be decorated with just a few flowers, but if you have time and patience, you can make a whole bunch of flowers to completely cover the lampshade.
Do-it-yourself lampshade from scraps
If there are many pieces of different fabrics at home, you can make a lampshade from multi-colored shreds.
In order to make such a lampshade, it is necessary to use the technique of sewing pieces to the fabric base. The easiest way is to cut a piece of fabric to the size of the frame and divide it into several wedges.
Then you need to sew patches to each wedge the way you like - you can sew strips of fabric diagonally, or make small squares. So that the process does not drag out, it is better to use a sewing machine.
After that, all the wedges with patches will need to be sewn together and glued to the base of the lampshade.
Such a lamp can perfectly fit into the country style!
Lampshade made of unusual materials
When the lampshade is made independently, you can give free rein to your imagination and experiment. To make an original thing, you must first find an unusual material.
It is very interesting, for example, in the kitchen, a lampshade made of burlap can look. This fabric transmits light well. Such a lampshade can be decorated with some wooden details, for example, clothespins or wooden beads and buttons.
You can also use grandmother's old lace napkins to decorate. Also on such a lampshade you can write something with white or black paint, as is usually written on bags.
For a teenager's room, you can sew a lampshade in. This will require denim. And you don’t have to buy it, you can just cut old jeans - every person will surely have such a thing.
Such a lampshade can be decorated, for example, with a denim pocket, where you can insert an artificial flower or a piece of a checkered handkerchief. Also for such a lampshade, you can use the application. For this, pieces of leather are suitable.
For example, for a lamp that will stand in a girl's room or bedroom, you can sew a delicate mesh lampshade. This fabric can be found in any sewing store.
It will be interesting to look at the lampshade, which is made of several layers of mesh - it will resemble a ballerina's tutu or a fluffy skirt.
Decorating the house on your own is a favorite pastime of many hostesses, this article reveals how to make a lamp with your own hands. You can revive the interior of a living room, bedroom or hallway with the help of improvised means, only by changing the ceiling of a chandelier, floor lamp or table lamp. Do-it-yourself lampshades for lamps can be used not only in a residential interior, but also in the halls of cafes, pubs, pizzerias.
The choice of materials and lamps for the lamp
Products made for children's rooms should be made from natural non-toxic materials and painted with ecological paints.
When manufacturing, fire safety should also be taken into account, so lampshades made of combustible materials made of paper, plastic, feathers or threads should only be used with lamps that have a low heating temperature.
You need to use LED or fluorescent lamps. They have a number of advantages:
- long service life;
- minimum heating of the base from the glass part;
- light has three shades: warm, cold, neutral.
In addition, such lamps are also called energy-saving, their only drawback is their high cost.
It is also desirable that the connection of the wire to the base be made by a specialist. Do not try to perform this operation yourself, as this may lead to undesirable consequences. It is more convenient to decorate an existing ceiling frame or make it from durable and not very heavy materials.
The following materials are used to create fixtures: scissors, a mounting knife, fishing line, wire, pliers, a hot gun, in some cases it can be replaced with super glue. They should be used by an adult, it is unacceptable to involve a child in gluing. Since in one case he will get a burn, and in the other he can glue his fingers or stick to the details of the future product.
What can you make a plafond from?
Many craftsmen make lamps from completely unnecessary materials:
- from plastic or glass bottles;
- newspapers, thin or colored paper;
- artificial or natural threads;
- dried branches of an unusual shape;
- disposable spoons;
- old disks.
plastic lamp
From plastic containers of different sizes, a homemade chandelier is easily obtained.
- For the base, you need to take a bottle of 5 liters. The bottom is cut off. Then circles with a diameter of 1.5 cm are drawn on the surface. They must be cut with a mounting knife or small scissors.
- The bottom is cut off from the bottles for decor and the entire surface is cut with scissors into strips 0.5 - 1 cm wide, then the workpiece is heated over the lit burner. Under the influence of heat, the stripes will take on a chaotic appearance.
- Then blanks are inserted into a 5-liter container with holes, and lids are screwed on the inside. Then a wire is threaded through the large neck and a ceiling is installed. For such a ceiling, you need to use an energy-saving lamp.
- In some interiors, you can find a fancy lamp made on the basis of an ordinary hanger or a straw hat. In general, nothing can limit the scope of the imagination of both home craftsmen and professional designers.
Plafond from glass bottles
A very interesting version of a homemade chandelier is obtained from glass bottles. They are used to decorate the halls of catering establishments. It is also a good option for a kitchen in a residential building or apartment. This can be a ceiling, consisting of one or more bottles, in which the bottom is cut off. You can do this yourself, but it is better to use the services of a workshop where glass and mirrors are cut.
How to use thread
For a lampshade made of threads or ribbons, you will need: a ready-made frame made of strong wire, threads of different colors, scissors, glue.
- The frame consists of two rings interconnected by metal segments. It can be made independently from durable wire.
- One color or several shades of thread is required.
- A thread is fixed on the lower part, then it must be pulled through the upper ring, lowered down and thrown over the lower ring. It is necessary to ensure that the thread is taut and the coils fit snugly together. As soon as the thread ends, you need to attach the next segment to the lower ring.
- Carefully cut off the rest of the threads and glue them on the back.
Spoons for the lamp
You can make a multi-tiered, colored lamp from ordinary disposable spoons.
- It is necessary to make a wire frame, for a small round lamp you need to make three circles with a diameter of 12, 18, 26 cm. Then the circles are fastened together with a fishing line. The largest diameter will be at the top, there should be the same distance between them.
- In spoons, you need to make a small hole with a thick needle at the top of the handle.
- Spoons are painted with acrylic paints in three colors, for example, yellow, orange, red.
- Assembling a homemade chandelier: the fishing line is cut into a length equal to the distance between the circles. A spoon is tied to one end of the fishing line, and the other to the frame. Yellow spoons should be tied to the lower circle of small diameter, orange to the middle one, and red to the upper one.
Lightweight and sleek shade
For a paper ceiling, paper or thin cardboard is suitable. Such a ceiling can be either rectangular or square. First you need to consider the size of the ceiling, the larger the room, the wider the design can be. In a small nursery or hallway, a ceiling with a diameter of 30 - 35 centimeters will look good.
The frame can be made of wire, it will consist of an upper and lower part, consider the manufacture of a cylinder-shaped ceiling.
- It is necessary to make two circles of wire of the desired diameter. They are interconnected with a fishing line, the distance between the lower and upper frame is 12 - 15 cm, the hoops are fastened with a fishing line in three or four places. The larger the diameter of the base, the more connecting elements must be made.
- On a paper blank, you can draw circles of different diameters, figures of cartoon characters. Outline drawings can be taken from the Internet and printed, then redrawn with carbon paper. A special ruler is suitable for drawing circles, or you can outline caps or buttons of different diameters. Some drawings are cut out completely with a clerical knife, some are cut along the contour.
- The paper is tried on the base and glued with an overlap. Then glued to the wire, can also be fixed with a thin wire. To do this, first make a hole in the paper with a thick needle or awl, then thread the wire and carefully tie it to the frame. It is advisable to glue thin paper, as it is easy to ruin it.
Exclusive ceiling made of metal cans
- Basins made of any metal are used, an interesting option will be obtained from copper or aluminum containers. An old, used basin will also work. If there is a through hole in it, it must be welded or sealed, for example, with epoxy.
- The inner surface must be painted in a light color so that the light reflects from it as much as possible.
- The outer surface can be painted in a dark, saturated color, in harmony with the interior.
- A fringe about 5 centimeters long is glued to the bottom of the rim with hot glue. In the central part of the basin, it is necessary to make a hole for the wire. It can be drilled with a drill or pierced with a nail.
Such a ceiling can be decorated with a mosaic of CDs. To do this, the disks are cut with sharp scissors into small fragments, which are glued to the outer surface of the pelvis. You can glue only the bottom contour, and paint the rest. Or decorate the entire surface of the ceiling with such a mosaic. The more convex the surface, the smaller the disk fragments should be.
natural materials
The original lamp can be made from a dry branch of an unusual shape. It must be cleaned of bark and covered with stain, then, if desired, treated with transparent varnish. The branch must be attached to a hook on the ceiling with a regular fishing line. Then I wind the wire with the lamp several times onto the branch. A branch entwined with several wires looks beautiful.
You can make a lamp out of plastic hangers. Detailed in the video:
Lamps in different rooms
DIY bottle chandeliers are more suitable for the kitchen. Designs made of glass or plastic will be easy to clean from dust and wash if necessary. For the kitchen, hallway or living room, a lamp made of natural wood is suitable.
For a children's room, a ceiling made of painted plastic bottles, a floor lamp made of bright threads or a paper composition is more suitable. The latter option cannot be called durable, but this option will appeal to children. Girls will like the plafond with butterflies, plant elements, boys will like designs with cars, superheroes or bright plastic plafonds.
In some cafes, pubs, original lamps made from bottles are used to decorate the hall. It could be beer bottles. They can serve as both a lamp shade and an interesting frame for a lamp.
Ideas for homemade lamps by location
With your own hands, you can give a new look to the floor lamp. You can decorate the ceiling with fabric, threads, paper with cut-out patterns, and you also do not need to ignore the base and leg of the lamp. They can be painted with acrylics, glazed, decorated with beads. The decor of the lower part of the floor lamp should overlap with the elements in the upper part. The easiest option is to decorate the ceiling of a solid color with lace or guipure.
Decoration of lamps
The lower part of the plafond of threads can be decorated with pompoms of the same size hanging on a thread. They are glued on the inside of the frame with glue. Pompoms can hang at the same or at different heights. They can be made in one color or combined in several shades.
To decorate paper lamps, you can use lace, thick tulle, beads of different sizes. You can decorate glass jars or bottles with glass pebbles, which can be purchased at hardware stores. You can also use buttons of different sizes and colors. Small buttons can be glued even on PVA.
On New Year's holidays, it is customary to decorate the Christmas tree, but you can also decorate the shades of lamps, floor lamps. Here you can use the usual rain, do-it-yourself snowflakes, Christmas tree figurines, decorative balls and an ordinary garland. If an energy-saving lamp is installed in a wall or floor lamp, then its ceiling can be decorated with paper snowflakes.
Wall sconces are installed in living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms. After repair, you can use old sconces only by changing their appearance. You can paint the body of the lamp in a light color, and apply bronze or silver paint on top with a hard bristled brush to create a patina effect. If the ceiling is glass, the pattern you like is applied to its surface using a glass stencil. Here you can use contour (they are used to create a stained-glass window) or spray paints.
Lamps are not just a source of artificial lighting in the interior, but also an important element of decor, without which the composition looks incomplete. You can create bright accents by making a ceiling for a chandelier with your own hands, because it is not at all necessary to spend huge amounts of money on the purchase of designer models. About the nuances of work - read our article!
Where to begin?
When creating a do-it-yourself ceiling lamp, keep in mind that using an ordinary incandescent lamp is not the best idea. It is better to focus on energy-saving light bulbs, which do not heat up so much and, accordingly, do not heat up nearby parts, thereby ensuring safety. In addition, they are quite economical, which allows you not to spend money on electricity, and are also durable.
When choosing a material for a ceiling, focus on both aesthetic properties and technical characteristics. Firstly, it should be environmentally friendly, preferably natural bases that will not spread unsafe substances with minimal heating.
Secondly, the ceiling should not collect a lot of dust: some surfaces, like fabric, are more prone to this than others. Choose an option that is easy to clean, easy to wipe with a damp cloth. This does not apply to paper, but due to the cheapness and simplicity of the material, such a chandelier can always be replaced if necessary.
Thirdly, the chandelier should illuminate the room well without dimming it. However, for some interiors, subdued lights are more suitable: in the nursery, bedroom or living room for an intimate atmosphere. In such cases, you can show your imagination by making a lampshade that creates light patterns in the room. You, as the author, can implement any of your decisions - and this is probably the main advantage of homemade ceiling lamps.
We select a ceiling lamp for the style of the interior
The chandelier can become a bright accent in the interior or its inconspicuous, but important addition. With any choice, the ceiling should harmoniously match the style of the room.
Unfortunately, not every product can be created with your own hands. For example, the classics are characterized by elegant crystal, glass or metal products that cannot be made on their own. But there are other options as well.
Minimalism
The laconic and laconic composition of minimalism can easily be broken due to one extra detail, which will be especially noticeable in such an interior. Regardless of the type of room, simple geometric shapes, the absence of hanging elements, as well as the monotonous color scheme, which is included in the overall palette of the space, will look appropriate here.
Metal frame structures that dim the light a little, or paper shades without decorative details, work well.
Loft
That's where you can really roam, so it's in the loft interior, in which home-made products from unusual materials will look organic. It is not scary if the appearance of the chandeliers betrays their non-manufacturing origin, because many details of this style put forward their imperfection as the main advantage.
For ceiling lamps, it is permissible to use even familiar objects: transparent cans, metal appliances, thread or wire frames. If the ceiling height allows, then a long pendant chandelier with a minimalist cap will be an excellent option.
Scandinavian style
Despite the northern origin, this direction in the interior looks very cozy and modern. Minimalistic in its essence, the Scandinavian style favors natural materials and light, predominantly white colors.
There are many options for the design of a chandelier - the style is not very limited in forms. But not everything can be created independently. Suitable spherical, airy models of thread or paper.
Provence
Coming to us from distant French villages, Provence prefers a simple, cozy aesthetic of natural materials, floral patterns, as well as light shades. Something like this should be the ceiling for the chandelier.
Items made of fabric or rounded lace look appropriate. With a small level of skill, you can ennoble a glass cap with decoupage, thereby saving money - after all, despite its simplicity, authentic Provence involves significant costs in the arrangement.
Paper shades
Despite the fact that paper is not considered the most reliable basis for lampshades, the ease of working with it and the noticeable cheapness made this material very attractive among needleworkers. In addition, with its help you can update the interior at least every month, creating new crafts.
Origami plafonds
Who has not been fond of origami as a child, designing little animals or complex modular paper products? Now you can apply your skills for more practical purposes. However, even people who first encountered this activity can also easily master it and make origami ceiling lamps for the chandelier with their own hands.
These are laconic designs of different geometric shapes that fit perfectly into a modern interior. It is not recommended to use very strong paper, as it does not transmit light well.
Figured products
However, lovers of a more diverse decor can create ceiling lamps of a wide variety of shapes from paper. For example, surround the lamp with paper houses, butterflies or envelopes.
The appearance of such a ceiling also depends on the surface - plain, patterned, newspaper, and so on. Combining these materials, you can achieve completely different effects.
Chinese lanterns
If you have paper lanterns at home, do not rush to use them as an independent ceiling, because this is an excellent basis for other experiments.
It can be pasted over with anything, but in order to avoid a home-made look, we suggest decorating the ball with small paper scales or long “feathers” that will gracefully hang down to the bottom.
Plafonds from threads
Various threads and ropes make an excellent base for a lampshade, which is suitable for creating an intimate atmosphere due to the dimming effect.
graceful cocoon
A round ceiling made of randomly wound threads looks very simple and at the same time stylish. In order for such material to keep the desired shape, it is fixed with glue on a balloon, which is delicately removed after work is completed.
Although the field for creativity here is small, but you can always experiment with colors, weaving in several shades.
Knitted shade
Such a solution from threads looks less chaotic. The main conditions for its manufacture are the ability to knit or the presence of a grandmother who will kindly knit a napkin for you. The finished product must be placed on any basis - a metal frame, a transparent container, a Chinese ball. Similarly with the first option, you can fix the lampshade on the balloon with glue.
Plafonds from bottles
Stylish chandeliers for rooms of different types can be created even from bottles. This includes both glass and plastic containers.
Glass bottles or jars
The principle of working with such a base is simple: choose the most beautiful and hide the lamp in it. Elongated bottles or small jars can be used. It is necessary to make sure that the glass transmits the amount of light necessary for the room, and in case of a lack, several sources can be used.
If the chandelier plays a more decorative function, the bottle can be covered with acrylic paint or painting.
Plastic shades
Plastic bottles should not be used untouched. But to make cheap parts for a homemade ceiling lamp out of them is quite realistic.
Luxurious (as far as this word is generally applicable to plastic) look chandeliers from the bottom of ordinary bottles, which resemble a flower in shape. They are fastened together with wire for better fixation, creating a variety of compositions.
Another option is a 10-liter eggplant, glued with plastic spoons, which are lined up in several rows, like scales. The design will let in a subdued but uniform light, which will additionally decorate the product.
Plafonds made of metal elements
Quite unusual solutions for chandeliers are also offered by metal products. Fortunately, you don’t need to make them yourself, so you won’t need any special metalworking skills. But a spectacular appearance is provided in any case.
Kitchen appliances
Do not rush to throw away old spoons and forks - they will come in handy for creating an original design. By placing a dozen fixtures around the lamp, you will get a great shade for a kitchen chandelier that fits perfectly with the theme.
The same effect can be achieved using, for example, a grater. In general, you can experiment with any appliances, especially if your interior is decorated in a loft style. Just make sure the metal parts don't get too hot.
dome of gears
If you want to add a bit of steampunk to your life, make a chandelier shade out of gears. They can be obtained by dismantling an old bicycle, or bought at a flea market. But the result is definitely worth the effort!
We examined the features of making do-it-yourself ceiling lamps for chandeliers and the most popular solutions from various materials. But of course, there are many more interesting options - our selection of photographs is proof of this. Enjoy watching!
An organza lampshade looks simply amazing, and you don’t need to water such a flower.
Materials and tools:
. Marsh Gold and Turquoise Organza
. Golden green beads
. golden wire
. Acrylic spray paint gold
. Lamp
. Glue
. Pliers
. wire cutters
1. We cut out 40 petals along an oblique line from an organza of two colors.
2. We fold the petals of two colors in pairs and step back from the edge of 0.5 cm. We sew with a zigzag seam with stitches 2 cm wide. Cut off the excess fabric. Lightly pull along the seam of each petal so that the edges are wavy.
3. We cut the wire into 20 segments 10 cm long and fasten at their ends along the bead. We collect blanks in a bundle. We twist the ends of the wire so that a flat leg is obtained. These will be takedowns.
4. Cut off a wire 35 cm long and string 50 beads on it. We bend so that there are 30 beads on one end and 20 beads on the other.
5. Using glue, we fix the petals on the lampshade so that we get a flower.
6. We attach the stamens and a long wire, imitating brushes.
7. Paint the lampshade leg with gold paint.
"Handmade"
making such a lampshade
An ordinary lampshade under an elegant cover looks completely new. The most suitable fabrics are light, rigid and transparent. Choose such tones so that a warm, caressing light comes from the lamp, white, cream and pink shades create a good mood. You can successfully use the old lampshade. For an ugly frame, take an opaque fabric - taffeta, light silk or thin cotton. If you like the color of the lampshade, let the design show through the transparent cover.
Curly lampshades
According to this method, the lower cover and the gathered upper cover are sewn separately, which are held on by an elastic band. The lining is put on the lamp and the upper edge of the lampshade, and the outer cover is attached a little lower, while the junction is hidden under a wide ribbon. Decorate the cover with a silk ribbon, light braid, emphasize its narrowed part with a bow, rosette or silk flower - this is a convenient occasion to practice with decorations. You will need: Concave frame or lampshade. Centimeter, ruler, pencil and scissors. Paper. Textile. Threads. Elastic band 6 mm wide. 2 safety pins. Tape 50 mm wide.
Measurements. Measure the lower circumference (A) with a centimeter, add 4 cm for the seam. Measure the length of the side (B), add 8 cm to the drawstring for the elastic. Determine the height of the outer cover (C) and add 1.5 cm for the hem. Write down your measurements. 
Calculation of fabric consumption. According to the measurements taken, taking into account the allowances for the seams, draw a rectangle AxB on paper. Draw a second rectangle, taking into account the gathering allowance Cx2A. Determine the fabric consumption from the pattern - you need to cut one rectangle of each size.
Open. Poke the pattern onto the fabric with pins along the lengthwise and cut out the outer cover and lining.
Stitching lining and cover. Stitch the short sections of the lining with a French stitch. On open sections, stitch the drawstrings, tucking them first by 3 mm, then by 12 mm. On each drawstring, leave unsewn sections to thread the elastic. French stitch the short sections of the outer cover. Turn one long edge 3mm over and stitch. Tuck it in again by 3mm and stitch again.
Lining fit. Thread the elastic bands into the drawstrings, fasten the ends with pins. Put the cover on the lampshade, tighten the elastic bands so that the cover fits the lampshade. Trim the ends of the elastic bands and sew them together. Sew the drawstrings with a hidden seam.
How to measure the elastic band for the outer cover. Wrap the rubber band around the lampshade at the level of the top edge of the cover. Stretch the elastic band slightly so that the cover fits snugly. Cut off the elastic and sew the ends.
Attaching a rubber band. Fold the elastic in four, mark the folds with pins. Fold the cover in the same way and mark the folds. Pin the elastic to the upper edge of the cover from the wrong side, matching the marks. Stretching the elastic and gathering the cover in folds, stitch the elastic in a zigzag pattern.
Finishing. Place the outer cover over the lining already placed on the lampshade. Tie a ribbon around the constriction to cover the line where the covers join, attach with a few stitches. Decorate the lampshade with a bow, rosette or flower.
Lampshade - "coolie"
For a conical lampshade, you can also sew a cover. Here are the instructions for sewing the flowered sheer fabric lampshade cover mentioned above. Such a cover is simply glued to a small white conical lampshade. If you do not have an old lamp that can be refurbished, pick up an inexpensive lampshade that matches the color in the store. You will need: Tapered lampshade. Centimeter, ruler, pencil, scissors. Newspaper. Threads. Tape 35 mm wide for tying the top and for the bow. Glue universal.
Measurements. Measure the bottom edge of the lampshade (A), add 4 cm for the seam. Measure side (B), add 6 mm. Draw a 2AxB rectangle on paper, taking into account the seam allowances and calculate the fabric consumption. 
Open. Cut out a rectangle of fabric according to the pattern along the share. Sew short sections with a French seam. 
Hem. Fold one end in 3mm and topstitch. Tuck the edge 3mm again and stitch again.
Trimming the top edge. Fold the cover in four, mark the folds with pins. Sew along the top edge twice, starting and ending at the pins. Mark four equal sections on the top edge of the lampshade with a pencil. Put the cover on the lampshade and, matching the marks, adjust it to fit the size. Spread the gathers evenly, fasten the threads and remove the cover. 
Top binding. Cut the ribbon so that it covers the top edge, add 1.5 cm to sew the ends with an overlap. Fold the tape over the gathered edge, tuck one edge, attach the tape. Sew the tape to the edge, grabbing both sides and gathers into the seam. 
Finishing. Put the cover on the lampshade, glue with universal glue in several places. Tie the remaining ribbon in a bow at the glued area to hide it.
Advice. Tulle lampshade. In order to better hold the cover of thin and soft fabric on the lampshade, it can be reinforced with a stiff tulle lining. Measure the distance from the edge of the lampshade on one side to the edge on the opposite side through the top. Cut a circle of this diameter from tulle. Drape it symmetrically on the lampshade and cut out a circle to cover the top. Sew the cover as above, but baste the lining before you tape the top edge.
The color of the lampshade under a transparent cover with a small frill at the top harmonizes perfectly with the decor of the room. Sew a cover, as for a conical lampshade. Close the gathering seam with a ribbon with a bow or a garland of roses.
Types of lampshades
Making a lampshade with your own hands is not difficult at all - this is a good way to save money.
Table lamps and pendant lights play a prominent role in the interior. These are not just light sources in the house, but also important decor elements. You can reduce spending on decor and choose the perfect lamp if you make a lampshade with your own hands. 
What you need to make a lampshade
Kits for most of our models are commercially available. But if you do not have an unusually shaped lampshade, you can find an original old model in a thrift store that you can decorate to your liking.
Frames. The frame consists of upper and lower rings connected by uprights and a lampshade base. The rings and the shape of the uprights determine the type of lampshade. For example, in a lampshade in the form of a cylinder, the diameters of the upper and lower rings are the same. The rings are connected by straight vertical posts. The elegant "concave empire" lampshade has an upper ring smaller than the lower one and the pillars are gently curved inwards.
Materials. To make and fit the frame, you will need: A strong, tightly woven cotton ribbon that is wrapped around the frame so that the lampshade can be sewn on. Self-adhesive paper tape if the lampshade will not be sewn on. Enamel for painting a metal frame.
Textile. When choosing fabric for a lampshade, follow the rules: Look through the fabric at the lamp and check how it transmits light. For an unlined lampshade, you need a thick fabric that will hide the contours of the lamp and racks. If the contours are visible through the lampshade, make a lining. The fabric sets off the light of the lamp. For example, blue and green lampshades give a cold light, red and yellow - a warm reflection.
Fittings. Attachments for lamp fittings are attached to each frame. Usually, the lampshade of a table lamp is attached to its stand by a suspension ring with spacers or to a special frame that rests directly on the armature; small “candle” lamps have clips that hold the lampshade. The lampshades of the pendant lamps are suspended from the armature.
Parchment paper for a smooth lampshade. Self-adhesive PVC sheet is a rigid polyvinyl chloride sheet to which fabric or other material can be glued. A decorative trim that is glued or sewn on to mask the seams and finish off the lampshade.
A dark heavy fabric lampshade lets in light from above and below and creates a directed stream of light.
A thick fabric is not suitable for a pleated lampshade. On the expanding lampshade, the pattern is more distinct at the bottom. Check how the folded piece of fabric looks.
For a curly lampshade, soft, easily draped fabrics are needed. The pattern of the fabric should fit nicely diagonally.
Frame manufacturing
Before covering the lampshade frame with fabric, it must be prepared depending on the type of frame and the fitting material. For example, if you are making a cardboard hood on a plastic-coated frame, no preparation is required. The metal frame should first be painted with white enamel so that it does not rust. The old frame must be cleaned with sandpaper. If you will sew the lampshade to the frame, then you must first paint the frame and wrap it with tape, after which you can sew on the cover.
Frame painting. If the metal frame is not covered with PVC, it should be painted. Remove rust marks with sandpaper. Sand the frame so that bumps and protrusions do not damage the fabric. Paint the uprights and rings with white enamel, but don't touch the center ring. 
Frame wrapping. If the frame is covered only with fabric, then you need to wrap it with cotton tape. Do not wind the suspension and fittings of the ceiling light. To calculate the amount of webbing, measure the length of each post and the circumference of each ring and multiply by 3. This will be the total length of the webbing. If a white ribbon shows through the dark fabric, paint the ribbon to match the color of the lampshade.
Rack wrap. Cut strips of tape 3 times the length of the stand. Start work from the top end of the rack. Wrap the end of the ribbon around the ring, then around the post to secure the end. With light tension on the tape, wrap the upright in a spiral from top to bottom so that each turn covers and holds the previous one. The finished winding must not move. 
Winding fastening. When you reach the bottom of the rack, wrap the braid around the ring, thread the end into the last turn to make a knot. Tighten the braid tightly and leave a free end. Wrap all the racks in this way, except for one. 
Wrapping the top ring. Measure the circumference of the top and bottom rings and the height of the last unwrapped post. Cut the string to the given length. Roll up the tape and secure with a rubber ring, leaving a free end of 20 cm. Hold the end of the tape in front of the top ring at the unwrapped rack. Pass the ribbon over the ring over the free end, secure the end. 
Completion of work. Wrap the top ring, wrap the braid around each rack with a “figure of eight”. Having reached the unwrapped rack, secure it with a “figure of eight” and wrap it from top to bottom. Make a figure eight at the bottom and wrap the bottom ring. On each rack, cut the ends of the braid to 1 cm and hide them under the wound “eight” braid. When finished winding, cut all ends of the braid to 6 mm, tuck and sew by hand. 
How to choose a base stand
The lampshade and the stand-base of the lamp must form a single whole. There are a few principles to keep in mind when choosing a base stand and lampshade. The lampshade should completely cover the fittings, but not the lamp stand-base. The bottom diameter of the lampshade should be twice as wide as the widest point of the base stand. The height of the lampshade should be 1-2 times the height of a round or vase-shaped base stand. The height of the lampshade for the stand-base and candle should be 1/3 of the height of the stand. 
