And when you DIY, you have the power to control the design details - like the pattern, color and size - so you can make a lampshade that perfectly matches your home's decor.
All it takes is a little bit of creativity, some lampshade-making materials, and an hour of your time to make a totally unique drum lampshade that you can be proud of.
For beginners, we’ve found that the best material to use is plain cotton. It sticks well to the adhesive styrene, as well as the lampshade glue.
But if you want to get more creative, there are plenty of other interesting fabrics and materials you can make a lampshade with! Some of our favorites include wood veneer, fancy papers and tactile materials.
When your materials arrive, it’s time to start making! We have many tutorials and videos on our blog on how to do this. Here's one of our favourites:
Seeing our customers' finished projects is our very favourite thing! It makes us jump around and dance to see the creative twists that folks put on their lampshades, and we often share them with our newsletter subscribers and followers on social media. Tag your project on Instagram with @ilikethatlamp, post a photo to our Facebook page, or send us an email directly to: hello@ilikethatlamp.com.
We still sell all of the same lampshade making supplies that we used to. In the past, we sold them in all-in-one kits that included all of the materials in a single box presentation. We've since decided to deconstruct the kit and offer each piece individually. This way, you're free to mix & match so you get the exact size components that will work best for you, instead of adhering to the height and diameter dimensions that we had previously decided on. Not offering all of the supplies in a kit format gives you even more freedom to make a unique lampshade that you'll love.
Though drum lampshades are the simplest shape to start with, it is possible to make a tapered lampshade using a similar technique and the same materials. Here are links to some tutorials on making tapered lampshades, and panel style lampshades.
Take the easy route and buy your styrene, lampshade rings and tacky lampshade glue right here in our store today!
How to Make a Drum Lampshade
Making your own lampshade is a lot easier than you might expect! And when you DIY, you have the power to control the design details, like the pattern, color and size, so that you can make a lampshade that perfectly matches your home's decor. All it takes is a little bit of creativity, some lampshade-making materials, and an hour of your time to make a totally unique drum lampshade that you can be proud of.
Estimated Project Time
1 hour to make the lampshade + an additional hour for the glue to completely dry.
STEP ONE
Make sure that your fabric is ironed and free of creases before you begin. Then, peel the edge of the paper backing off and lay it down on the backside of the fabric so that it's flush with the edge. Continue peeling as you go and smoothing the styrene with your hand that isn't' rolling. It's fairly sticky so it stays in place nicely, but should you notice a wrinkle it can also easily be pulled back and adjusted.
STEP TWO
Once the styrene is completely rolled out on the fabric, cut the fabric with a 1 inch overhang along each side.
STEP THREE
Run a line of glue along the shorter side and attach it to the edge of the styrene. This will be the edge that eventually shows on the outside of the lampshade.
STEP FOUR
Using the binder clips roll the styrene into a cylinder until it fits the size of the lampshade ring. It takes a little bit of trial and error, but once a good fit is found rest the ring in inside the binder clips.
STEP FIVE
Add a line of glue along the edge of the fabric and then press it down. The ring should rest along the top of the styrene. As you press, use a moulding stick to gently tuck the fabric underneath the ring. You'll do this for both the top and bottom rings.
STEP SIX
Glue down the outside seam. Go bit by bit and wait for the glue to become tacky before moving on to the next part. It will take a solid hour for your lampshade to completely dry.
Lastly... Enjoy your finished DIY Lampshade!
Are you ready to make a unique lampshade using your fave fabric?
We curated the perfect beginner friendly Lampshade Kits with everything you need to make a beautiful lampshade, including:
- Adhesive Pressure-Sensitive Styrene in a Pre-Cut Length
- Spider Fitter Lampshade Rings (For Lamps with Harps)
- Lampshade Glue
- 10 x Binder Clips
- 1 x Moulding Stick
- Illustrated Instructions to Guide You Through the Process
