How to Cover a Lampshade With Burlap

My daughter in love wanted a ‘lantern lamp’ for her son’s Vintage Americana bedroom decor.  She found one that was a little pricier than she wanted to pay, so she decided to put that on hold

It was a good thing,  because not long afterward, we stumbled upon one at an estate sale. It was vintage (which is so much better)  and just needed a little TLC.

My handyman husband rewired the lamp, just to be safe, and I had a lampshade I could use and decided to cover it with burlap.

Covering a smooth lamp shade is a fairly simple process.

To cover a lampshade you will need your shade and burlap. Some spray glue and trim.

To be sure you have enough burlap simply lay the shade down with the seam on the fabric edge (and make note of where the seam is) and then roll the shade on the burlap making note where the seam meets the burlap again. You may want to trace the path of the shade to make a pattern, but that isn’t really necessary. Just keep in mind that a  shade that is flared, even slightly, will have a curved, circular type pattern/design.

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After you are certain you have enough fabric to cover all the way around the shade, spray your shade all over with the glue.

Next lay your shade down, matching the seam on the shade with the selvage edge of the fabric. The selvage edge is the edge that hasn’t been cut. This will just make your life easier. (No raveling)

covering a lamp shade seam

Now, roll the shade over the fabric smoothing as you roll, ending where you started, at the seam. Cut the fabric, leaving about an inch to turn under at the side seam.

Trim top and bottom flush with lamp.

Finish top and bottom edge with hem binding trim. I used my glue gun. Glue with outside edge along top edge then fold to inside and glue inside down.

Sorry, I didn’t take pics of this step… 🙁  what’s I thinking?????

Here is a close-up of the finished edge. I used folded seam binding first then glued a thin red, white and blue ribbon trim along the edge, also.

Delivered it and made one little boy very happy! It was a perfect addition to his Vintage Americana decor.