Instead of buying a brand new lampshade when redecorating or you get bored of your old one, consider changing the color of it. Lampshades made of a natural fibers such as cotton, linen or silk can be dyed with fabric dye. Other fibers can still be changed, but you need to use paint. Both methods work best with lampshades that are originally light in color. Lampshades that are dark, bold, bright or patterned can still be transformed, but results are best if dyed or painted with a darker shade than the original.
Things You'll Need:
- Rubber gloves
- Deep basin or old pot
- Cold water dye
- Old newspaper
- Spray paint or acrylic paint
- Painter's tape or masking tape
- Sponge-tipped paintbrush
- Spray bottle
Tip
With the dye method, try a two-tone look by filling two separate dye baths with different dye colors. Dip the shade bottom-up in one color, then when the dye is almost dry but not completely, dip it top-up in the second color. The two dyes will bleed into each other a little where they meet and blend together nicely.
With the paint method you can do more than just one solid color—paint stripes using masking tape to mark them off neatly, use templates to add decorative motifs, or, if you are artistic, paint a design free-hand.
Dye Method
Wear rubber gloves and mix dye with cold water in a deep basin or old pot, following the instructions on the dye packaging. You need the dye bath to be deep enough to come at least halfway up the sides of the lampshade.
Place the lampshade in the basin or pot of dye. It does not matter if the dye does not fully cover the shade. Let the lampshade sit in the dye for about 30 seconds, then remove it, turn it upside down and put it back in the dye bath for another 30 seconds. Remove the shade from the dye and set it on old newspapers.
Fabric dye will generally only take to natural fibers. It won't soak into synthetic fabrics or metals so there is no need to cover the metal parts of the shade when using this method.
Examine the shade and determine if the color is deep enough. If you want a deeper color, repeat Step 2 as many times as it takes to get the depth of color you desire.
Place the lampshade on newspaper. Allow the lampshade to dry for several hours or until it is completely dry to the touch.
Paint Method
Spread some old newspapers out in your garage, shed or outside and set the lampshade on top of it.
Cover the metal parts of the lampshade with painter's tape or masking tape, unless you want to paint them too.
Shake the can of spray paint and spray the entire lampshade with a thin, even coat of paint. Walk around the shade as you paint it, rather than lifting and moving the shade.
Allow the paint to dry and examine the results. If you want a deeper color or the previous color of the shade still shows through, spray additional coats of paint. Wait for each coat to dry before spraying the next.
Apply acrylic paint, as an alternative to spray paint, in thin coats with a sponge-tipped paint brush. Paint as many coats as it takes to get the look you want, waiting for each coat to dry before applying the next.
Apply a dappled effect using a spray bottle. Mix equal amounts of acrylic paint and cold water in a spray bottle, adjust the nozzle to a fine spray, and evenly spritz the lampshade all over. For a two-tone look, wait for the first color to dry then spray a second color over it.
Remove the tape from the metal parts of the lampshade.
Writer Bio
A writer of diverse interests, Joanne Thomas has penned pieces about road trips for Hyundai, children's craft projects for Disney and wine cocktails for Robert Mondavi. She has lived on three continents and currently resides in Los Angeles, where she is co-owner and editor of a weekly newspaper. Thomas holds a BSc in politics from the University of Bristol, England.
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