Elevate a Plain Lampshade with a Pleated Fabric Finish

Here at Blackbird Cottage, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as transforming everyday home essentials into something special with a bit of fabric and creativity. Not long ago, the shade on my favourite pineapple lamp suffered a sad demise. I could have thrown it out but, instead, I bought a budget shade and decided to create a pleated fabric lampshade. So in this post, I’m showing you how to give a plain, old lampshade a fresh, cottage-inspired look by adding pleated fabric. This is a simple and budget-friendly project that’ll instantly elevate the space with a touch of charm.

Materials:

• A plain lampshade (any size or shape works!) My replacement lampshade came from Bunnings.
• Fabric of your choice (I opted for a leafy green block print that feels right at home in a cottage setting)
• Scissors and possibly a paper cutter (I used my Cricut cutter)
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Fabric glue or hot glue gun
• Scotchguard spray (optional)

What To Do

The first step when creating a pleated fabric lampshade is obviously to choose a fabric to coordinate with your room. When selecting fabric, I go for something that complements the cozy, natural feel of cottage living. For this project, I found a gorgeous block print style pattern with soft, leafy greens on Etsy. You want to make sure the fabric isn’t too thick, as it needs to pleat easily, allow a little light through the shade, but also has enough texture and pattern to enhance the look of your space. This fabric is a cotton/linen blend and perfect for the job.

First, measure the height of your lampshade. Then, cut strips of fabric slightly longer than the height to allow for overlap at the top and bottom. I used a my Cricut cutter and ruler to ensure each strip was the same width—about 4cm worked beautifully for a subtle pleated effect. Overall, I cut 45 strips. You’ll need about half a meter to complete the project, depending on the height and diameter of your shade.

Next, heat up your glue gun and, while it’s warming, fold each strip in half lengthways and iron flat. Now, starting at the back seam of the lampshade, begin attaching the fabric strips.. Run a small line of glue along the top and bottom edges of the shade, placing the fabric strip along it. Then, gently fold the fabric over the top and bottom, securing each fold with a dot of glue. Continue around the entire shade, making sure the pleats are evenly spaced for a polished look. For the last pleat, you will need to create a strip with the raw edges folded into the centre so they can’t be seen. This will fill in the final gap that can’t be overlapped.

Finishing Touches

Once the fabric is securely attached, trim any excess at the top and bottom of the inside of the shade for a clean edge. Cover with ribbon or bias tape if you wish. For extra durability, you can apply a thin coat of Scotchguard Spray over the fabric, though this is optional if you prefer the natural fabric finish.

And there you have it! A cozy, pleated lampshade that adds texture and warmth to any room. This simple project proves that with just a little bit of fabric and creativity, you can bring timeless cottage charm to everyday pieces.