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You are here: Home / Maps / How To Make A Unique Denim And Vintage Map Lampshade

How To Make A Unique Denim And Vintage Map Lampshade

30th May 2018 by Claire Armstrong 32 Comments

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Denim Upcycled Floor Lamp with A Road Map Lampshade

When I first started this upcycle I had no intention of combining my two favourite materials to repurpose; old jeans and maps. I was just going to make a scallop map lampshade for an old floor lamp of mine.
 
It was when I couldn’t find enough ribbon to trim my paper map lampshade that I got the idea to use denim hems instead. As I had loads of them. Then as I was gluing the denim trim to the map lampshade, I thought perhaps I could go further with the denim.
 
So instead of simply painting the lampstand, I decided to cover it with denim fabric.
 
I now have a unique denim and map floor lamp in my living room, which I love. Using a roadmap of somewhere special adds another personal wow factor to the lampshade.
 
The shade was made from very old roadmaps, from the days when they were printed on linen paper. I’d picked the roadmaps up from a local flea market for just a couple of pounds which was cheaper than if I’d bought gift wrap or craft paper to use instead.
 
(Vintage roadmaps are readily available on eBay. This is a good place to look if you want one of a particular area. I also find elderly relatives often have a stash of unwanted out of date roadmaps.)
 
If you are wondering whether a paper map lampshade is a fire hazard. The shade of this particular floor lamp is large enough that the paper won’t get near enough to the bulb to get hot. Also, modern LED light bulbs don’t get as hot as the old style bulbs. However, if you are still not convinced it’s simple enough to spray the map shade with some fire retardant.
 
 
Upcycled denim floor lamp with map lampshade
 
 
This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to see my disclosure policy.
 
 

What you need to make an upcycled denim floor lamp with a map lampshade

  • Maps – I used 2 vintage roadmaps, but you can use any maps you want. I have some free printable vintage maps here that you can download and use.
  • Lampshade frame – Scallop lampshades are easy enough to pick up cheaply in flea markets and thrift shops.
  • Strong tacky glue
  • Hot glue gun
  • Fabric Mod Podge
  • Heavy paper or card to make a template
  • Pencil & Scissors
  • Ribbon for trim
  • Clothes pegs or bulldog clips
  • Electric staple gun
  • A pair of old jeans, and extra denim waistbands and seams

 
denim scraps and floor lamps
 
 

How to make a Map lampshade for a scallop lamp

  1. First thing to do is to remove the old lampshade cloth so that you are left with just the scallop wire frame.
     
    Scallop Lampshade wire frame
  2.  
     

  3. Scalloped lampshades are often divided into 8 equal sections. Using the paper make a template of one of the sections, but make it with a seam allowance of aprox 10mm all the way around.
  4.  

  5. Next, place the template on the map and draw around it with a pencil. Then cut out the map shape. Make sure you have 8 of these, one for each section of the scallop lampshade.
     
    Cutting out map section for scallop lampshade
  6.  
     

  7. The next thing to do is to smear strong tacky glue onto one wire section of the lampshade and carefully stick down the map. Do not use the hot glue gun as that dries too quickly. You will want time to maneuver the map into place before the glue sets.
     
    Gluing map to wire lampshade frame
  8.  

  9. Place glue onto the wire of the next section of the lampshade. Also apply glue to the long edge of the next map section. As you stick down this map to the lampshade glue the two edges of the maps together along the 10mm seam.
     
    Pinching map edges together
     
    Gluing road map to lampshade frame
  10.  
     

  11. Repeat this process, until the whole of the lampshade wire is covered in maps. Becareful not to damage the bottom edge of the lampshade as you work. So either work with the shade in place on the floor lampstand, or upside down.
     
  12.  

  13. To neaten up the top edge of the lampshade, using a fabric glue, stick ribbon around the top of the wire frame.
     
    Sticking on top ribbon to lampshade
  14.  
     

  15. To finish off the lampshcde, cut the denim seams to the size of each section. There will be 8 pieces in total. Cover each piece of denim trim with fabric Mod Podge and stick them to the bottom scalloped edge of the map lampshade.
     
    Keep the trim in place with clothes pegs and clips as the glue dries.
     
    Sticking denim trim to map lampshade

 
 
Upcycled vintage map lampshade
 
 

How to cover a lampstand in Denim

  1. First, dismantle the floor lamp. With most floor lamps, you should be able to unscrew the base and then the stand. To cover the base in denim place the base on top of a large piece of denim. Such as a leg opened out at the seam.
  2.  

  3. Draw around the base onto the denim with a generous seam allowance. Cut out the denim piece and wrap it around the base securing it in place with a staple gun underneath. Find where the hole in the base is for the lampstand to screw it in is. Cut away the denim to expose this hole and stick down the edges with fabric glue to protect them from fraying.
     
    Covering the base of a floor lamp in denim
  4.  
     

  5. I used a combination of denim waistbands and seams to cover the lampstand. First, paste the denim strip (waistband or seam) with fabric Mod Podge on the wrong side. Attach one end of the denim strip to the end of the lampstand with a hot glue gun.
  6.  

  7. Then wrap the denim strip around the stand in a spiral, making sure all the wood is covered. Secure the end of the strip with hot glue. Start the next denim spiral where the last one finished. Continue until the whole stand is covered.
     
    The hot glue holds the denim in place as the fabric glue dries.
     
    Covering floor lampstand in denim

 
 
When the glue has dried, screw your lampstand back together and put on the map lampshade. If you’ve bought an old floor lamp you may need to re-wire it. This is very simple and you can easily buy new electrics for your lamp.
 
Vintage denim and road map floor lamp
 
 
Upcycled floor lamp with roadmaps and denim
 
 
I love that I managed to repurpose two of my favourite things, jeans, and maps with this floor lamp. If I had just painted the lampstand it would have still looked lovely with the vintage map lampshade. But I just couldn’t help myself and had to add denim when I saw the possibility! It all goes really well with the decor in my house.
 
Upcycled Vintage denim and road map floor lamp
 

How to make a roadmap lampshade
 

Upcycled scallop lampshade with vintage road maps

 
Don’t forget to check out my other map crafts and my denim upcycles for the home. Or for more lamp upcycles check out DIYideacenter.com
 
Awesome Denim DIYs for the home
 
 

Filed Under: Denim, DIY Upcycling, Maps Tagged With: denim, floor lamp, jeans, lamp, lampshade, lampshades, light, map, maps, seams, standard lamp, upcycled, waistband

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Donna

    26th February 2019 at 5:05 pm

    I love this idea ?..but the wrapped denim makes it look crafty,I’m thinking jute twine instead ,love the pictures and your information was very very helpful.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      27th February 2019 at 6:57 am

      Good luck with it and I’m sure the wrapped twine wil look good too.

      Reply
  2. Linda at Mixed Kreations

    13th January 2019 at 4:40 pm

    Oh how cool! Love the map shade and adding the demin is a nice touch. Love your demin planter as well. Super cute.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      14th January 2019 at 7:34 am

      Thank you, Linda. I made the planters last year.

      Reply
  3. Maria

    9th January 2019 at 6:25 pm

    Very cute, love the different textures on this lamp.
    Maria

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      9th January 2019 at 7:07 pm

      Thank you so much Maria

      Reply
  4. Lins @ Boo & Maddie

    29th June 2018 at 7:49 pm

    I’m sure Claire you must have the world’s supply of discarded denim! I love this it’s so unique. Thank you for linking up to #HomeEtc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      29th June 2018 at 7:58 pm

      No, I just have 3 sons that get through a lot of jeans. Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Ivory

    22nd June 2018 at 2:14 am

    This is beautifully done. I love this project! I gotta give it a try making a lamp like this too. I have an old lamp that need a new shade, and one like this would be perfect.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      22nd June 2018 at 5:25 am

      Thank you, Ivory. It is quiet simple to do, old maps printed on linen paper work best.

      Reply
  6. MEDINA GRILLO

    14th June 2018 at 12:54 am

    This is so clever claire- I would never have thought to use vinateg maps for the shade!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      14th June 2018 at 7:48 am

      Thank you Medina, they work really well.

      Reply
  7. Caro | The Twinkle Diaries

    11th June 2018 at 9:11 am

    What a brilliant make Claire! I love the map effect on the lampshade. My Granny had something similar when I was growing up — this just reminded me of it!! #HomeEtc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      11th June 2018 at 1:30 pm

      Thank you, Caro. It sounds like your granny had some interesting furniture.

      Reply
  8. Name*

    6th June 2018 at 7:55 pm

    Truly a work of art! Beautifully done!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      7th June 2018 at 10:31 am

      Aww, thank you so much!

      Reply
  9. Meera

    6th June 2018 at 10:22 am

    That’s turned out super cute! Love it! #HomeEtc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      6th June 2018 at 1:32 pm

      Aww, thank you I’m really pleased with it.

      Reply
  10. Becky at PinksCharming

    6th June 2018 at 7:55 am

    This is so unique and the instructions are so easy to follow! Thanks for sharing x #homeetc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      6th June 2018 at 1:32 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  11. El INVENTARIO DE MJ

    4th June 2018 at 4:10 pm

    Un trabajo espectacular !!
    La tela del pantalón vaquero es sorprendente …me gusta mucho el resultado!!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      5th June 2018 at 9:38 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  12. Audra @ Renewed Projects

    3rd June 2018 at 4:39 pm

    This is such a unique and wonderful project! Great tutorial on the map lampshade. I tried one once and it didn’t turn out as beautiful as this. I put fabric on first and then Mod Podged the maps over it. Too messy. Thanks for the photo directions, I’ll have to give this a try. Pinning to my DIY Lamps board for future reference.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      3rd June 2018 at 8:00 pm

      Thank you. No need to use fabric, if you use old maps that are printed on linen paper. They are pretty robust.

      Reply
  13. creativejewishmom/sara

    3rd June 2018 at 8:47 am

    Love it, Claire, you are amazing! I have a whole pile of lampshade frames waiting for their limelight, and this is so simple, thanks! And thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      3rd June 2018 at 2:19 pm

      Thank you, Sara. I do like making my own lampshades, I can never find the ones I want in the shops for the price I want to pay.

      Reply
  14. Cecilia MyThriftStoreAddiction

    1st June 2018 at 7:51 pm

    This is fabulous Claire. Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      2nd June 2018 at 5:44 am

      Thank you, Cecilia.

      Reply
  15. Kathy A

    31st May 2018 at 4:01 pm

    I love that lampshade! Depending on the colors of trim, it can be beachy, mancave-ish or feminine. I am giving my old dusty off-white shirred shades a dirty look. I wonder if I can make a template of a plain round shade! Will add lamp shade frames to my list of stuff to look for!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      31st May 2018 at 6:22 pm

      Thank you Kathy. A plain round lampshade would be much easier to do.

      Reply

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