Upcycling Lampshades with Wallpaper
A couple of weeks ago I revamped my stairs with wallpaper. They went from dull and dirty to bright and cheery. I used a classic Marimekko wallpaper which was a bit Marmite (you either loved or hated it !), luckily my family and I loved it. To complete the look I decided to use the leftover wallpaper to revamp my lampshades in the hallway too. Now my lampshades match my stairs, how cool is that !
My craft buddy Wendy first showed me how to wallpaper lampshades, as she’s always doing it. Wendy’s more into Orla Kiely than Marimekko though. It is really easy to do.
I love wallpaper, not on necessarily on my walls but I love to use it in my upcycling projects. Wallpaper comes in so many fantastic patterns and colours, it’s a great way to get that designer look really cheaply. Customizing accessories round the home enable you to get that unique look. I have wallpapered, bins, tables, lampshades, mirrors and suitcases.
As well as looking fantastic, wallpaper is a lot easier to use than other papers when it comes to upcycling. It is more robust, and flexible enabling you to reposition your paper till you get it right.
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What you need to make wallpaper lampshades
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How to wallpaper lampshades
1.Measure both the circumference and the height of your lampshade. Add about 5mm-10mm to the circumference, to allow for a small overlap. You will be wrapping the wallpaper over the top and bottom wire ring of the wallpaper so you will want to allow for an overlap of approximately 7mm either side (14mm in total).
2. Using the rotary cutter and mat cut your wallpaper to size, whilst taking into account how the pattern will look once on the shade. Lucky for me the Marimekko Unikko wallpaper I had used on the stairs was perfect for the lampshades. The pattern was small and it didn’t matter which way up it went.
3. Stick the double sided tape to the top and bottom rim of the lampshade. You want to stick the tape so that you can fold it over the wire rim, so half the tape is on the outside of the lampshade and the rest is on the inside rim.
4. Lay out your cut wallpaper. After removing the outer layer of the double sided tape place the lampshade on the wallpaper. Making sure the lampshade is lined up straight carefully roll up the wallpaper round the shade. It should stick to the sticky tape.
5. Using another piece of sticky tape to join the overlap of the two ends of wallpaper.
6. Finally wrap the top and bottom wallpaper overlap round the wire frame. This should stick, depending on the quality of your double sided tape. If struggling, you can always use a bit of glue to help it along.
My lampshades were easy to wallpaper as they were drum lampshades. I have wallpapered cone shaped lamp shades before but this is more complicated. With cone shape shades you will need to make a paper template of the shade and then use this as a guide to cut your wallpaper. You will be cutting a curved shape rather than a straightforward strip of wallpaper.
You don’t have to stick with wallpaper to revamp lampshades you can use fabric in the same way.
Wallpapering the two lampshades in the hallway to match the stairs have really help finish off my hallway revamp. I have some more great wallpaper decor ideas coming soon, so watch this space.
Sam Weaver
30th April 2019 at 1:33 amIt’s good to know that using and having small patterns of wallpaper for your lamp shades are better because these will fit perfectly on your lamps. I have been thinking of redecorating our house using our lamps shades and also planning to buy new ones. I think cute and circle dotted wallpapers will give a young vibe at home. Buying additional fun lamp shades will also be a great idea to achieve a more entertaining atmosphere at home.
Claire Armstrong
30th April 2019 at 6:22 amThank you. I like the sound of dotted wallpaper.
Pili
24th June 2016 at 9:16 amWhat a bright idea, Clair!! I was wondering how you did it and it surprised me you used double sided tape, so easy and clean. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing with us!
Claire Armstrong
24th June 2016 at 9:50 amThank you ! Yes double sided tape is great. Also makes it easy to change.
Tuula @ Thrifty Rebel Vintage
23rd June 2016 at 2:37 amLove, love, love you lampshade Claire! It looks fabulous with your stairs. Thanks so much for sharing at Vintage Charm.
Claire Armstrong
23rd June 2016 at 6:11 amThank you very much ! Yeah I love that they match now,
Christine
20th June 2016 at 2:52 pmSuch a great way to add that pop every room needs. Thanks for sharing it at the DI & DI Link Party.
Claire Armstrong
20th June 2016 at 7:53 pmThank you !
janet trieschman
20th June 2016 at 12:49 amWhat a great idea – I love the look. Thanks for sharing your post with us at Creatively Crafty #CCBG http://tryit-likeit.com/link-party-it
Claire Armstrong
20th June 2016 at 7:53 pmThanks !
LydiaF
19th June 2016 at 7:08 pmLove this project. It’s a great way to change the look of a room. Thanks for sharing with us at Creatively Crafty #ccbg.
Claire Armstrong
19th June 2016 at 11:12 pmThank you very much.
creativejewishmom/sara
19th June 2016 at 8:45 amlove it Claire…..now I think I need some of these pendant lampshades too….thanks for sharing on craft schooling sunday!
Claire Armstrong
19th June 2016 at 5:32 pmThank you !
Stacey
18th June 2016 at 10:40 pmThis space really needs to be in a magazine! The stairs and now the lampshades are so fun. I think unique lampshades are one of the best decorating tricks.
Thank you for sharing this at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Pinned.
Claire Armstrong
19th June 2016 at 7:28 amThank you so much you are very kind.
Wendy
17th June 2016 at 1:12 pmOkay…your projects have once again wowed me! Is there a website where you buy Orla Kiely wallpaper?
Claire Armstrong
17th June 2016 at 10:39 pmSorry but I’m in the UK where there are loads of places to get Orla Kiely wallpaper on-line (wallpaperdirect and JohnLewis ) and I have even bought half rolls on ebay just for crafts. But I don’t know about the US, I’m sure there will be some sites soon.
Suzy Godfrey
16th June 2016 at 12:18 pmpretty clever idea and I like how it all matches!
Claire Armstrong
16th June 2016 at 12:45 pmThanks, yes its a great way to coordinate your decor.
Susanne
15th June 2016 at 6:59 pmWhat a great idea! Have you tried this with pre pasted wallpaper?
Claire Armstrong
15th June 2016 at 7:03 pmThanks ! No I haven’t, I didn’t even know there was such as thing as prepasted wallpaper. I just use the regular stuff in rolls.
Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled
15th June 2016 at 12:42 pmI love how the shades match your stairs. It looks so great! I also just noticed the dog at the top of the stairs – cute! Visiting from Redo It Yourself Inspiration.
Claire Armstrong
15th June 2016 at 3:01 pmThank you very much. I also love that my shades match my stairs.
Robin @Redo It Yourself Inspirations
14th June 2016 at 7:54 pmWow! What a great way to add color and design! You are so clever!
Pinned to my “Lampshades” Board!
Claire Armstrong
14th June 2016 at 8:12 pmThank you ! Wallpaper is great there are so many things you can do with it.