Lamp shades add colour, sparkle to home

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/12/2002 (8397 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lamp shades are a great item with which to infuse small splashes of colour and sparkle into the decor. Whether you buy them already adorned, or do it yourself, a decorative lamp shade adds the finishing touch to the overall look of a room. Lamp shades are in the realm of other variable accessories, like toss cushions. You can change the decor seasonally or simply on a whim by changing the colour, style and patterns of items like these. Elements like these can be easily transformed to create a whole new look.

In store

There is an array of great decorative lamps and shades available at most lighting stores. If you choose to buy them rather than decorative them yourself you should have no problem finding ones that suite your taste. From leopard skin prints to sleek black shades trimmed with gold accents, these attractive pieces will not only provide needed lighting but will stand alone as accents. If you’re in the market for table or floor lamps, consider them as accessories and think about spending a few extra dollars to purchase something really stunning for your decor. Even one elegant, small table lamp mixed in with less expensive, plain lamps can still provide great impact without breaking your decorating budget. If you’re going to take this route, then place the more decorative one where it will have the most impact in the room.

Create your own

There are many ways to enhance your existing, plain lamp shades to create a truly unique look for your home. A hot glue gun is a great investment for small projects like this. Items like strings of small, faux pearls, clear beads, (perhaps even small crystals from an old chandelier), vintage buttons, silk ribbon or upholstery fringe can be glued onto a plain lamp shade to create an elegant look. If you’re not sure where to start, take inspiration from designs in stores and decorating magazines. While they may use ‘real’ crystal beads, for instance, you can use clear glass beads purchased from the craft store or hobby shop.

Aside from adorning the shades with beads, fringe and bobbles, you can also cover a flat, un-pleated shade with fabric using a spray-on adhesive. In a bedroom, for instance, you could purchase an extra pillow case and use it to cover a plain lamp shade that matches your linens. Or, you may find a lovely remnant of vintage fabric that suites the space. As long as the shade surface is flat, you should be able to adhere fabric to it to create a unique look. For safety reasons, I suggest that you only use this technique on the outside of the shade and not on the inside of the shade near the light bulb.

Painting lamp shades is another option. If they are not fabric shades, then you could use watered down craft paint to add a soft, warm colour to a previously white shade. You could also paint on stencil borders or free hand your own design.

If you are leery of trying any of these techniques with your current lamps, then purchase an inexpensive lamp shade or pick some up at the thrift store to practise on. Once you’ve mastered the technique, you can really add interest to your decor.

connio@3web.net