Easy Lampshade Crafts

Don’t throw away good lampshades – make a cute craft instead. Or, use the lampshade in unique ways around the house. Whether you go purchase a lampshade specifically to make a craft, or you happen to have one leftover after a replacement, there’s lots of choices besides discarding it. The best lampshades for crafts are generally the kind that flare out on the bottom.

One cute craft you can do with lampshades is to make bedroom trash cans. Choose a small lamp shade for this craft and turn it upside-down. If the lampshade is in good shape use it as is. If not, paint it or wrap fabric around it and tie, towards the top, with a ribbon. Buy a simple plastic container to go inside the lampshade and serve as the actual receptacle. The plastic containers can be found in all shapes and sizes at dollar-theme stores. The lampshade trash cans are great for a living room or den as well.

Use the lampshade, as you do for the trash cans, to make matching potted plant holders. Snip the part of the wire that grabs the bulb, or just wedge a plastic container, with styrene wedges, into the center of the lampshade. Put a potted plant in the plastic container and set on a dresser, a night stand, an end table or even on the front porch.

By placing a plastic container inside the lampshade you can make all sorts of baskets for the house. Use small lampshades to make a holder for blow dryers, curling irons and other accessories. Use a large one for a bedroom hamper. Use a medium-sized one for holding magazines or umbrellas. Try to choose a plastic container that also flares out and is somewhat shaped like the shade itself.

Some people have overhead light fixtures in their homes and usually, there’s no choice but to attach a globe-type cover. But, if the lightbulb hangs downward, you can use a lampshade as the cover. These are great over kitchen tables and other places that can use a bright light, shining downward.

Make a swag light with a lampshade and a fixture from a home improvements store. The fixture needs to be the kind that has a cord and a plain socket. These can be found with different lengths of cord. Purchase golden chain and feed the power cord through the chain. Hang ceiling hooks to hold the swag lamp where you desire.

The next time you clean the attic or basement, or just purchase a replacement lampshade, consider some cute lampshade crafts or home improvement ideas. They’re very easy and will add a cute touch to many rooms.