Another very interesting idea to make a lampshade for a light bulb with your own hands, you will use crocheted napkins. The fashion for them either goes away or returns, and now with their help you can realize an interesting design idea for interior design.

A lampshade made of lace napkins is suitable for use in rooms of various functional purpose- in the bedroom and in the nursery, in the living room or in the corridor. A wonderful openwork chandelier, made by hand, will become a real decoration of a room in the country. This lighting fixture has such a unique and original look that it is sure to delight all the guests of your home. And the process of its manufacture will give you unforgettable moments of real creative inspiration.

Material preparation process.

In the manufacture of this interesting and very beautiful product, the same technique is used in which they are made. That is, you will need almost the same tools and basic materials, only in this case, instead of threads, knitted lace napkins will be glued to the surface of the inflated balloon.

If you already have a large number of already knitted, ready-made napkins, then this will greatly simplify the process, and making a lampshade from lace napkins will take only one day from the moment you start work until the solemn hoisting of the product onto a light bulb.

In the event that the napkins are not ready yet, you need to start knitting them. Many needlewomen love to crochet, and they make lace of amazing beauty. But we will not dwell on the description of this process.

Necessary materials and tools.

And again, we need almost the same materials as for making a lampshade from threads:

• round balloon;
• wallpaper glue;
• lace napkins;
• fatty substance for lubricating the ball (cream, petroleum jelly, vegetable oil).

Of the tools you will need:

• scissors;
• container for pouring glue;
• a needle and thread matching the color of the napkins;
• marker or marker.

Sequence of work.

1). Wallpaper glue is diluted with water according to the instructions on the package, but it is worth making it as concentrated as possible so that the product keeps its shape better. Even if the packaging indicates that the glue instantly acquires the desired consistency, you need to let it stand for a little, at least for half an hour.

2). The balloon is inflated to the desired size. At the base of it, you need to tie a strong thread. You also need to immediately highlight the area on the ball that we do not decorate with napkins. It will serve for threading light bulb. To do this, simply mark a circle of the desired diameter on the surface of the ball with a marker. The ball is lubricated with a fatty substance - vegetable oil, cream or petroleum jelly, excluding the area marked with a marker.

3). The prepared lace napkins are moistened in glue, squeezed out and applied to the surface of the balloon, forming a pattern as desired. The joints of the napkins must be additionally fastened with a needle and thread.

4). When the work is finished, and the entire surface of the ball is covered with napkins, it must be hung up to dry. Wipes will take longer to dry. than simple threads, so you need to be patient and do not touch the product for at least 24 - 36 hours.

5). After the lampshade is completely dry, the balloon inside it must be pierced and carefully pulled out by the thread from the hole left for the light bulb. That's it, now the final stage remains - hang the lampshade on the light bulb - and a great do-it-yourself chandelier is ready.

You can make the lampshade both round and leave it open. just not sticking the entire surface of the ball. Such a ceiling is suitable for updating a table lamp or floor lamp, but you can also decorate the ceiling with it.

Do you love vintage things, or maybe you just don’t know how to use the numerous knitted doilies given to you by a familiar knitting lover? Here is a very simple way to make the simplest lampshade much more original, and each lampshade will be absolutely unique!

First way

This method is suitable for the case when the fabric of the lampshade is damaged and needs to be replaced.

For crafts, you will need openwork napkins of any shape and arbitrary colors, threads, a lampshade base (wire frame removed from a floor lamp, chandelier, table lamp), narrow dense braid, glue.

Work process:

1. Gather a solid rectangular canvas of a suitable size by fastening napkins to each other with threads in color.

Useful advice: if you don’t have enough napkins, fill in the empty spaces in your composition with pieces of lace fabric, organza.

2. Glue or sew a narrow ribbon in color to the upper edge of the wire lampshade and fasten the resulting lace fabric on it.

3. Fix the finished lampshade on the lamp.

Second way

In such a situation, simply sew the napkins onto the fabric of the lampshade with inconspicuous stitches in random order. Of course, you can also use not only napkins, but also pieces of guipure, strips of finished lace or sewing.

Attention! To avoid fire, use with a lampshade made of napkins LED bulbs minimum power.

Now it is becoming fashionable to decorate the house with products made by yourself. Unique items, interior items made in vintage style or decorated using photographs, shreds from a grandmother's chest will help to make the room unusual. The article is devoted to decorating an old plastic lampshade of a table lamp using the "" technique.
Often, before you decorate something, you need to restore the surface. Let's talk about how to strengthen and align the plastic lampshade for subsequent decorative finishing.

Restoration of the lampshade for decoupage

Once I already did the restoration and decoupage of the lampshade, then the product came across to me with much fewer flaws than now. Besides, dark color the chosen motif hid all the unevenness of the light. But a lampshade is an object that transmits light, by definition.
I recently got my hands on a table lamp. Its lampshade had clear drawings, floral ornaments. The owners managed to get bored with the drawing, and plus everything had defects: lines from ballpoint pen drawn by a child. Upon closer inspection, it became noticeable that in some places the plastic burst.

To decoupage this lampshade, I decided to take light motifs. The choice fell on delicate tulips against the background of a wooden ornament, greenery and tenderness of flowers conquered me.

In the color of gray shades of napkins, I looked for cotton braid (lace) for processing the bottom of the lampshade.
I would like to tell you more about the restoration of this piece of furniture.

Removing the old coating

The leg of the lamp is white so that paint does not get on it, we cover it with newspapers.

Before embarking on any kind of decoration at all, it was necessary to understand what kind of object it was and what it was made of. I saw that the lampshade itself is plastic, almost transparent, and on top it is covered with fabric, which is cut out according to the pattern and tightly glued to the surface.
An attempt to lighten the fabric with hydrogen peroxide did not lead to anything, only dust and dirt remained on the cotton wool.

It turned out that the drawings are printed on the fabric, the plastic itself has no pattern.
Also, by applying napkins and pieces of old wallpaper, I realized that the flowers show through anyway.

It became clear that the fabric needed to be removed. Whether it's just white or cream, you could try decoupage right on top of it.
So let's get rid of old fabric. I found the place of the seam and carefully began to separate the fabric from the surface on which it was glued. Over time, the glue lost its gluing properties, and the fabric separated easily, but not everywhere.

This must be done very carefully: in several places where there were cracks, the lampshade managed to burst.

I was ready to complete the work and take the contraption to where it belongs, that is, to the trash, but my interest in creativity overcame. So, the cracks had to be restored.

Restoration, work with cracks

As in the previous time, I started the restoration from the inside (gluing small patches) and from the front side (gluing white napkins).

Last time I used white paint instead of a primer: the lampshade was covered with plain paper of the same color. I started to paint plastic and now.

And this is what I got when I turned on the lamp:

All the bumps, cracks, patches were perfectly visible in the light. It became clear that the napkin would not hide them. Something had to be done. A few days of thinking led me to the fact that the paint needs to be washed off (it's good that it was not waterproof).
Under a stream of warm water, very carefully, I wiped off all the paint with a sponge, including cracks. The payments were all gone too. And the work started all over again.

For some time I chose putty (primer). The choice was made on the acrylate moisture-resistant "putty" of the company "Collection": the manufacturer promises that it is ideal for decorative coatings, and what is a napkin motif if not a decorative coating?

I continued with the restoration experiments, all of which were done with the lamp on, to assess the degree of transparency. Cracks from the inside and the front side (if not concave) were sealed with several layers of adhesive tape (cut into small squares and glued, trying to avoid bubbles).

The second step was the first coat of primer on the lamp. First, she closed up large cracks, then she began to apply the composition to the entire surface.

And here's the trouble: evenly it lay down only in some places, in some places it became thicker, in others it let the light through. I did not despair, applied the paste and left it to dry for a couple of hours. After this time, I tried sanding the surface with #60 sandpaper and found that it was very easy to smooth out any unevenness.

After the first layer had dried, I (with the lamp on!) began to apply the primer thicker and bolder, in broad strokes, trying to ensure that the light was transmitted uniformly. After the surface has dried, it can be sanded and it will be ready for further work.
After the main part has dried, you can add pastes to those places where dots, cracks or other defects are visible. It is convenient to do this with cardboard, using it like a spatula. Leave to dry again, or you can dry it with a hair dryer.

This is what the lampshade looks like after applying the "putty" and grinding the surface:

Now it is clear that the napkin motif will be clearly visible both when the lamp is on and off.

Coloring

After priming, I just paint the lampshade with gray paint. There is another little secret here: I tint (add color) paint with ordinary watercolor. Of course, I don’t dilute it with water, but I add a piece of watercolor to the paint and mix it for a long time until the color becomes uniform.

You should try the color in the corner: isn't it dark? If dark, add white paint and mix again.

Now it's very simple: I paint with a wide brush, leveling the paint layer, if in some places there is a texture in the form of small scratches, then this is not scary and even interesting. It is still desirable to paint in one chosen direction (either from top to bottom, or in a circle).

That's all, now the lampshade is ready to decorate in any way! You can perform decoupage, or you can use ribbons, or paint with acrylic paints, applying the selected pattern.

Delicate lilies: lampshade decoupage

Housewives who love and know how to make lovely little things and interior items with their own hands will be interested to learn about such a decoration method as decoupage. This is the design of any surface with the help of colored motifs from three-layer napkins. Indeed, sometimes there are bright, beautiful drawings on serving napkins that you just want to transfer, for example, to a lampshade. Such a table lamp will look good both in the bedroom and in the living room, and decoupage motifs can be chosen in accordance with the overall interior of the room.
In the previous part of the article, we have already examined in detail the stages of surface preparation for decoration. Let's summarize.
The paint is not suitable as a primer, and the restoration with white wipes is not suitable, as it shines through the plastic. We sealed the cracks from the inside with transparent adhesive tape, and then applied putty (primer) to the surface, which was then polished for a long time with sandpaper No. 60.

The next step is to carefully process small cracks and irregularities with this paste.
After grinding, we will apply two layers of paint, and after drying, our lampshade will be ready for decoration.

Preparation of napkins and decoupage

After the surface has dried and is ready for decoration, you need to select and prepare napkins. The quality of the image greatly affects the final look of the finished item.
Recommendations for choosing napkins:
three-layer wipes are better than two-layer ones;
choose motifs taking into account the fact that they will need to be cut out, that is, without small details;
the brighter the colors, the better, do not get too light and too dark napkins.
Before you start decorating the lamp, separate the paint layer from the napkin, iron the folds from the inside with an iron. After that, cut out the motifs.

Attention! You can first cut out the motifs, then separate the layers and only then iron them. Choose the option that is convenient for you.

As an adhesive, dilute wallpaper paste a little thinner than for pasting walls.
Think over the composition: attach napkins to the lampshade, imagine the finished product. If a solution is found and an idea has appeared, you can start decoupage.
Apply glue with a wide brush to the place where the motif will be. Then attach the motif with the colorful side up, trying to make it stick in the middle, and then smooth the edges. If everything is done correctly, the napkin itself will lie down evenly, you will only need to help it a little. This paper is very thin and should be handled with care. We can say that there is no room for error here.

Gradually cover the entire surface or part of it with motifs, in accordance with your idea. Depending on the motive, the pattern must be combined in whole or in part. Some patterns do not need to match.

Final touches

Decorate (glue) the top of the lamp.

Look at the resulting drawing: perhaps it requires the completion of some element. In this case, I marked with a simple pencil the flowers that fell on a light background.
Lacquer will serve as a layer of transparent wallpaper glue. It dries out in a couple of hours.
To process the bottom of the lamp, I took a gray braid that matches the style. I fix it with a few drops of glue from a glue gun.

1. Lampshade.
2. Primer or putty with the indication: "under the decorative coating."
3. Sandpaper.
4. Brushes.
5. Watercolor paints.
6.Waterproof white paint.
7. Napkins with matching motifs.
8. Braid.
9. Scissors.
10. Glue gun.
11. Scotch.

Unconditional harmony should reign in the interior of the room, therefore, when designing it, it is necessary to take into account every detail, even if it seems small at first. An important role in the design is always played by lighting fixtures, which can often even become the central element of the overall design. However, it is not always possible to purchase the desired option - due to the banal reason for the lack of the necessary design solution in the proposed range.

In such cases, some homeowners have a desire to make their own efforts in interior design. And especially such a solution suggests itself in situations where beautiful bases remain from old chandeliers, floor lamps or table lamps. Therefore, this publication will consider the question of how to make a lampshade with your own hands for different types lighting fixtures. Perhaps one of the proposed solutions will allow you to save some money from the family budget and at the same time acquire an exclusive piece of general decoration for the room, which will certainly become a reason for the master's personal pride.

Advantages of making your own lampshade

There are a number of advantages to making your own lampshade for any type of fixture. And these circumstances should be taken into account when the question arises of whether to buy this element of interior decor, or make it yourself.

Option for a homemade lampshade for a table lamp or floor lamp

• It becomes possible to end up with an exclusive model of a lighting device.
• The master has a much wider choice decorative design a lighting device corresponding to the general design direction of the interior.
• Significant cost savings are achieved.
• For work, it is quite possible to use things that have accumulated in home pantries, which take up quite a lot of space, but it’s a pity to throw them away for one reason or another. So, in many houses there are lamps that are quite functional and interesting in their forms, but have long gone out of fashion. To create a new product, any of them will do.
• You should never discount the "psychological component" - the opportunity to demonstrate to everyone your own creative ambitions, and then - deservedly be proud of the manufactured product.
• It is possible and even necessary to involve a child in the joint production of a lampshade - this a great opportunity instill in him a desire to create useful things with his own hands. In addition, the time spent together and creative communication “on an equal footing” will definitely benefit both parents and children.

We hope the arguments are quite convincing. Therefore, we can move closer to the practical part.

Safety of selected materials

Here the principle is simple - a homemade lampshade should not pose a danger. This, of course, is primarily about fire safety, since any lighting device also emits a certain amount of heat during operation.

In the production of lighting fixtures on an industrial scale, technologists from responsible companies calculate the safe distance from the lamp to the lampshade material. This distance is determined depending on the power of the lamps that are recommended for installation in a particular lamp, and on the degree of heat resistance of the material used to create the lampshade.

At self-manufacturing lampshades, it is important to take into account the degree of heat resistance and flammability of the materials used

• IN homemade lamps only certain types of lamps are used that do not heat up to high temperatures. Thus, incandescent lamps should be completely excluded, in which the lion's share of the consumed electricity is converted into banal heating, and often to very high temperatures. What is extremely uneconomical is not so bad. But the “neighborhood” of the lampshade material with a source of strong heat is extremely unsafe!

Today, there is no shortage of other light sources in the assortment of stores - these are LED or compact fluorescent energy-saving models. Moreover, all of them must have reliable plinths made of ceramic or metal. The cost of such lamps, of course, is much higher than that of incandescent lamps, but the heating here does not reach critically high temperatures. Plus, add a long service life and a calm, even, but powerful enough luminous flux.

• Flammable materials - synthetic or cotton fabric, plastic threads, wooden parts, as well as paper or cardboard from which the lampshade can be made, must be at least 50 ÷ 70 mm from the lamp.
• Having made a lampshade and installed it on a lamp, it is recommended to observe the intensity of heating of its walls. If the heating of the material is felt, which can be characterized more than warm, then the light bulb should be changed to a less powerful one (meaning the power consumption, and not the conditional criterion for evaluating the brightness of the glow).

What is very important to know about the characteristics of lamps and lighting fixtures?

Before choosing, manufacturing, installing lighting fixtures, it is strongly recommended to obtain some theoretical knowledge in this matter. Very detailed information about the various methods of calculating the illumination of a room is described in a special publication of our portal.

Varieties of lampshades according to the principle of design and material of manufacture

A few words must be said about the types of lampshades, those that can be made at home. They can be divided according to the principle of design and the material of manufacture.

Frame and frameless structures

By design, such products can be divided into frame and frameless.

Lampshade frame example

• Frame lampshades have a rigid base on which one of the selected materials is fixed. Frames can have a different shape - its choice depends on the preference and imagination of the master, as well as on the availability of the material necessary for the manufacture. The advantage of this type of lampshade is that the frame immediately determines the distance between the material of the exterior finish and the lamp, and then maintains it throughout the entire life of the lamp. In addition, the product acquires rigidity, due to which its original shape is retained.

Shade made using frameless technology

• Frameless lampshade. In this embodiment, the role of the frame is performed by the material itself, from which the product is made. In order for the lampshade to acquire the desired shape, a template is made as a temporary basis, onto which the selected material is fixed with glue. The base is removed after the glue has completely dried.

Choosing this method, you must immediately calculate at what level the light bulb will be located inside the lampshade, given that a certain distance must be maintained between it and the ceiling.

The advantage of this product is its light weight. The disadvantage is the fact that if the shape of the lampshade is accidentally deformed, its walls can dangerously approach the lamp, which will lead to overheating of the material, which is fraught with melting and fire. This is especially true for lampshades made for and floor lamps, the shape of which can be damaged by accidental mechanical impact.

What materials are used for the exterior of the lampshade

A very wide variety of materials have been successfully used to make homemade lampshades. Some of them do not even have to be purchased - they can be found in the household, and sometimes they are completely underfoot, moreover, almost in the literal sense of the word.

Illustration	Description of the material, its advantages and disadvantages
	Textile. It is sheathed only with frame versions of lampshades. It is not recommended to use synthetic materials, as they do not withstand heat well, they can shrink, melt and fade. Cotton or linen is perfect for lining. It will be better if the fabric is treated with a special water-repellent impregnation, thanks to which the lampshade will also attract less dust.
	Thread or yarn. This version of the material is most often used to create a frameless lampshade, but is sometimes used to fit the frame. To form a ceiling lamp from threads, different variants of them with a thickness of 1 to 5 mm are used.
	Rope. It is used for making and rope of different thickness. She fits the finished frame in different variations, and also assembles frameless models of lampshades. It is best to use twine made from natural materials - they are especially well suited for eco-style lamps.
	Ribbons of different widths are suitable both for the formation of weaving along the frame, and for frameless versions of decorative shades.
	Hand-woven lace from cotton threads is used to fix on the frame and form a frameless lampshade. Instead of lace, you can use fragments cut from tulle with a suitable pattern.
	Hand knitted fabrics having different patterns can also be an excellent decoration for the frame of the lamp shade. They can be knitted specifically for a particular product, or you can use ready-made garments for this purpose, which are completely out of fashion or just don’t like it.
	wooden details - branches, boards, slats, etc. also often used to make lampshades. Thin, peeled and specially processed branches are used for weaving lampshades, thicker ones are set with a picket fence or cut into small pieces and randomly assembled into the chosen shape. The thin boards themselves are able to form a frame, while also performing a decorative function. Some craftsmen prepare plywood parts with through carvings, which, when the lamp is turned on, give a beautiful shadow on the walls.
	Plastic fittings , which are sold in sewing stores and used to decorate clothes, are also used to create shades or lampshades. You can add beads or buttons to this category of materials. different sizes and forms.
	Origami - this is a technique of working with paper and cardboard, from which various decorative details are made, including lampshades for lighting fixtures. The advantage of such decorative products can be called the speed of production (if you have some experience, of course) and the ability to change them depending on the mood or the need to decorate the room for a particular holiday. The disadvantage is the fragility of lampshades made of paper and cardboard.

In addition to the materials listed above, the most unexpected creative elements can be used to create home-made masterpieces - these are rings from metal cans, vases, ordinary kitchen graters, clock gears and much more. All you have to do is turn on your imagination...

Making a frame lampshade

How and from what can a frame be made?

If a frame version of the lampshade is chosen for manufacturing, then a logical question immediately arises - where to get it or from what and how to make the frame yourself. This stage of work can be called the first when creating a product.

If you plan to update the lampshade on an old floor lamp, chandelier or table lamp, in which the frame remains intact, then it can be used by decorating it with new material. The old lining is removed from the base. Then the frame is carefully inspected, if necessary, cleaned of rust, and then painted.

If the lighting fixture is re-created, or if the frame is missing or has become unusable, you can purchase an old lampshade, for example, at a flea market, and do the manipulations described above with it.

Well, if this option does not triple or is impossible, you will have to do it yourself.

Frame from a basket for office waste

One of those options that are not forced to apply great effort to create a frame is the purchase of a metal basket for office waste.

On sale you can find metal and plastic baskets, but for the lampshade it is recommended to choose the first option. If the size and shape of the product fits, then the problem with the frame will be solved. At the bottom of the basket, a neat hole is cut out for installing a lamp holder, which should be securely fixed to the mesh surface. By the way, the bottom of many baskets is a solid metal plate, that is, it is even easier to fix the cartridge.

Often it is not enough to cover the basket completely, but only its neat coloring and the use of several decorating elements.

Sometimes, for the intended lampshade, it is enough to carefully paint the mesh surfaces in the desired color and decorate the top or bottom line with fabric, braid, etc. You can veneer the frame completely with one of the above materials. Design options are unlimited.

wire frame

The most common frame material is thick wire. If steel wire is taken, then the joints during the assembly of the frame can be made using spot welding. However, this technology is available to a few, and, as a rule, most home craftsmen fasten individual parts by twisting.

Steel wire has considerable rigidity and elasticity, and twisting together parts with a thickness of, say, even 3 mm is quite difficult. Therefore, some nodes are made using a thinner wire, which fixes the connections of the main elements of the frame.

Fixation of coils of thick elastic steel wire using a thin soft winding, for example, copper

If a twisting method is chosen for the connection, then aluminum wire is often used. It is not difficult to work with it, but it is too plastic, and easily deformed. When the frame is sheathed decorative cladding, he, of course, will acquire greater rigidity. But in its manufacture, it is necessary to take into account the properties of the wire and act very carefully.

Wire for making the frame, can be purchased at a hardware store. But homeowners often find quite suitable “free” material in their sheds.

The same ductility can be attributed to the advantages of aluminum wire, since when creating a frame, adjustments can be easily made to it.

To carry out the work, you will need some tools that are sure to be found in any home workshop:

- pliers for bending and straightening the wire;

- round-nose pliers will help bend the ends of the wire for further twisting;

- wire cutters;

- a hammer will also help straighten individual sections;

- sandpaper for cleaning the surface of steel wire before painting;

- thin copper wire for winding the connecting nodes of parts;

- a soldering iron for connecting copper wire;

- enamel paint and a thin brush;

- electrical tape for additional fixation of parts among themselves;

- a wide wooden block on which it will be convenient to straighten the wire and perform soldering.

Several options for wire frames under the lampshade

The work on the manufacture of the frame is carried out in the following order:

• The shape of the future lampshade is selected and a drawing of the product is made, taking into account its dimensions.
• Further, if necessary, the prepared wire is straightened.
• Then, according to the dimensions indicated on the drawing, pieces of wire are cut. Here it is necessary to take into account the overlap of the ends of the wire on each other when forming the upper and lower circles, at least by 150 ÷ ​​200 mm. For height-determining vertical elements, the segments must have a greater length than indicated in the drawing, by about 40 mm. This is necessary to fix them on the circumferences of the frame.

The traditional lampshade frame consists of two large circles - upper and lower, a small ring to hold the cartridge, 4 ÷ 6 vertical holders and 3 ÷ 4 horizontal bridges that will hold the cartridge ring inside the structure.

Naturally, there are much more complex forms of lampshades. In any case, each of the options is made according to the drawing. However, choosing an overly intricate design, do not forget that it will not be easy to cut out and sew a cover for it either.

• Cut wire steel pieces, if necessary, are cleaned of rust with sandpaper.

• Next, circles of the required diameter are made. The ends of the wire must be wrapped with copper wire, and it is better to solder this resulting clamp immediately. Another fixation option is electrical tape.
• Then the frame racks are made, which will connect the upper and lower circles and thereby set the construction of the outline of a truncated cone. At their ends, with the help of round-nose pliers, peculiar loops are bent. With their help, these racks are put on first on the top and then on the bottom ring of the frame. Parts must be distributed in circles so that there is the same distance between them.
• After that, the rings at the ends of the racks are clamped with pliers. You can finally fix the connections of the parts with copper wire and then solder it, or it's easier to do it - wrap it with insulating tape.

The frame is assembled from thick wire, the joints are overlapped, followed by fixation with electrical tape

• If electrical tape is chosen for fixing, then the parts are painted before they are assembled into a single structure. It must rightly be noted that appearance a frame fastened in a similar way does not differ in high aesthetics. Therefore, this option should be used only for lampshades, in which a dense opaque material acts as a decorative trim.

Using a metal strip to create a frame

• These manufacturing methods are by no means the only possible ones. For example, in combination with a wire, you can use a metal strip 10 ÷ 12 mm wide. It is convenient in that you can drill holes in it, through which you can then fasten the parts together with screws and nuts, and also fix the cartridge on the threaded sleeve.

By the way, the connecting nodes, if the frame is made of thick copper wire or even a tube, can also be done simply by soldering - you just need a fairly powerful soldering iron. Yes, and aluminum can be soldered - however, this requires some kind of experience and a certain set of chemicals.

Other options for frame materials

Perhaps for someone other recommendations on the material for making the frame for the lampshade will be useful. Moreover, all the examples of “raw materials” listed below can be found in almost every home or purchased “for a penny”.

Illustration	A brief description of the use of materials to create a frame for a lampshade
	If there is no steel or aluminum wire, then wire clothes hangers can be used to create the base. The hangers must be untwisted into even segments, which are straightened with pliers. Then the frame parts are formed from them. They are connected to each other according to the principle described above, and fixation, for example, with the help of electrical tape. For the manufacture of a frame from such a wire, it requires less effort, but the base of them is less rigid and durable.
	In hardware stores you can find metal mesh designed to reinforce surfaces for plaster. They can have different cell sizes. For a lampshade, an option with cells of 15 × 15 or 20 × 20 mm is suitable. A frame is formed from the cut out fragment of the mesh, and to connect the edges, they are overlapped by one or two cells and tied together with a wire twist. However, from this material it is possible to make a frame only in the form of a cylinder or a truncated cone. If such a form does not contradict the general design solution premises and suits the master, then this option for creating a frame can be called the best solution.
	You can also use the grille from an old fan to make a lampshade, especially since it has already been given a certain shape of a kind of spherical segment. If necessary, the frame can be made deeper by attaching an additional layer of wire of the same thickness to the lower part of the grille, or by lengthening the edges of the lampshade with facing material.
	Another version of the material for the frame offered by some craftsmen is five-liter plastic bottles. You can use them in their entirety by removing the bottom part or cutting the walls of the container into strips of the same width. Then the desired shape of the ceiling is created from the strips, and its lower side is fixed on a wire circle, which will give the structure rigidity. A clear disadvantage of this material is its deformation during overheating, as well as the fact that only a small lampshade can be made from a bottle.
	The frame can also be made from an embroidery hoop, moreover, different shapes and size. It can be a lampshade of a traditional configuration, round or semicircular. It is easy to work with this material, from it the easy and reliable design turns out. In the manufacture of a classic lampshade, hoops of different diameters are selected, the upper and lower circles are fastened together wooden slats. Aluminum wire can be used to form the inner part of the structure intended for mounting the cartridge.

Several options for decorating the lampshade frame

So, as mentioned above, for facing the frame can be applied different materials. The most popular of the options will be presented in this section.

Frame upholstered in fabric

In order to sew a traditional fabric lampshade in the shape of a truncated cone or cylinder, you will need a prepared frame, decorative fabric, white cotton or PVC film, thread, glue, scissors, an iron, a silicone hot glue gun, clothespins, and a pattern. The amount of decorative fabric will depend on how it is planned to sheathe the frame, whether it will be stretched evenly or folds will be formed on it.

The work on decorating the frame is carried out as follows:

• Pattern making. In order not to spoil the prepared fabric, it is recommended that the first step is to make a paper pattern. It is quite easy to make it. If the frame has a cylindrical shape, then its diameter and the height of the lampshade are measured. With height, everything is clear, and the length is calculated by the formula for the circumference of a circle:

L=π× D

L- frame circumference;

π - constant, which can be taken rounded equal to 3.14;

D is the diameter of the cylinder.

As a result, the pattern will be a flat strip of fabric. To its calculated length is added 20 mm per seam, and to the measured width - 40 mm per bend on one side and the other.

If the frame has the shape of a truncated cone, then either the sweep parameters are calculated, or its graphical construction is performed according to a special algorithm. But often it's much easier. To do this, paint the outer side of the upper and lower circles of the frame with a black marker and roll it over a sheet of paper.

According to the traces left on it, a pattern is drawn, to which extra millimeters are also added for the bend and seam. The pattern is cut out and applied to the frame, adjusted if necessary, that is, an additional segment is added to it or excess length is removed.

After the pattern is ready, it is transferred to the fabric, as well as pvc film or lining fabric. Next, the marked parts must be cut with scissors.

The rolling method is not always suitable. Sometimes you have to draw a scan of a truncated cone yourself. If this is necessary, you can go to the appendix to this article. Mathematical and graphical methods are detailed there, calculators are placed to carry out the necessary calculations.

• The PVC film and fabric are combined with each other, cleaved with pins and sewn together. Another option for bonding materials is gluing with a very hot iron. Ironing is carried out from the side of the fabric, the film melts when heated and sticks to the decorative layer.

Attaching fabric to frame for initial fit

• In the next step, the fabric is fixed first to the upper and then to the lower circumference of the frame using clothespins or clerical clips. When fastening, it is important to ensure that the fold of the fabric is uniform. The fabric should be well stretched on the frame.
• When the fabric is fitted, marks are made on it along the vertical seam line and along the top and bottom folds. Next, removing the fabric from the frame, sew a vertical seam on a sewing machine.
• Then the sewn cover is put on the frame and aligned with the upper and lower marks.

Final gluing of the fabric to the frame

• The fabric is folded through the wire of the upper circle, melted silicone or superglue is applied to the fold with a gun, after which it is temporarily fixed with clothespins or clips. Then, the same process is carried out along the line of the lower circle. The glued fabric is left to dry completely.

Attaching a finish that complements the pattern of the fabric

• The final stage of work can be gluing a satin ribbon in the color of the fabric along the upper and lower edges of the lampshade, or the same fabric to complement the unfinished drawing.

The glued strip must be immediately fixed with clips or clothespins. After the guaranteed hardening of the glue, the temporary fixation is removed.

Finished lampshade on table lamp

• The finished lampshade is put on table lamp or other lighting device.

The method of attaching the lampshade depends on the characteristics of the lighting device. These can be special clamping flanges on the outside of the lamp sockets, threaded bushing and more. Any House master deal with this issue without difficulty.

Frame wrapping with tape

This option is available for anyone, even a novice master, since it is very simple to complete the process of decorating with a ribbon.

In this case, the following materials will be required to finish the created frame:

• Tape of the required color 15÷20 mm wide. Its quantity will depend on the dimensions of the frame and the intended density of its braid.
• To give the product a decorative effect, a border can be used that is well suited in design and color to the main material of the cladding.
• Superglue or silicone hot glue (gun).
• Clothespins or stationery clips for temporary fixation of the tape for the period of drying of the glue.

Stages of lining the frame with tape

Decoration works are carried out in the following order:

• On the upper circumference of the frame, the edge of the tape is fixed with glue and additionally fixed with a clothespin.
• When the glue dries, the tape gently begins to wrap the walls of the frame, winding it through the upper and lower wire circles. During this process, the circumferences of the frame are pre-lubricated with a small amount of glue (usually in a small area, for several turns) and the tape is fixed with clamps. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the tape is wound onto the walls so that in the upper part it finds more on the previously laid one, and downwards its strips diverge somewhat, but there would be no gaps between them.
• When winding the last turn, the edge of the tape is smeared with glue and hidden behind the previous strip.
• After the glue dries, a border is glued along the bottom edge, and if desired, along the top edge. Its ends are fixed with an overlap, which is additionally coated with glue.

Decorating the frame with a coarse rope

Another interesting decoration option metal frame- this is braiding it with thin twine and coarse rope. There are a lot of ways to decorate a lampshade with this material, and in the example below, only one of them will be presented.

To create this lampshade model you will need:

• Frame with often spaced side rails.
• Thin twine.
• Rope twisted from twine.
• Scissors.
• A silicone hot glue gun and a few hot glue sticks.

The manufacture of this lampshade is carried out in the following sequence:

• The first step is to fasten the end of the thin twine with a loop in the upper part of the frame, the upper circle.

Braiding the side rails of the frame with twine

• Further, with twine, as tightly as possible, each of the metal guides is braided, using one of the knots of the macrame technique. In the illustration, one of these simple strapping knots is highlighted separately.

Fixing the ends of the twine with silicone hot glue

• When a piece of twine ends, it and the end of the new piece should be fixed to a metal stand or circle using silicone hot melt adhesive. Then this area, so that it becomes invisible, is covered with weaving.

Fixing the rope with twine on the frame

• Vertical guides are braided to the level where horizontal twisted ropes will pass. In order not to miss the height of their passage, it is best to metal parts frame with the help of a corrector, put down the points of passage of the horizontal pattern.
• In the designated places, the horizontal rope on the frame racks is firmly fixed with twine.

The result of decorating a metal frame with twine and rope

• Such a lampshade can be fixed to the ceiling both with the wide side up (shown in the illustration below), and in a suspended position, with the open part of the hemisphere down.

Lampshade mounted on the ceiling in the form of a ceiling

• Additionally, the lampshade can be decorated with beads or glass garlands, seated on top of the “butterfly” frame, or artificial flowers can be fixed.

As you can see - nothing complicated even for a novice master. True, the work may seem tedious, but there is no need to rush, maximum accuracy - and everything will work out.

Making a frameless lampshade

This section will look at three options for frameless lampshades, which are even more affordable than products that require a rigid frame.

There is, however, a fundamental caveat. In order to set the desired shape of the lampshade, the frame (more precisely, a template) is still required, but temporary. As such a template that determines the configuration of the product, most often acts as a balloon, inflatable rubber or plastic beach ball.

For the manufacture of a lampshade in a similar way, various materials are used, but the principle of performing work remains common. Of course, in each of the cases there are nuances, which will be discussed below.

Lampshade from knitted napkins

In this option, you will need several knitted napkins of the same color or several shades that blend well with each other.

A tightly inflated balloon is used as a temporary template. For ease of use, so that the template is stationary when gluing decorating materials, the ball is installed on a suitable open container, for example, on a pot or bowl of the desired diameter.

Making a lampshade from knitted napkins - step by step

In addition, a bowl is prepared for diluting the glue. In this case, transparent casein glue is sometimes used, which is often used for wallpapering. However, PVA is considered more durable in its qualities, and it is more often used for the manufacture of frameless lampshades.

• So, now it is necessary to impregnate each of the napkins with glue, and in a certain order lay them on the ball template. The elements are completely immersed in the glue until completely soaked, and then squeezed out, straightened and placed on a temporary frame. This takes into account that in the upper part of the future lampshade there should be a hole for mounting the bulb holder. However, it can be carefully cut out later, after the resulting volumetric figure has completely dried. And after cutting this hole, it is best to frame it with a plastic ring, putting it on glue and tagging it with threads.
• The top one is glued first, and then the side napkins. All of them overlap each other, approximately by 100 ÷ 150 mm, so that after drying these fabric parts are securely glued together.
• Now it remains to wait until the glue is completely dry, since the lampshade should acquire a certain rigidity due to it.
• When the glue dries, the ball pierces and deflates, and the lampshade continues to retain its shape.

Plastic ring around the chuck hole

• Next, a lamp holder with the power cord already connected is installed in the hole. In the lampshade window, this assembly is pulled together from the outside and from the inside by special flanges that move along the thread on the outer surface of the cartridge. Such a connection will give additional rigidity to the upper part of the lampshade.

"Lace" clothesline lampshade

This version of the lampshade, made of clothesline, can be used for any type of lamp. Moreover, it can be hung in the form of a classic lampshade or, as in the example below, it can be fixed with its wide side to the ceiling.

Lampshade materials

To create this ceiling model, you will need to prepare:

Inflatable beach ball. The advantage of such a base is that upon completion of the work, you can simply bleed the air out of it, keeping it intact, and subsequently continue to use it for its intended purpose. Another option is a glass shade, in the form of which a decorative lampshade will be made.

Clothesline.

White regular thread and sewing needle.

Glue intended for design works in the decoupage technique "Mod Podge". Such glue is quite expensive, so it will be easier to make it yourself. To do this, ordinary PVA glue is diluted with clean warm water in a ratio of 2: 1, and for greater strength and, if necessary, giving glossy effect, about one tablespoon of colorless water-soluble varnish is added for every 150 ml of glue.

Water-based paint - better in the form of an aerosol.

Transparent or white plain and masking tape.

A wooden plank with an even milled groove inside or with sides nailed on both sides - to form a curly "snake" out of a rope. For this purpose, a plastic cable channel of the required width may also be suitable.

As a result of the work done, such an openwork ceiling should be obtained, which will be a real decoration of the ceiling during the day. And with the advent of darkness - to cast unusual shadows on it and on the walls

• The first step in creating this product is to make blanks - a pattern is formed from the rope.

Making a figured "snake" from a rope - with such blanks it will be much easier to lay rope loops on a spherical surface

For this purpose, the rope is abundantly lubricated with glue and placed in the form of a “snake” into the channel of the prepared rail. It is important to ensure that the relief is laid with the same step, that is, it is even.

Here it is necessary to pay attention to the fixation of the rope pattern. In the illustrations, the threads fixing the bends of the rope in the required position are barely visible. In order to do this process, you will need ordinary white threads and a needle. The stitching of the bends is carried out without tightening them in such a way that the fastening threads mainly pass inside the rope and are visible only in some places. Bonding is carried out along the upper and lower edges of the "snake" workpiece.

The workpiece will be ready when the glue is completely dry.

• The next step is to prepare the ball to form a lampshade on it. In order to prevent the rope from sticking to the plastic surface of the ball, after inflating it, it should be pasted over with masking tape.

Laying a rope "snake" on the surface of the ball to create a spherical surface of the lampshade

• The dried rope blank must be carefully laid on the ball. Laying is carried out in a spiral, starting from the top, while not forgetting to leave (form) a hole for a cartridge or for another latch, depending on the characteristics of the lighting device. When laying the rope "snake", it is advisable to grab each next turn with threads to the previous one - according to the same method that was used when forming the "snakes".

• After the shape of the lampshade is fully formed, that is, the rope "snakes" are laid and tacked with threads into a single structure, it must be generously smeared with glue, and then left to dry completely.

Applying spray paint to the lampshade

• Next comes the coloring process. It is carried out on both sides after removing the finished product from the ball, from which air is previously released. For painting, paint of any shade can be applied - white, gold or silver. If desired, the lampshade can be decorated in the style of "ambre".
• After the paint has dried, the lampshade-plafond is installed on ceiling lamp using a special decorative retainer or, again, using cartridge flanges - depending on the model of the lighting device. It is important during installation not to press the ceiling strongly against the base, otherwise it may well be deformed.

Any decor in the room begins with small things. So, by changing a few details, you can create a completely different interior. Try to change the lamp or lampshade on it, and you will see how the whole interior design will change. Depending on the chosen room, the lampshade can be classic, made of fabric and lace, modern made of plastic, buttons or paper, abstract, made of feathers or other improvised means.

With some effort, you can really get unique thing which you will not find analogues anywhere else. It is known that handmade designer items are not cheap, as they take a lot of time to make, but the result is something unique and unrepeatable.

To make a lampshade yourself with your own hands, you will need cheap improvised materials:

• plastic spoons, forks and glasses;
• wooden sticks for ice cream;
• fabric scraps;
• ribbons and lace;
• buttons;
• tubes from magazines;
• beads and beads;
• cardboard and paper;
• shells and pebbles;
• clothespins;
• plastic straws for drinks;
• thread and twine;
• metal wire for the frame.

Typically, a lampshade consists of two metal rings interconnected by jumpers (from 3 pcs). The shape of the frame can be trapezoidal, cylindrical or curly.

Any metal wire is suitable for the frame: copper, aluminum, steel. With the help of wire cutters, it is necessary to cut off two pieces of wire and make two circles out of them - one larger, the other smaller.

It should be noted that the design for the lampshade of a pendant chandelier is slightly different from the design of the lampshade. table lamp, but in any case, there is always another inner ring through which either a cartridge or a cord from a chandelier is threaded.

To work with wire, you will need wire cutters and round nose pliers (in order to make a neat loop for clutching the wire together.

But, nevertheless, it would be most correct to buy a ready-made frame for a lampshade - fortunately, there are a lot of them in building hypermarkets.

You can make a pattern for a lampshade like this:

So, the frame for the future lamp is ready and you have to choose the most important thing - the decor of the lamp and the material with which to work. We offer several options for making a lampshade with your own hands.

Lampshade from patches of fabric

To make such a lampshade, you will need the following materials and tools:

• two pieces of fabric of different colors;
• lampshade frame (purchased or made by yourself);
• thread with a needle;
• scissors.

And more options for inspiration: fabric lampshades:

Ribbons and lace, buttons and beads, cuts of other fabrics and bows are suitable for decoration. Even old trousers or other clothing can give life to a designer piece.

Most often, such lampshades are sewn according to a pattern: for this, a pattern is cut out of paper or newspaper, and then transferred to fabric:

The lower and upper parts of the product can be decorated by gluing or sheathing with a fabric of a different color or lace, braid.

Paper lampshade - options and ideas

No less interesting can be a lampshade made of paper or cardboard.

Suitable for work:

• pages of glossy magazines;
• old newspapers;
• old unnecessary book;
• notebook (can be written out);
• paper napkins with patterns.

Remember: paper is flammable, so you will have to use either energy-saving or LED bulbs - they heat up less than incandescent bulbs.

To make a simple paper plafond, you will need the following materials:

• base - a ceiling-ball made of paper of any diameter;
• paper for records in the form of squares;
• scissors and glue.

First, cut out circles from note paper (you can replace it with plain colored paper).

Stick on decorative elements from below, row by row, until the entire surface of the ceiling is covered.

Instead of ordinary colored paper, you can use corrugated or velvet paper, or you can replace them with lace fabric - in this case, the lamp will look lighter and more airy.

More options for lampshades made of paper or cardboard, photo:

In order to change the look of the room, just a little is enough: change the pillows or bedspread on the sofa, throw a bright rug or make a lamp with your own hands.

Decorating interior items can be interesting and addictive! Vases, napkins, panels, lampshades - these are the little things that change the face of the interior!

In order not to buy a designer lamp, make a lampshade from plates with your own hands. For this you will need:

• the basis for the lamp is a cylinder made of paper or cardboard;
• several sets of paper disposable plates;
• glue gun;
• scissors.

How to work: fold each plate in half and glue to the base along the fold line:

A similar lampshade can be used for sconces, and for hanging lamp, and for a floor lamp. If desired, you can use different colored plates or paint the whites in different shades.(42)

Such gizmos became popular a few years ago. Light and weightless balls of thread, depending on the diameter, can become either a Christmas tree toy, or a decor item, or a lampshade. Threads can be used in any color, or you can dye them when the craft is ready. From above, you can also decorate with ribbons and lace, beads or buttons - this way the craft will look more elegant.

How to make a lampshade from threads? For work, materials and tools are needed:

• a balloon (or an inflatable ball that can be blown away);
• a skein of threads (the thicker the threads, the more reliable the lampshade will be);
• PVA glue;

Depending on how often you wind the threads, you can get either an airy and light lamp, or a denser lampshade.

Attention! Before winding the threads, the ball must be lubricated with petroleum jelly - this will allow it to be easily separated from the dried lampshade.

Operating procedure:

1. To begin with, the ball must be inflated - what diameter the ball will be, this will turn out to be a lamp. Mark a hole at the bottom that will need to be left open.
2. Wind the thread around the ball in random order. Between layers, as well as on top, coat the entire ball with PVA glue and let the glue dry for about 4-5 hours.
3. Now the ball can burst and pull out. It remains only to thread the cartridge with the lamp and hang the lamp.

With the help of threads and glue, you can make a lamp in a different way: instead of a ball, use plastic bottle, and take more dense threads. Previously, the bottle must be pasted over with adhesive tape so that the dried lampshade is easier to remove. The shape of the lamp will also be different:

More lampshades made of threads, photo ideas:

Using simple tricks and a few packs of disposable spoons or forks? you can create great original lamp that will decorate your interior. Such lampshades can be used in almost any room - in the kitchen, in the hallway, on the balcony, and even in the bedroom.

To make such a lamp, you will need the following materials and tools:

• several sets of disposable spoons (table or tea - it all depends on the desired size of the product);
• plastic 5-liter bottle;
• scissors;
• glue gun or mounting universal glue for plastic products.

Operating procedure:

1. At the cylinder, cut off the lower part (bottom) and degrease the surface.
2. At plastic spoons, carefully break off (or cut off) the tips.
3. Using a glue gun, glue the spoons to the balloon in rows, starting from the bottom.
4. Then make a bezel and glue it on top.
5. Pass the cord with the cartridge through the hole on top and screw in the light bulb.

If desired, spoons can be painted in any color. In this way, you can make a ceiling lamp for a floor lamp, wall or pendant lamp.

In addition to spoons, you can also use disposable forks or knives for the lampshade - the lamp will be a little different, lighter and more elegant:

Or from plastic cups:

Original do-it-yourself lampshades, photo

If desired, and with good imagination and skillful hands, you can make a lamp from other improvised means - wood, cocktail tubes, clothespins, burlap, packaging cardboard, even plastic bottle caps.

We have selected original ideas for DIY lampshades, we hope our ideas will help you choose what will suit your interior. So, a photo of lamps and lampshades made and decorated with your own hands: