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How To Make A DIY Flower Lampshade

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How to create a beautiful, fabric DIY flower lampshade…

Lampshades are typically a must. But often, they are sorely lacking in personality, am I right?

Well, check out our version that is anything but devoid of fun! Here’s how you can create your own glam, DIY flower lampshade(s), like I did in our guest bedroom, once upon a time…

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin
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There’s a lot to look at in what I’d call our glam modern farmhouse guest room, so these guys often don’t get much attention, but I love them.

Creating these floral lampshades is not a difficult DIY project, and I’m going to show you how you can make your own.

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin
suppliesPin

DIY Flower Lampshade Supplies:

Why patience? Mostly because those shades can definitely take time. Like h-o-u-r-s (around 3 per shade) to make, but in terms of difficulty, they are not hard to make AT ALL.

You just have to embrace the monotony of cutting out hundreds of fabric circles.

Here’s a video overview of the process…

video tutorialPin

DIY Flower Lampshade Video Tutorial

How To Make a DIY Flower Lampshade

1. BUY A CIRCLE CUTTING TOOL.

Do not pass go without purchasing a circle cutting tool. Or go ahead, and try this with your scissors, but don’t say I didn’t warn you 😉

I bought the OLFA rotary cutter. Will run you about $14-16. There’s even a YouTube video (actually a page of them) on how to use it. Watch one before you start your circles.

2. BUY YOUR FABRIC AND CUT (And cut. And keep cutting).

As far as fabric goes, that’s obviously a matter of taste, but keep in mind, this is going on a lampshade, and the purpose of a lamp, of course, is to let in light, so very light and sheer fabrics work best.

The fabric I used is a very light, inexpensive polyester semi-sheer. Ran about $2-3/yard, and I purchased 2 yards for two drum shades that measure 14″ in diameter x 10″high.

If the material you choose is also inexpensive, buy a little more yardage just to be on the safe side.

Now, decide on the size of your circles. My flowers are made of six circles each, the largest diameter being 6″ (the largest my circle cutter will make), and the smallest being approx. 1″ in diameter.

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin

3. ASSEMBLE YOUR FABRIC FLOWERS.

After you’ve made a sizable stack of your circles start assembling them. For me, this step involved a lot of hot glue burns. If you come up with a better way, FANTASTIC.

I’m too lazy to take precautions (which is why I have no nerve endings left in my hands).

Stack your set of circles, largest on the bottom, smallest on top.

Grab the stack from the center of the bottom circle by pinching the whole set of circles together (this material is NOT what I used for the project, just using this for illustrative purposes).

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin

Now dab some hot glue here and there, between the layers, staying toward the centermost area. Hold that pinch until the glue starts to set a bit (only about 5-8 seconds).

Release, and voila! You have a flower. Don’t get too excited here because you now have to repeat that step about a thousand times.

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin

4. GLUE FLOWERS TO LAMPSHADE.

Again, be miserly with your hot glue because globs of hot glue can show through the shade if you’re not careful.

I glued just the very center of the flowers, plus, if there were areas where the outermost layers of the flower were “flopping” in a way I didn’t like, I would put a teeny, tiny amount on the edges to hold those in place on the shade as well.

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin

On my DIY lampshade, I ended up with 10-11 flowers per “row”, and three rows (top to bottom) total, per shade.

This will vary, depending on size/shape of your shade. Play with how dense you make the flowers, as that will definitely change the look of your end result.

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin

5. ENJOY the “light” at the end of a long, but worthwhile DIY project tunnel!

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin

I love these DIY lampshades. And although they have some stiff competition for attention in this room from our little chandelier, and of course, Bessie the cow..

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin

I still think a DIY lampshade like this one adds some beautiful texture, depth, and interest to this space. Hope you’re inspired to try your hand at this project too! And if you make your own DIY flower lampshade, let me know how it turns out!

Plain Jane lampshade? Turn it into a stunner with this $5 DIY lampshade with fabric flowers. Full tutorial from www.heatherednest.comPin

Looking for more budget-friendly lighting ideas? We’ve got you covered! Be sure to check these ideas out, too!

Pin this DIY flower lampshade project for later! And if you make one, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try this project, too!

close-up of completed glam fabric floral DIY lampshade on an end table in bedroomPin

Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! Sign up now and get a no-cost copy of “Builder-Grade To Beautiful: 10 Totally Transformative Home Decorating Solutions, All Under $100!” Click here to enter your email or on the image below. Your copy will be emailed right away!

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About Heather Thibodeau

A former doctor of physical therapy, Heather Thibodeau went from rehabilitating people to homes as the primary creative force behind the DIY and home decorating website, The Heathered Nest.

With her work being published both in print and online in places such as Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Real Simple and more, Heather's goal is to help people create a home they love, one DIY project at a time.

Comments

  3. Jessica says

    Just made mine! I used too few flowers unfortunately so it doesn't look as good but I'm still happy with it. I'd upload a photo of I could!

    Reply

    • Heather says

      AWESOME!!! Any tips for anyone else you can think of?? Go upload a pic on my facebook page! I want to see!!

      Reply

  7. Carol TheAnswerIsChocolate says

    The end result is worth the work. Just stunning! I'm featuring when my link party opens up tonight!

    Reply

  8. elaine @cookinandcraftin.com says

    Too cute!! I love them…even if it took you forever…the results were stunning!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Thing on Thursday!! Come join the party again next week!!

    Reply

  11. Larissa Prodigal Pieces says

    It's gorgeous and I have 5 kids with cutting capabilities….hahahaha…will have to get them started. :o) I'll be featuring your lovely in the "What's YOUR Prodigal Piece?" link party tonight!

    Reply

  13. avery street design says

    These are really pretty and worth that investment of time! (I also love your bedroom ceiling and that cool cow picture!) I recently did something similar with coffee filters on a lamp shade. I folded all of them into little triangles to make scalloped ruffles on the shade. Hopefully if I ever get around to redoing my daughter's room they'll find a nice home there. The look is just so pretty and romantic! I'm stopping by from the Kathe with an E party. I'd love to have you join mine called "Found & Foraged" on Saturdays, 8 pm, at http://www.averystreetdesign.com. Hope to see you!

    Reply

  20. Bev Carter says

    Your lamp shades are beautiful. I need to do something in my guest room. Maybe I will try this.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Bev

    Reply

  21. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    Love the texture of your shades. And the girly factor is a nice contrast to the more rustic elements in the room!

    Reply

  23. Emily Thompson says

    that is SOOO pretty. I want to make one this weekend. AND I love you ceiling, wow! Thanks for sharing at the Create Link Inspire party. You are being featured at Nap-Time Creations this weekend and I've spread your project around my social media… Hop on over and check it out. Happy Weekend! Emily

    Reply

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