The Clever Lampshade Upcycling Hack You'll Love For Your Indoor Plants

For every incredible hidden gem you find at the thrift store, there is a sea of random odds and ends that, upon first glance, seem useless. A lampshade without an accompanying lamp, for example, might not seem like the kind of vintage decor you should definitely snag if you see it at the thrift store. In reality, it actually might be just the thing you didn't know you were looking for. Old, mismatched lampshades can easily be upcycled into gorgeous plant pot covers with little to no tweaking.

In addition to being easy, this lampshade upcycle is also extremely inexpensive. Lampshades, especially when found on their own, can cost as little as $1 to $2 at secondhand shops. The craft gets even cheaper if you already have an old lampshade lying around the house. Another upside to this craft is how easily you can customize it. Many lampshades are practically blank canvases that can be totally transformed with just a few additional materials such as paint or ribbon.

For this project a drum or cylinder lampshade will work best, but any shape could do the trick depending on the size and shape of your plant pot. The style of lampshade fitter (the metal frame inside the shade) also matters. Keep your eyes out for an uno, euro, or clip on lampshade fitter as these will provide more interior room for your plant pot. A spider lampshade fitter, on the other hand, would be harder to fit a plant pot inside. Once you've sourced the ideal shade, all that's left to do is slide your plant pot inside.

Although the upcycle can be finished here, there are also tons of customization options to explore. Instead, you can give any boring, plain lampshade stylish and personalized makeover. For example, wicker lampshades look adorable with colorful pompoms or tassels hot glued around the edge, or you can line the top and bottom of the shade with a nice ribbon. For a blank canvas lampshade, you can use fabric markers to design your own pattern. Alternatively you can get creative with decoupage and add beautiful designs to your fabric lampshade.