The Easiest Hack That Instantly Gives Any Lampshade A Pleated Look

A lampshade is a decorative item that adds a beautiful finish to any lamp base. However, a plain fabric shade can be boring and uninspiring, especially if your style is more maximalist than minimalist. There's no need to invest in an entirely new lamp, as there are lots of simple ways to upgrade a lampshade without having to spend a fortune. Or, if you've recently thrifted one, then you can easily turn a thrifted lamp into a unique home feature by wrapping ribbon strips of your chosen fabric around it to create an elegant, pleated look. 

Pleated lampshades are perceived to be vintage in style and have recently made a huge comeback, as they are now considered to be totally on trend. Rather than purchasing an expensive lampshade from a designer store, this easy hack, which you can do yourself at home, will create a similar look for less. Don't worry – you don't have to be a DIY expert to complete this project. All you're going to need are a fabric of your choice that's big enough to wrap around your chosen lampshade, a pair of fabric scissors, and a glue gun. What's better is this DIY will only take you around 10 minutes to complete.

Begin this DIY by choosing a fabric that you want to cover your lampshade with. You may even have an off-cut or leftover scraps you weren't using from a previous project, which would work perfectly for this. Try your best to choose a non-stretch, lightweight fabric, like cotton, as it'll be much easier to work with. Use fabric scissors to cut your fabric into ribbon strips. This will determine how big your pretend pleats will be — just keep in mind that the fabric will be folded over, so if you cut 4-inch strips, your pleats will be approximately 2 inches wide. 

Fold your strip in half and start wrapping it around your lampshade, fixing it at the top with hot glue. When you reach the end of your strip, simply glue it down to secure it. It is key that when you are wrapping your fabric around the lampshade, you overlap each section to create that pleated-look; this will also cover any unsightly edges. 

Once you have completed the wrapping process, you are left with a beautifully pleated, vintage lamp perfect for your space. To elevate it one step further, you can add a strip of fabric to the top and the bottom of your lampshade by tucking it underneath each edge to create a decorative border effect. Or, go bold and attach a contrasting trim. Lightweight velvet would be a fabulous addition if you're aiming for that vintage feel.