The Budget-Friendly DIY That Gives Any Lampshade A Personal Touch

A boring white lampshade can bring down the vibe of a whole room. Whether your lamp came with a plain lampshade or you picked one up at a thrift store with the intention of getting your dream shade on a budget for an old lamp, there are endless creative ways to give an old lampshade a fresh new look. If you really want to lean into a maximalist, personalized style while sticking to a strict budget, then creating a DIY collage lampshade using Mod Podge may be the perfect solution for you. Due to the availability of general crafting supplies and the flexible range of products to choose from when selecting your decorative pieces to attach, the project can be extremely affordable, even if you need to purchase a few items.

For this project, you need Mod Podge, a soft-bristle or foam brush, a lampshade, and printed images. Your lampshade can be any size, shape, or texture. A smooth white lampshade is ideal as a blank canvas, but variances can make your result even more interesting. The printed images can be sourced from a Pinterest board, a magazine, your own personal photos, stickers, and more. All of these materials are quite affordable. A plain white lampshade costs $12.22 at Walmart and can likely be found even cheaper at thrift stores or garage sales. It will help to know how to select the right lampshade for your lamp while shopping. An 8-ounce container of Mod Podge costs $3.99 at Michaels, and a pack of four foam brushes costs only a couple of dollars, so your general supplies won't set you back much.

For gathering images and other items to attach to your lamp on a budget, thrift magazines, newspapers, or books for images. Used book sales are also a great opportunity to find cool designs and texts to clip. For personal images, if you do not have a printer, many libraries have free printing services you can use. If you do a lot of sewing projects, fabric scraps can also add color and texture to your lampshade.

Once you have a collection of images, fabric, stickers, and more, you can begin arranging your items into a collage pattern you like. You can be bold with colors and designs, especially given the popularity of the wrong lamp theory, the viral trend that will change how you think about decor, which emphasizes having a funky lamp in a striking style. To get an eclectic look, consider layering your pieces. It might also help to use a pencil to draw a grid on your lamp if you want straight lines. When you are happy with your plan, wipe down your lampshade to remove any dirt, dust, and debris. Apply Mod Podge to the shade's surface and the back of the item you are attaching. Remember to use thin layers and carefully smooth them down. Allow the Mod Podge to dry completely between layers in order to prevent bubbles and wrinkles. Once dry, apply another layer of decoupage on top. Continue your layers until you're happy with the result. For a perfect, glossy finish, apply an acrylic sealer on top of your finished lampshade.