Not exactly true, but nevertheless true, lighting usually comes last after renovation or after a move. But it can be very cost-intensive, because planning and creating harmonious lighting in your own four walls is not exactly cheap. If the light connections are already in place and you just need new lamps, you don't even have to spend a small fortune. We prove that to you here. Because you can make a lampshade yourself and all you need is a good idea.
Make your own lampshade: first steps and materials
If you want to make your own lampshade, you first have to think carefully about what material it should be made of. The newly created furnishing object should of course fit in with the rest of the interior. Umbrellas set accents in the room design and are a good way to coordinate furnishings and lighting. Since wood is often seen in interiors - mostly as floor coverings and storage furniture, we have the theme 'wood' to match.
Make a screen and use wood veneer
Wood is a material that is relatively easy to work with. Nevertheless, we are not professional craftsmen, just like you, so we will show you how to make a wooden lampshade. Here we need to make a small explanation that there are no logs or boards that you need to process. However, no materials or tools are used here that not every hobbyist has at hand.
Making a wooden lampshade – what is needed
We provide threegreat DIY projectsfor lampshades that are more or less made of wood. Wood veneer is primarily used for this. What is still needed is: lamp cable, lamp rosette, light bulb and possibly lampshade holder. You will also need wood glue, a foldback clamp, possibly a tension clamp and a cordless drill. And now we can get started!
Designing a shade from wood veneer: instructions
First, get a nice wood veneer that would suit your furniture and decor. Depending on how large your umbrella will be, you will need more or less wood veneer. Please note that different DIN and sheets of wood veneer are available in stores. It is best to choose that the piece is at least 100 cm long.
Cut a large sheet of wood veneer lengthwise into several equal-sized strips. If the veneer does not have the same look on both sides, use wood glue to glue two strips together. If additional support is needed, secure with foldback clips or alternatively with clothespins. Allow 12 to 24 to dry thoroughly. Then try wrapping the veneer strips around it to create a messy ball. Fix in the places where the strips are overloaded with wood glue or with suitable pins. A lampshade holder should be mounted on one side. Think about where it would be best. You can buy a lampshade holder ready-made or make it yourself. Take a rectangular piece of plywood and drill a hole in the center large enough to pass the lamp cord through and secure it. Now attach the lampshade holder with the lamp cable to the wood veneer ball and you have already made your own lampshade!
Designing a wooden embroidery frame lampshade: instructions
Something similar, but with a little more industrial flair, you can make a great lampshade yourself if you use a few wooden embroidery frames instead of wooden veneer. Here the chaotic appearance is replaced by an almost strict geometry. Choose the largest possible wooden embroidery frames and take at least two, preferably three of them.
The big advantage of wooden embroidery frames is that they can be easily bent and are therefore very flexible. The small bolt that holds the frame together also serves to tension the frame. Each frame consists of two rings - inner and outer, which are fitted together. The inner ring is whole and the outer one is connected by the bolts.
Remove the bolts from the wooden rings and cross them precisely so that the interfaces are against each other. Now fix it with wood glue and a tension clamp. Allow at least 12 hours for the adhesive to dry.
Additionally fix the places where the wooden rings intersect with suitable pins or rivets. If necessary, make additional holes. Look for pens with round heads in a color that matches the wood. Our recommendation: brass rivets.
When the glue is dry, drill right in the middle where the two outer rings intersect. This will pull the lamp cord and allow the light bulb to hang underneath.
Since the light bulb remains visible from all sides and represents a design center of the lamp, it would make sense to choose one with a special design. Modern alternatives to light bulbs are a total hit at the moment and are available in many imaginative versions. Handcrafted nostalgic light bulb with vintage socket is the perfect addition to any antique or modern decor.
To complete the industrial vintage look, we suggest treating the wooden embroidery frames with a wood finish to create an antique effect. You can do this before you start crafting or at the end, but before inserting the lamp cable with the light bulb.
Making a shade for a hanging lamp: instructions
We offer you another option on how you can make and design an umbrella yourself. Slightly wider strips require wood veneers here. A width of 10 – 12 cm would be ideal, but you are welcome to cut a little more.
Materials
This DIY project requires the same materials as the last two: a large wooden embroidery frame (two wooden rings), wood veneer, lamp cable with light bulb, thin fiberboard (size corresponds to the size of the wooden embroidery frame), wood glue, pins, perhaps foldback clip.
First you need to determine the width of your lampshade. Accordingly, cut two strips from the wood veneer. Measure exactly the circumference of the wooden embroidery frame. This is how long the veneer strips should be. Fix one strip to the inner edge of one wooden ring, the other to the outer one. Now add the other wooden ring inside the wood veneer circle. Attach the wood veneer to the embroidery rings using wood glue or suitable rivets.
What's still missing is the lampshade holder. You make it out of a thin fiberboard. It's best to have it cut at a hardware store. This means the circle is clean and you don't have to borrow any special tools. Measure the diameter of the outer embroidery ring exactly and add the thickness of the wood veneer and the embroidery ring. Give this measurement to the professionals at the hardware store so that they can cut the circle to the millimeter.
Now drill a hole for the lamp cable and hang your new homemade lampshade.
