What is it about a beautifully lit room that makes it feel so warm and inviting? Certainly, the choice of decorative lamp shades plays a large role in creating a room’s ambiance. Depending upon shape, pattern, and fabric, lamp shades can tell a story, set a mood, and incorporates the personal style of a home’s and its homeowner’s. And, for the crafty person willing to take on a handmade project, there are lampshade kits that allow you to create your very own handmade decorative lamp shades with pre-ordered parts, streamlining the creative process.
For the past 20 years, the mission at LampShadeLady has been to teach and inspire crafters, both here in Northern California and around the country, to create their own beautiful handmade Victorian lampshades. Our kits include frames, everything needed to wire the frame, pieces of lace, silk chiffon, and all sorts of wonderful, decorative trims.
What Are Lampshade Kits and Why Do You Need One?
A lampshade kit contains everything you need to make a beautiful decorative lamp shade from scratch. Instead of searching for wire frame shapes, binding tape, fabric, lining fabric, lace or trim and fringe, the lampshade kit has it all right there in the box and all pieces are beautifully coordinated in color, size and style.
When a beginner picks up a lampshade kit, they’re most often gaining the ability to get started on their project without having to figure out what materials to purchase. All of the confusing parts and materials are instead packaged in one box and arranged so that the beginner knows what they’re walking into right from the open box.
These items are not just for the enthusiast who wants to save a bit of time making up their own lampshade. Creating your own handmade decorative lamp shades that you can't find in any store can make for a wonderful pastime and give you items with a real personal touch that can be treasured for generations to come, such as a Victorian-style lampshade with a hand-tied rosebud on top and some fringe in the silk pendant..
Choosing the Right Lampshade Kit: A Beginner's Guide
Not all lampshade kits are created equal. Finding the right kit for your needs will take a bit of research beforehand, which we’ve done for you here. Let’s take a look at some of the key elements to pay attention to when shopping for the best DIY lampshade kit for your home.
Style & Aesthetic: We offer a variety of kits and each one has a unique aesthetic and style. These kits can be a great starting point for your space, based on your current décor or design idea! We also offer custom kits based off of your own ideas and designs. Our most popular kits are Classic/Neutral, Floral, and Romantic/Victorian.
Skill Level: These kits are designed for beginners. Easy to follow instructions, pre selected materials that have been chosen to work well together. Perfect for someone who has never made a lampshade before. And don’t forget the video tutorials to guide you through the process.
Frame Size: The wire frame is the same as the finished shade size. Frame sizes for our kits are Medium size shades that work perfectly as a table lamp shade for a living room, bedroom, or wherever you read.
Included Materials: The best kits include all the materials you see on the cover, such as a wire frame (A) to provide lampshade structure, lining fabric (B) to line the shade, outer fabric (C) for covering, seam binding (D) to reinforce fabric seams, and decorative trims (E) and fringe (F) to offer design embellishment options. Some kits even include materials for accent pieces like bow roses (G) and beads (H).
After deciding on the correct kit for your makeup style and skill level, the best part is really getting creative with the product and enjoying the craft of makeup.
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Victorian Decorative Lamp Shade Using a Kit
So you’re a beginner at making lamp shades! Well, you’ve come to the right place! Your first foray into decorating with a handmade shade will be one you’ll remember. We’ve outlined the general process for making one of our Victorian lampshade kits.
1. Wrap the wire frame in seam binding tape. This is to give the fabric something to hold onto.
2. Line the Lamp Shade: Cut and pin the lining fabric to the inside of the frame. This will help to scatter the light and give the lamp shade a completed and elegant inner surface.
3. Attach outer fabric: Use your main fabric for this step - silk chiffon is used in our kits. Drape the fabric over the outer structure of the millinery frame, allowing the fabric to fold and shape into the characteristic hat shape.
4. Add the final decorative touches. These are the most personal elements of your design and are a lot of fun. Apply lace edging, French scroll trims, beaded fringe to the base of the shade and pretty ribbon rosebuds as an accent here and there. Embellish and Personalise as desired.
Finishing off : Tuck in and secure anything that is loose, and trim any hanging threads. Admire your hand crafted decorative lamp shade!
Our Featured Lampshade Kits
Flower Tulip Lampshade Kit
The Flower Tulip Lampshade Kit is a great choice for anyone looking to make a decorative lamp shade with a soft look. These easy to follow, easy to make lampshade kits are perfect for beginners and make a beautiful gift or piece for your home. This kit contains everything you need to make a beautiful flower tulip lamp shade. Pre selected, pre cut and pre packaged materials make this kit easy to complete.
All the materials required for your stained glass panel are supplied pre-cut and ready for assembly - this includes the frame, fabric, lining, trims and embellishments.
Perfect for making a small table lamp or centerpiece for your cottage. They make excellent gifts for fellow crafters also.
Victorian Beauty Lampshade Kit
This offering is our most premium and our most beautiful; a true handmade Victorian decorative lamp shade kit. The Victorian Beauty Lampshade Kit includes a medium wire frame (10" high x 13" wide x 4" deep) to be hand assembled along with seam binding, lining, lace, silk chiffon, French scroll trims, a 6" beaded fringe and two ribbon rosebud accents.
This kit includes all the materials needed to replicate an elegant, romantic Victorian parlor style decorative lamp shade. Order the kit with the instructional DVD together for a discount price and follow along as you learn to build the lamp frame and create the decorative shade.
These die cuts are perfect for: Formal living rooms, vintage/decorative applications, and heirloom framing.
How to Make Victorian Style Lampshades — Instructional DVD
A compulsory accessory for any lampshade kit. The DVD teaches the traditional Victorian methods of making handmade decorative lamp shades. Written by Mary, a clear and encouraging tutor for the novice lampshade maker. Comes with every lampshade kit - so you get a discount when you buy with a kit - just select from the options above.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Lampshade Kit
• Watch the instructional video first! Then buy the kit. It helps to understand what you’re getting yourself into if you watch it first!
• Work well. Work in good lighting.
• Take your time when binding – it is an important step to get right, and good quality seam binding tape should be used and pressed evenly and carefully as you are wrapping the frame.
• These handmade decorative lamp shades have a hand-crafted appearance and as such are not all identical and may have small variations.
• Match to a lamp base. Our kits do not include a lamp base however you can choose a base to suit the size of your shade. A medium shade looks great with a slender candlestick or a classic looking urn shape.
Ready to Create Your Own Decorative Lamp Shade?
There’s something rather special about turning a light switch on and seeing above the bulb a beautiful decorative shade that you made. Our kits – including the ‘Flower Tulip’ Lampshade Kit and the grand Victorian Beauty Lampshade Kit – provide the materials needed to craft a piece that’s sure to light up your home for years to come.
See our entire collection of lamp shade kits at LampShadeLady.com. Hand a roll of fabric to your home needlepoint lady and have her create your most beautiful decorative lamp shade yet.
FAQs About Lampshade Kits
1. What is included in a lampshade kit from LampShadeLady?
Our lampshade kits include all necessary materials to build a complete decorative lamp shade, such as a wire frame, lining, outer fabric like silk chiffon, seam binding, lace, decorative trims, beaded fringe, and accent pieces like ribbon rosebuds.
2. Are your lampshade kits suitable for beginners?
Yes! Our lampshade kits for beginners are specifically designed to be approachable. When paired with our instructional DVD, even first-time crafters can complete a beautiful decorative lamp shade.
3. How long does it take to make a decorative lamp shade using a kit?
Most crafters complete their lampshade in a few hours over one or two sessions. The process is meditative and enjoyable — not a race.
4.Do I need any special tools to use a lampshade kit?
Basic sewing tools like scissors, pins, and a needle and thread are helpful. No sewing machine is required for most Victorian-style decorative lamp shades.
5.Can I use these lampshade kits with an existing lamp base?
Absolutely. The lamp base is not included in any of our kits, so you can pair the finished decorative lamp shade with any base you already own.
6. What size decorative lamp shade do your kits make?
Our Victorian Beauty Lampshade Kit creates a medium shade measuring 10 inches tall and 13 inches wide — an ideal size for standard table lamps.
7. Do you offer lampshade kits with different fabric styles?
Yes. Our current collection includes different aesthetic styles — the romantic Flower Tulip and the opulent Victorian Beauty — with varied fabrics and trims to suit different interior design preferences.
8.Is there a discount for buying a lampshade kit with a DVD?
Yes! When you add any lampshade kit and our instructional DVD to your cart, you'll automatically receive a bundle discount. It's the ideal beginner's bundle for making your first decorative lamp shade.
9. What makes handmade decorative lamp shades better than store-bought ones?
Handmade lampshades crafted from lampshade kits are one-of-a-kind. You control the style, quality, and details. They carry personal meaning and a level of craftsmanship that mass-produced shades simply can't match.
10. Where can I browse all available lampshade kits?
You can view our full collection of lampshade kits at lampshadelady.com/collections/lampshade-kits. We also offer lampshade supplies separately if you'd like to customize your own design.