We have a creamy lampshade, which fit right in with the surrounding items in the old house. However, with a new spot in our new house, it looked plain and dull, so I wanted to add some colors to freshen it up. I have acrylic paints and brushes that I bought a few years ago, intending to take up a new hobby. But I had never opened them until I decided to redo the lampshade. Painting is not easy and takes patience and attention to detail—two things I don’t have much of. How to makeover a lampshade when you have zero painting skills, no experience with brushes, and only a little time to spare? Here’s what I did.
Instead of using brushes, I used flowers. When I looked at the flowers I bought for S’s birthday, I noticed the mums and thought, “Why not use these as brushes?” They were sturdy enough to use for dabbing without getting all mushy, large enough to cover more surface area quickly, and their many small petals would give the texture some extra oomph. Since our living room has slate blue as the dominant color, so different shades of blue would work well for the lampshade. I threw in green and purple as well. Honestly, I didn’t have a clear vision or a detailed plan. It was quite impromptu. After a rough, tiring day, I just wanted a quick, easy way to get it done and off my mind.
The flowers already had their own textures and shapes, so all I had to do were dip them in paint and dab them onto the surface. I focused on different spots, trying to make it look natural, like it wasn’t planned or anything. I wasn’t trying to create any specific picture, partly because I wouldn’t know how but mostly because I just wanted to finish quickly. Abstract patterns are a safe option in this case as their interpretation would be up viewers. I simply dabbed the flower heads on different areas, letting the randomness create a natural flow.
Next, I mixed all the leftover paint, which turned into a teal-green shade, and used it to paint some areas without the pattern. I actually preferred slate blue, but since the teal-green looked decent, I didn’t bother adjusting it further. I left some areas unpainted to enhance the contrast and let the “design” stand out naturally.
To make a smooth transition between the teal-green top and the flower pattern a little better, I dabbed some burgundy purple in that in-between area using the flower. The deep, cool colors added a bit of a mysterious vibe to the overall look of the lampshade.
That was it. Super easy and stress-free for someone like me with no painting skills. I finished it in less than half an hour. It looks pretty good, at least, not like something a kid made. Love to hear about your DIY lampshade makeover.
Begin life at forty 