DIY Wire Mesh Lamp Shade

This blog will show you how to make your own DIY wire mesh lamp shade. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below.

OVERVIEW

• Experience Required: Low
• Tools Required: Protective Gloves, Plier, Wire Cutter
• Materials Required: Welded Wire Mesh, Old Lamp, Black Paint

 

Step 1) Prepare your supplies

• Gather everything you need for the project.

 

Step 2) Disassemble the lamp

• Take out your shade and put aside the rest of the lamp.

 

Step 3) Measure the mesh

• Before you remove your lamp shade, you should wrap the wire mesh around it, to measure how much mesh you will need.
• Make sure to wrap it tightly.

 

Step 4) Cut to Size

• Once secured, you will see how much of the mesh needs to be cut.
• Cut the mesh to size using wire cutters.

 

Step 5) Remove the fabric

• Use pliers to remove the lamp’s shade and any additional fabric.
• Take the two wire hoops and discard the rest of the fabric.

 

Step 6) Secure the Ends of the Mesh

• Use pliers to wrap the ends of the mesh tightly around the hoops.
• Repeat this on both the top and bottom as well.

 

Step 7) Paint the Shade

• Once everything is secured, use spray paint to paint over the shade.
• Put it aside to dry.

 

Step 8) Assemble your Lamp

• Reassemble your lamp with the new DIY wire mesh lamp shade you created.
• Put it on your nightstand and enjoy!

 

Tips and Tricks

• Use good quality wire cutters to make the process of cutting the wire mesh easier. If you are unsure, you can follow the instructions on how to cut wire netting.
• When painting the wire mesh, it’s best if you use fast movements to avoid spraying too much paint in one place. This will result in a more even look, and avoid the paint looking uneven and spotty.
• When attaching the wire mesh to the hoops, you can use a variety of methods, but what worked best for us was wrapping the loose wire completely around the hoops, as tightly as possible.
• Although this project makes a lovely DIY night lamp, you can use it for a variety of other purposes too! For example, turning it upside down will result in a pendant light shade. Alternatively, you can paint it golden, fill it with artificial birds and use it as ceiling decoration.

Other folks’ lovely projects

Now that you learned the trick to create a DIY industrial light shade, let’s check out some other ideas for upcycling an old lamp.

Map Lampshade

In this tutorial, Claire from Pillar Box Blue shows how to make a simple lampshade much more unique and stylish, by incorporating a map into it. 

Washi Tape Lampshade

Amy, the blogger behind As The Bunny Hops came up with the ultimate idea for a truly colourful and striking DIY lampshade. She used washi tape for her project and the results are speaking for themselves! 

Sweater Lamphade

Another creative and stunning lampshade idea is the one created by Amber Oliver! She repurposed an old sweater, creating a lampshade that had a stunning texture and a sophisticated look.