Cottage-chic lampshade

Hands-on time: Less than half an hour.
Total time: Add 30 minutes for the paints to dry.
Skill: Super easy.
Project cost: No cost…using items you already have.

Materials and Tools

• Plain fabric or paper lampshades of any size, preferably in a light colour
• Newspapers
• Damp cloth
• Acrylic paints or leftover paints, used on other cottage projects (two colours)
• Paint tray or a foil pie plate
• Stir sticks or twigs
• A scouring pad (or anything that can provide a little texture)
• Tape, such as electrical or duct tape
• Scissors
• An old toothbrush

Many cottages are decorated with hand-me-downs and flea-market finds. I recently spent a few days at a friend's cottage and she wanted us to get creative. We improvised with items that we found around the cottage. The result: a plain lampshade received a free makeover in less than half an hour with only a scouring pad, an old toothbrush, electrical tape and leftover paint.

Cover your work area with newspapers. Dust off the lampshade and wipe it with a damp cloth, then pat it dry.

If you have leftover paint of any kind, chances are it was used to paint something in the cottage, so the colours are sure to go with something in your scheme. But again, it's a cottage, so things don't necessarily have to match. You'll need two colours for this project. They can be similar in hue or complementary. Place paints in a foil dish or paint tray.

To create stripes on the shade, apply tape around the top and bottom borders of the shade, leaving the trim edge exposed. Starting with the lighter colour, apply a little paint on the scouring pad, remove excess paint on newspaper, then dab the scouring pad lightly and randomly all over the lampshade, including the trim edge. To soften any harsh dabs, use a damp cloth to dab over the fresh paint. Repeat this step to apply the darker colour, but use fewer dabs around the lampshade. You can apply the second colour directly over the base colour without waiting for the paint to dry.

For the splatter accents, apply a little diluted paint to an old toothbrush. At a distance of 25 to 30 centimetres, flick the bristles horizontally so they splatter on the lampshade. Repeat until you achieve the desired effect. Remove the tape and let the lampshade dry.

Put the shade back on the lamp base, relax and enjoy a good book or a game of Scrabble.

Tips

• No paints on hand? No problem. Use food colouring and assorted vegetable juices. Plant roots, flowers and tea are great sources of natural dyes.

Variations

• Dress up lampshades to suit any décor. For a shabby chic shade, use assorted fabric remnants or trim it with beads or buttons. For the ultimate rustic look, add twig, bark or feather accents. For a western look, string leather lacing or natural twine through holes punched along the lampshade edges. Make your own stamp designs using a potato or string. Wallpaper leftovers can also provide interest. For a nautical or coastal appeal, use rope, hemp or jute around a base of a lamp or as trimming on the lampshade.
• This technique can be used on picture frames, mirrors, shelves, boxes, trays or terracotta planters. Look around your cottage. You might find something to inspire a creative makeover without spending a penny.