THREE TO MAKE, BUY OR CUSTOMISE

There are many lovely handmade lampshades out there that offer a distinctive alternative to the usual high-street offerings. They may also inspire you to make or customise your own

1 MAKE

If you are bursting with enthusiasm to make something for the home yourself, a lampshade is a good place to start. Not only could it save you some cash, you could make one that matches your curtains. The easiest way to do it is with a lampshade making kit. There’s a fine choice at dannells. com, including a 15cm drum lampshade kit, £7.08. It comes with an adhesive flameproof PVC panel which you can attach to fabric of your choice or customise according to your whim.

2 BUY

The variety of lampshades made by designer makers available online means there is no excuse for boring light coverings. Joanna Corney of Lume (lumelighting.co.uk) makes lampshades in her Hove studio, including the immensely covetable Emerald Traditional shade, £110 (above) – a take on a traditional shade, with a pom-pom trim. She also runs lampshade making workshops (including fairy lights), so you can learn to make your own from the master.

3 CUSTOMISE

Get hold of a cheap lampshade, like the one above from diy.com, £5, and unleash your creativity via the medium of fabric paint (Tulip Fabric Paint, £4.50 from hobbycraft.co.uk), or practise decoupage, by glueing images cut from magazines on the outside, then varnishing with a matt varnish. Alternatively, glue a new piece of material on to an existing drum lampshade with Display Mount and trim with ribbon, Ric Rac trim (£2.95 for 5m, johnlewis.com) or pom-pom trim (£3 per m, johnlewis.com).