DIY Black Painted Lampshade with Gold Liner

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Do you all remember those lamps I just simply couldn’t get rid of in my KonMari post earlier this month? I’m glad I hung onto them because inspiration struck and I was able to give them a great upgrade and spare the expense of buying even more lamps.

The mirrored lamps were a total steal at Target a few years ago. I bought them for $11 each, and then I bought the shades for about $8 a piece. I am a huge fan of mirrored decor, and I love how these lamps have a distressed quality to them.

I finally pinpointed what I didn’t love about them…the plain white shades I bought. Love the shape, hate the color. For the longest time I’ve been on the prowl for an affordable black lampshade with a gold liner. I haven’t found any in stores, and online they run $50+. Not going to happen!

To Pinterest I went, and I found plenty of people who had successfully painted lampshades, which was good news for me. I used a variety of tutorials to come up with my own method.

Using items I already had on hand, plus a couple of hours of work resulted in a gorgeous, high-end looking black lampshade lined with gold.

Here’s how to accomplish the look:

Painted Black Lampshade & Gold Liner

Difficulty: Easy Time: 1-2 Hours 

Supplies:

• White Fabric Lampshade
• Gold Spray Paint (The one from True Value is my fave!)
• Scissors
• Painter’s Tape
• Newspaper/Wrapping Paper
• 1 oz. Matte Black Acrylic Paint
• 2 oz. of Water
• Paint Brushes 
• Hairdryer (Optional)

Step 1: Using newspaper/wrapping paper/kraft paper, cover the outside of your lampshade. Use painter’s tape to keep everything in place.

Step 2: Take your lampshade outside and spray paint a thin layer of gold in the lining of the lampshade. Flip your lamp shade over to ensure you get all sides. Do two very light coats to prevent drips. Let dry for 10 minutes between coats and 30 minutes after the final coat.

Step 3: Mix 1 oz. of matte black acrylic paint and 2 oz. of water together in a bowl. Unwrap your lampshade and using a wide paint brush (1″-2″) apply paint using long, consistent VERTICAL strokes. Keep a wet edge and overlap your strokes to ensure a smooth/even finish.

(Note: My fabric shade started looking a little pilled up initially, but the fabric finish does go back to normal once it dries. You could do a light sanding if it gets too fuzzy for your liking.)

Step 4: Use a hairdryer on a high and warm setting to help the paint dry quicker, or simply let it air dry. Repeat step 3 as many times as needed to get a solid coat. I did three coats.

Step 5: Using a detail/smaller paint brush, paint the edges/borders of the lampshade. Let dry or blow-dry.

Step 6: Place your lampshade on a lamp. Turn it on to see any areas that may need more paint.

I love how this project turned out, and I am moving forward and doing this to the other one in the set so I’ll have a matching pair. Total this DIY project should cost about $5. About $3 of it is for spray paint, and the other for acrylic paint. Now, if you don’t want to paint your lampshade black, you could substitute any other color. How fun would it be to do a rich fuchsia or teal color? 

The gold liner really casts the more warm and gorgeous glow when the lamp is on. It’s a moody, sophisticated glow, for sure.

And for funsies, here’s a GIF showing the transformation. Also, did you notice my new end table? I’ll share more details about that purchase soon. 

This week will be filled with other DIY posts, so make sure you’re subscribed. Feel free to pin and share this tutorial. 🙂