How to Make DIY No-Sew Pleated Lamp Shade Covers -

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Easily refresh your lamp shades by making your own DIY no-sew pleated lamp shade covers using just hot glue and fabric.

DIY no-sew pleated lamp shade covers on gold chandelier in cozy cottage living room. — *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains other affiliate links too for your convenience. You can read my privacy policy for more details.

You know when you have a million things on your plate and you should really be focused on those things, but then something else captures your attention?

That was me last weekend.

Well, hold on.

If I’m being completely honest, that’s me ALL OF THE TIME.

Maybe it’s my creative brain, but it’s more than likely some sort of undiagnosed attention deficit disorder.

But if you’re anything like me, sometimes inspiration strikes at the most inconvenient moment, and suddenly you’re knee deep in a project you did not plan for.

So, the day after Thanksgiving, while I was supposed to be fully focused on Black Friday deals and planning Cyber Monday sales, I opened a closet, and there it was {insert shining light from above here}.

An old plaid tablecloth I had completely forgotten about, but knew exactly what I could with it.

And just like that, it was goodbye productivity.

Hello, cozy DIY detour.

Within minutes I had the tablecloth spread across the kitchen counter, scissors in hand, and the hot glue gun heating up (your best friend when you don’t know how to sew).

Because when inspiration strikes, you follow where it leads…right?

So long story short, that’s how these no-sew DIY pleated lamp shade covers were born.

A totally unplanned project that’s added coziness and charm to our living room.

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What You’ll Love About This DIY

Completely no sew.
Great for hiding outdated or mismatched lamp shades.
Uses fabric you already own. I love a budget-friendly craft!
Customizable, choose patterns that match your home.
Super easy once you get the hang of pleating.

Supplies You’ll Need to Make No-Sew Lamp Shade Covers

You’ll need these materials to make your own shade covers…

The materials you'll need to make DIY lampshade covers include lamp shades, scissors, hot glue, and fabric.

Lamp Shade
Cotton or Linen Fabric
Sharp Scissors
Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

COZY TIP: Before you buy new fabric for this DIY, take a quick peek around your home. You might already have the perfect material like old tablecloths, napkins, pillowcases, curtains, or even a dress you no longer wear can be transformed into charming covers for your lamps.

materials you’ll need

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I’m Heidi, the heart and hands behind Eleanor Rose Home.

Heidi and her dachshund rescue Eleanor Roosevelt.

I’ll show you that your home can become a place of warmth, comfort, and style with practical tips, creative ideas, and my own journey to help you create a space that feels like you…welcoming, personal, and full of charm.

More About me See more easy diys

How to Make DIY No-Sew Pleated Lamp Shade Covers

Here’s the step-by-step guide to creating lampshade covers without a needle or sewing machine.

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01

Measure & Cut Your Fabric

Start by measuring the height and circumference of your existing lamp shade. Cut a rectangular piece of fabric that’s about 1–1.5″ taller than the shade and 1-2 feet longer than the circumference (the extra length is for the pleating). Since I made six shades for our living room chandelier, I cut all of the panels at once so the shades would match.

Measuring the lampshade on the fabric to find out how much fabric is needed to cover the shade.

Cutting the fabric with scissors to make the cover for the lampshade.

02

Create a No Sew Hem

To keep the edges clean and prevent fraying, fold the top edge of your fabric over about 1/2 inch and run a thin bead of hot glue along the fold. Press gently until it’s secure, then repeat the same process along the bottom edge.

Creating a hew on the lampshade cover with a hot glue gun.

Heidi pressing down on the hot glue with her fingers to create a no sew hem on the light covers.

03

Start Pleating the Fabric

Beginning at one end of your fabric panel, bring about 1/2″ of fabric from the left toward the right and glue that small fold to the top edge of your shade. Then bring the next 1/2″ of fabric back from right to left, gluing it right on top of the fold you just created. Continue alternating these small folds, left to right, then right to left moving across the top of the cover until you have even pleats that will wrap around your lampshade.

Don’t worry if your pleats aren’t perfectly spaced or your folds aren’t exactly the same each time. This cover is forgiving, and any small variations will blend right into the gathered look.

Making the first pleat in the DIY lamp shade cover by folding the fabric together like a sandwich.

An example of how the first pleat should look on your DIY cover.

04

Attach the Pleated Cover to the Shade

Once your pleated panel is ready, add a small dab of hot glue to the top edge of the lamp shade and press the beginning of your fabric panel into place. Then wrap the cover all the way around the shade, allowing for a slight overlap at the end. Add another dab of hot glue at the top to secure that overlapped edge. You don’t need to glue along the bottom. Leaving the lower edge loose gives the cover a cozy cottage look and also makes it easy to slip off the shade whenever you want to change the fabric or swap styles.

Attaching the cover to the white lampshade is easy with a little hot glue.

Use hot glue to attach the cover to the lamp shade for your light.

Helpful Tips

Stick to lightweight fabric, it’s easier to pleat.
Keep your glue lines thin to avoid lumps and bumps.
If your fabric has a pattern, cut the fabric so the stripes or florals flow in the same direction on all shades.
I highly recommend making a practice cover first to get a hang of the pleats.

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Pleated Lampshade Covers Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove the covers later?
Yes, that is what’s so great about this DIY project. These simply slip over your existing shades so if you ever want to change the look again, just remove them or make new ones.

Will the hot glue melt from the heat of the lightbulb?
No, it won’t.

What kind of fabric works best?
Lightweight cotton, linen, muslin, or an old pillowcase, table runner, or sheet all work great.

Can I make these for a large lamp shade?
Absolutely, the method is the same. You’ll just need a larger piece of fabric.