This quick (okay, maybe not “in 10”, but certainly faster than you think) DIY lampshade makeover elevates a budget buy to bright new heights…

You would think that the fact that a pair of Habitat lamps we scored years ago at 75% off would give us carte blanche to get spendy on the shades, but that really isn’t any fun, and kinda negates the amazing price. So for years they were topped with a simple Ikea shade.

But since moving Social Nesting HQ to Canada and having to rewire the bases, the old shades no longer fit…

Step in Target, and this simple Project 62 rectangular lampshade. Chic in shape and divine in price ($19.99 USD), but a bit plain for us.

Admittedly, the steel-blue lacquer bases were tricky to accommodate. White was too bright, woven neutrals were too “country”, and from a sea of blues, none were quite right.

We needed to add a bit of drama, and aimed to do so with to this stunning marble paper from The Paper Place on Toronto’s Queen Street West.

To cover the shade, we tapped into our dry-mounting skills. Dry mounting involves spray-glueing both the surface you want to paper-cover, and the back of the paper you want to use, waiting for them both to dry, and then carefully sticking them together. Because in this process, when they are stuck, they are stuck.

The paper was only wide enough to cover the front and two sides, but had enough depth for us to cut and secure a cover for the back. The pattern doesn’t match at the back, but they are against a wall so no one will notice…

Plus people will be too busy in awe of the stunning results…