Instructions to Restore & Reline a Lamp Shade

Unscrew the finial and remove the lampshade. Use a soft brush and vacuum cleaner to clean the shade thoroughly. This will give you the best visibility of the shade's current color if you are matching the lining and trims. Most shades and linings are not bright white but a softer off white, and there are many variations of off white, making matching colors more difficult.

Examine the front fabric of the shade. If the shade is in good condition, don't remove it. If the shade is fragile with small areas of damage but you want to keep the fabric, it should be carefully removed and attached to a stable new fabric.

Remove the decorative tape around the top and bottom edges of the shade. Often this is glued on and the tape will peel off without difficulty. If the tape is sewn on, use a seam ripper and carefully remove the stitches. Set the tape aside in case you want to re-use it.

Remove the tape that loops under the top framing cross members. This tape will be about 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. It is usually glued at the top. Set these aside. Lift and peel the lining fabric where it overlaps the front decorative fabric. Again, the lining is probably glued on and can be lifted with care. Slide the liner out of the frame from the bottom. If you are trying to save your existing decor fabric, remove that fabric from the shade. It may be glued or sewn to the frame.

Open the two seams of the lining fabric and iron the fabric to establish as much of the original shape as possible. Open the seam on the decor fabric. If the decor fabric is shirred or pleated, try to flatten the edges of the seams and areas where the fabric wraps over the frame. Peel the back off an iron-on fabric adhesive sheet. Place the decor fabric face down. Place the sticky side of the sheet over the decor fabric. Place scrap cotton fabric over the sheet and iron the adhesive sheet to the back of the decor fabric.

Place decor fabric face side down. Peel the backing off the adhesive sheet. Position the lining fabric face side up. Cover the lining fabric with scrap cotton fabric and iron the fabrics to join the decor fabric to the stable lining fabric. The fabrics should be tightly bonded when you are finished. Cut the lining fabric to match the edges of the decor fabric.

Turn the decor fabric face sides together and sew the seam back together. The new fabric will help make the seam strong. Fit the fabric over the frame and line up the seam with one of the frames. Apply a bead of glue to the top of the wrapped frame and bend the fabric into its former position. Use bulldog clamps to hold the fabric tightly to the frame. Repeat along the bottom edge. Allow the glue to dry completely.

Place the old liner over the new liner material and pin the fabric together. Cut around the old liner for each piece. Place the new liner pieces face sides together and sew your seams. Trim the seams short to 1/8 inch. Slide the liner into the frame with the seam side toward the back of the decor fabric. The finished side of the seams should face the light bulb.

Fit the top of the liner by gluing over the decor fabric at the top edge of the frame. Use bulldog clamps to hold the fabric in place while the glue dries. Repeat along the bottom edge of the frame. Allow the glue to dry completely. Position the short pieces of tape under a framing cross member so the raw edges are over the liner and glue the tape ends into place. Glue the trims back into place or replace them with new trims.