You may remember we’ve been slowly transforming John’s sister Emily’s nursery on a tight budget, and we’re back with another update. We’ve already painted modern vertical stripes, added large mirrors to open the room, made a simple no-sew bed skirt, created free artwork, and installed hooks for function and fun. The next task was solving the lighting situation.
The room had only a clean-lined overhead fixture and no additional light sources. Emily wanted the option to illuminate a single corner while keeping the overhead light off—a useful feature for nighttime feedings and reading. Instead of a floor lamp or a small table lamp that would take up precious floor or surface space beside Emily’s plush nursing chair (a $40 thrift-store find), we decided to mount a swing-arm wall lamp above the chair. That way the lamp floats above the chair, freeing up space and reducing clutter. Here’s that corner before the swing-arm went up…
…and here it is about twenty minutes later after John mounted the swing-arm while we supervised and cheered him on:
We picked up the lamp on sale for $39 (marked down from $159), which made everyone happy. The swing-arm lamp makes the corner feel airier than a floor or table lamp would, since it appears to float above the chair. It’s also very practical: it has a built-in dimmer with a soft setting and a brighter setting, which is perfect for switching between calm nighttime light and a brighter reading or feeding mode.
We mounted the lamp so it wouldn’t interfere with sitting or standing up, and we used metal cord covers to run the cord neatly down the wall for a polished, child-friendlier look that avoids dangling cords.
With one corner solved, we turned to the opposite side of the room where a small armoire sits. Rather than buy a new table lamp to sit on the freshly painted armoire Emily already owned, we repurposed an existing lamp and refreshed its plain white fabric shade with cheerful yellow fabric we found for under eight dollars. Here’s the finished effect:
Recovering a fabric lamp shade is an easy weekend DIY. Note: this method works best with fabric shades—paper shades can overheat and won’t bond safely with hot glue. For added security, use high-temp glue sticks if you have them, though we used standard glue sticks without issue. The whole project took about thirty minutes.
We bought half a yard of lightweight graphic yellow fabric from our local fabric store. Lightweight fabric lets light pass through and maintains a warm glow; heavy or dark fabric would block light and reduce the lamp’s effectiveness. Measure the shade’s circumference and height, then add about two inches to both dimensions before cutting your fabric so you’ll have enough to wrap and secure the edges.
Because our fabric had a pattern, we made sure to line up the print when cutting so the finished shade would look balanced. After cutting a panel two inches larger than both the circumference and height of the shade, we removed the glued-on top and bottom trim bands from the original shade so the surface would be perfectly flat for the new fabric.
Using a glue gun, we adhered one short edge of the fabric to the inside of the shade and worked quickly—hot glue bonds fast, so you don’t want the glue to dry before pressing the fabric in place. If you go slow, you can always peel off and try again, but moving at a steady pace produces the best result.
On the other side, fold a half-inch hem of fabric inward, glue it down, and then apply another bead of glue to secure the wrapped fabric so the ends meet neatly and form a clean seam. Pull the fabric taut as you work so the surface looks smooth and fitted—baggy fabric won’t give a polished finish.
If your pattern doesn’t line up exactly at the seam, straighten the fabric top to bottom so it doesn’t appear to slide. Position the seam toward the back of the lamp so the best-looking side faces forward.
Trim the excess fabric along the top and bottom edges, then glue thin strips of the leftover fabric around the inside rim of the shade to conceal raw edges and create a finished look. Work in small sections—three to four inches at a time—so the glue stays tacky and you can press the fabric in place before it sets.
To achieve a tight edge where the shade’s metal support rods meet the rim, make tiny clips in the fabric around the rods and glue the small flaps down to secure them. This detail helps the inside rim look neat and prevents bulges.
That’s it—half a yard of fabric, scissors, a glue gun, a tape measure, and a helper are all you need. In less than an hour and for under eight dollars you can revive an old table lamp, floor lamp, or even a pendant with a fresh custom shade.
We were delighted by the pattern and how it complements the nursery. Here’s a detail shot of the fabric—such a lucky find!
And here’s the lamp glowing in the room. Emily’s little one will have a cozy, well-lit space to enjoy.
Between the $39 swing-arm lamp and the custom shade made for under $8, we spent about $47 total to greatly improve the nursery’s lighting. Next up are a few finishing touches and some stimulating accessories—timely, since the baby is due in October.
Would you try recovering a lampshade yourself? Or add a swing-arm light to free up table and floor space? We’d love to hear about nursery projects you’re working on or any upcoming additions to your family.
Safety note: Always exercise caution with lighting projects. Keep the original shade or a heat-safe layer beneath any new fabric so the outer fabric stays a safe distance from the bulb. Using cooler-burning CFL or LED bulbs reduces overheating risk. If you’re hardwiring a fixture such as a swing-arm lamp, turn off power at the breaker or consult an electrician. Safety first.