How To Make a DIY Drum Shade

by Nancy Mitchell

published Apr 12, 2012

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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

For this DIY, Isabelle LaRue of Engineer Your Space explains how to make a custom shade to spiff up a less-than-exciting ceiling fixture.

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Renting doesn’t mean you have to live with boring ceiling light fixtures. Instead, you can camouflage them with a DIY drum shade! Find more of Isabelle’s DIYs for renters at her website, Engineer Your Space.

What You Need

For the shade:
• Embroidery hoops (2)
• Poster board
• Wallpaper or fabric
• Ribbon
• Glue and sealer
• Eye screws (3)

For the diffuser:
• Flexible chopping mat or fluorescent lighting panel
• Sheer white fabric
• Sealer (Mod Podge)

Step By Step Instructions

Making the Shade:

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

1. Cut the poster board to size and glue to embroidery hoops.

From Isabelle: The diameter and overall size of the shade should be large enough to leave sufficient clearance around the existing fixture to allow the air to circulate and the heat to dissipate. Incandescent lighting should be avoided.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

2. After the rings are in place, glue the seam in the poster board.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

3. Glue wallpaper or fabric to poster board.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

4. Add finishing touches (ribbon around the top, etc).

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

5. If you choose, you can add some kind of finish (paint, stain, or rub n’ buff) to the bottom rim.

Making the Diffuser:

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

1. Cut the light panel according to the instructions above.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

2. Add fabric to diffuser panel with Mod Podge.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

3. Trim fabric and place diffuser panel inside shade.

Ceiling Installation:

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

1. Add 3 evenly spaced eye screws to the inside of the top embroidery hoop.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

2. Remove the existing fixture cover.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

3. Use hooks to attach drum shade to the holes in the existing fixture.

(Image credit: Isabelle Larue)

For more info, check out this video tutorial and resource guide from Isabelle’s site that will take you through the project step-by-step. The possibilities are endless!

Thanks, Isabelle!

(Images: Isabelle Larue)

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