Steps & Items Needed To Paint A Glass Lamp Shade
In order to give your glass lamp shade a solid color, you need to paint it and to do so, you need to collect certain items first required for the process and the go through all the steps in order to achieve the better result:
Things You Will Need
- Glass Lampshade
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Decoupage Glue (Or Glass Paint)
- Food Coloring
- Flat Paintbrush, Synthetic Bristles
Steps To Paint A Lamp Shade With A Solid Color
- First of all, you need to remove, clean and dry your lampshade. You just need to remove the shade from the lamp. Wash your lampshade with some warm soapy water and then rinse it off. Dry the shade off with the help of a paper towel.
- Now you need to wipe your surface down with some rubbing alcohol because this will easily remove any oils or residue that prevent the paint from sticking well on your lampshade. Handle your lampshade from the inside of it, otherwise, you get those oils on the part which you are going to paint.
- Next, just pour the desired glass paint into your disposable container. Just buy the glass paint from your near craft store. The glass paint comes in many different finishes such as matte, glossy, translucent and opaque. Some of the glass paints even have sparkles.
- You can also make your own paint by using the glue & dye if glass paint is not available. Choose a decoupage glue such as mod podge in the suitable finish you like such as matte glossy finish. Pour enough glue to coat the lampshade in a container and then stir in 1-5 drops of food coloring. Keep stirring until the color is consistent & no streaks remain.
- Next, apply the paint to the outside of your lampshade. Hold your lampshade from inside and then apply the selected paint with a wide flat-brush. Make the brushstrokes point in the same direction as up & down or side to side. Apply an even & light coat to reduce the brushstrokes.
- Now you have to wait as long as the applied paint dries fully & cure in a dust-free place. Dry & cure time depends on the type of paint which you've applied on the lampshade. Glass paint may take up to 24-27 hours to dry, and the decoupage glue just needs some hours. Some type of paints also have a curing time according to the product so read the label carefully.
- Now you need to apply the 2nd coat of your selected paint, if you want and then let the paint dry for a few hours. The second paint will give an opaque finish & will also help conceal any remaining brushstrokes.
- Alternatively, you can also paint the inside of your lampshade, just make sure to wipe the inside down by using the rubbing alcohol first. Drying time depends on the type of paint you are going to use, just check the paint bottle to be sure. Let this inside coat to dry & cure entirely.
- Finally you need to reassemble your lamp once the applied paint has dried wholly. If the applied paint still feels tacky then it has not finished drying or curing yet. Let your lamp-shade dry for at least 1-2 days before you reassemble it. If you going to put your lamp back together too soon then you see that the sticky paint will pick up the dust & dirt.