A plain ikea lampshade sitting on a shelf is just waiting for a craft session. With a few materials from your house and an afternoon to spare, you and your preschooler can turn it into something magical.
Key Takeaways
- Simple DIY techniques can transform inexpensive lampshades into high-end decor for a child’s bedroom, all for under £10–£15 in materials.
- Every project uses child-safe, low-heat LED bulbs and things you likely already own: paint, glue, cotton batting, yarn, or scissors.
- This post covers four ideas: a fluffy cloud lamp, a painted airplane shade, a story-time night sky light, and a boho yarn-wrapped ikea shade.
- All hacks are renter-friendly with no rewiring needed-preschoolers can help with painting, sticking, and threading while adults handle cutting and electrical parts.
- At Little Button Diaries we love frugal, family-friendly upcycling projects, and this guide turns an ordinary lamp into a personalised keepsake your child will be proud of.
Why Hack an IKEA Lampshade for a Kids’ Room?
A £5–£10 ikea shade from ranges like REGOLIT, KRUSNING, or TRUBBNATE is the perfect blank canvas. One simple ikea hack and it becomes the star piece of decor in a nursery, playroom, or reading corner. Here is why it makes sense:
- Budget-friendly – you spend less than a takeaway coffee on the shade itself.
- Renter-safe – no rewiring, no holes in the ceiling you cannot fix.
- Upcycle old lamps – breathe new life into a tired ikea lamp instead of sending it to landfill. IKEA lamps can be upcycled into unique floor lamps, and old ceiling lights can be updated using IKEA light shades you already have.
- Tailored bedtime glow – softer, cosier light that fits your child’s routine.
The creative possibilities are wide open. Deconstructing a paper Regolit lampshade allows for complete creative rebuilding. Makers have even turned IKEA lampshades into aquarium-themed floor lamps and gold wall sconces from IKEA lamp hacks. Whether your child is inspired by dinosaurs, clouds, or outer space, let them choose the theme and help with low-mess steps like choosing a color or pressing on cotton fluff.
Safety first: LED bulbs produce less heat than incandescent bulbs and reduce fire hazards-always use them. Keep flammable materials like rice paper, yarn, or felt a few centimetres from the bulb, and follow ikea instructions.
Project 1: Fluffy Cloud Lamp from the IKEA KRUSNING Shade
This is the pinterest-famous cloud lamp hack and it is every bit as dreamy as it looks. The KRUSNING pendant shade costs around €9.99, weighs just 0.17 kg, and is the ideal base for a nursery or toddler room.
What you need: KRUSNING ikea lampshade (or a REGOLIT paper shade), cotton batting or soft toy stuffing, PVA glue or a low-temp glue gun, a warm-white LED bulb, and clear fishing line if you want dangling raindrops.
Steps: Assemble the shade onto your pendant cord. Dab glue in small patches across the outside and press on cloud fluff in layers, building up texture as you go. Leave a clear gap around the bulb holder so nothing sits too close to the light source. Hang it up and check the glow in the evening-after 10–15 minutes the shade should feel only warm, never hot.
Fun variations kids love: attach blue felt raindrops, tiny cardboard lightning bolts, or silver sequin stars dangling from the cloud on fishing line. Adding texture with decorative trims like pom-poms or fringe along the bottom edge makes it even more fun. For more easy craft ideas to pair with this project, search our archives.
Project 2: DIY Airplane IKEA Lampshade Hack for a Child’s Bedroom
If your preschooler is plane-mad, this themed ikea lampshade hack is for them. A DIY airplane lamp can be made using stencils and paint on a basic white TRUBBNATE or REGOLIT shade. You can also create geometric patterns on lampshades using painter’s tape and paint for a stylish runway stripe along the bottom edge.
Supplies: printed airplane stencil, blue and white acrylic paint, painter’s tape, soft brushes or sponge dabbers, and optional glow-in-the-dark paint for subtle night-time interest. Spray paint can be used to change the base color of lampshades before you start if you wanted a bright sky-blue background.
Steps: Remove the ikea shade from the lamp. Tape stencils around the shade and let your child dab paint through them. Allow the piece to dry fully, then add clouds or a simple stripe at the base. Navy planes on pale blue works for any room, or try a rainbow fleet to fit existing bedding.
Re-fit the shade only when it is complete and completely dry. Use an LED bulb to prevent heat damage to the paint. For finding more craft activities for kids, check our dedicated page.
Project 3: Story‑Time Night Sky Lamp with Stars and Constellations
Turn a plain ikea lamp into a cosy bedside night light for story time. A white plastic TRUBBNATE lampshade paired with a small table lamp is all you need to create a gentle glow on the ceiling that your child can view while drifting off.
Two approaches:
- Stick felt or vinyl star stickers on the outside for an easy, no-tools version.
- Pierce a pattern of tiny 1–2 mm pinholes to project pinpricks of light onto the wall, forming 2–3 simple constellations like the Big Dipper.
Adults should handle any piercing with a pin or awl, marking patterns in pencil first and avoiding structural ribs of the shade. Let children spot the pattern on the ceiling, tell bedtime stories about Orion, and use the lamp as a sign that it is time to wind down. Dim the room and the result is a free, affordable alternative to a shop-bought projector. For continuing the storytelling theme, our story stones tutorial pairs perfectly with this project.
Project 4: Boho Yarn‑Wrapped IKEA Shade – A Tactile Craft for Little Hands
Wrapping an old ikea shade frame with natural yarn or rope gives a cosy, textured look that fits right into a playroom or reading corner. Using natural fibers like jute or twine can create a rustic look for lampshades, while natural materials enhance ambiance and lighting effects beautifully.
Ideal bases: a tired fabric lampshade you already own, or a simple wire frame from a thrifted ikea lamp, plus thick cotton yarn (5–7 mm), jute twine, or leftover macramé cord.
Method: Start at the top ring. Attach the yarn with a knot or double-sided tape, then wrap round and round the frame, keeping rows snug. Thicker cord is faster; thinner yarn gives finer texture. Fabric covers can also enhance the texture of lampshades and provide a designer look if you weave in strips of scrap material.
How preschoolers help: choosing colours, holding the skein, passing yarn through the frame, and snipping ends with child-safe scissors under close supervision. Add wooden beads, tassels, or a band of contrasting color to match cushions already in the room. Of course, the aim is fun and a shared experience-perfection is not the goal.
Quick Makeover: Brightening a TRUBBNATE Shade with Transparent Panels
A common complaint is that the white plastic TRUBBNATE ikea lampshade sends light straight up and down but leaves the room feeling dim. A TRUBBNATE lampshade can be redesigned for better light diffusion with one easy transparency hack.
Remove the original plastic panels. Trace and cut replacement panels from clearer material-using 10 MIL mylar sheets improves lampshade transparency significantly. A 10 pack of 10 MIL mylar sheets is affordable and available at most craft shops. IKEA lampshades can be redesigned for better light diffusion this way, turning a pretty but dim pendants-style shade into a bright, room-filling light.
Reassemble the ikea shade with the new panels so the bulb remains covered but the sides glow. Let kids decorate panels before assembly with permanent markers, geometric stickers, or pressed flowers sealed under clear adhesive film-pressed flowers can be used to create a botanical style on lampshades that looks far more expensive than it is.
Before and after: the stock shade throws a cone of light up and down, leaving walls in shadow. The hacked version sends a softer, wider glow sideways, making the whole room feel warmer and longer-lit into the evening. Thanks to this hack, you get a designer-looking piece without the designer price.
FAQ: IKEA Lampshade Hacks for Families
Below are the questions parents most often ask about these projects. We hope they help you feel confident before you start.
Which IKEA lampshades work best for kid‑friendly hacks?
Lightweight, inexpensive shades like REGOLIT paper shades, KRUSNING cloud-style shades, and small TRUBBNATE plastic pendants are easiest to paint, wrap, or cover with decorations. Heavier glass or metal ikea lamp shades are better left unmodified or decorated only with removable elements. We agree that starting with a shade you already bought-or one you can replace cheaply-makes the whole experience more relaxed for everyone, because you and your child can experiment freely.
What kind of bulb should I use in a hacked Ikea lamp?
Always use LED bulbs. They stay much cooler than traditional incandescent or halogen alternatives, which makes them the safest choice for any diy lampshade project. Choose a warm-white LED at the wattage equivalent specified on your ikea lamp (typically 5–9 W LED for a 40 W equivalent). If the shade feels hot to the touch after 10–15 minutes, switch off immediately and reassess your materials and bulb choice.
Do these IKEA lampshade hacks affect safety or warranties?
Acknowledge that any ikea hack is done at your own risk and may void the original warranty, especially if you cut or pierce materials. Never alter the electrical parts of the lamp itself-keep all changes to the removable shade. A good rule: keep decorations lightweight, non-flammable, and at least a few centimetres from the bulb. We’d love to read your thoughts, so leave a comment if you have access to more safety tips.
How do I dust or clean a decorated Ikea shade?
Use a soft, dry cloth or feather duster for yarn-wrapped or paper shades. A slightly damp cloth works on plastic panels or sealed paint surfaces. Avoid soaking the shade or using harsh sprays-these can warp paper, loosen glue, or smear your child’s artwork. Do a quick lamp check every few months, tightening loose knots and removing decorations that have seen better days. Share your own cleaning hacks on instagram-we love seeing how these projects hold up in real life over time.
How much can my preschooler help with these projects?
Children aged 2–6 can help with lots of things: choosing colours, sticking pre-cut shapes, dabbing paint, and passing yarn around a frame. Adults should handle cutting, piercing, and all electrical parts. Set up a protected craft area with the lamp switched off, then let your child proudly switch on their creation once everything is dry and installed. The whole point is a shared, playful experience-not perfection. A charmingly homemade lampshade is a pretty wonderful inspiration for any house, and it makes every bedtime just a little more special.
