Lamp Shades

7 Ways to Save Money on Designer Lamp Shades

Lamp shades can be expensive especially if you move into a new home and need to buy many. But there are ways to cut down the costs while still getting the designer look for your home.

1. Check out Discount Stores

Some of the general and discount stores have great lamp shades these days. Though you are still more likely to find the plain variety, they sometimes have versions of the latest designer looks (often with other co-ordinated accessories) and you can pick these up for a song.

2. Buy from Online Lighting Stores

Online stores often have cheaper prices than those you can find locally as they do not have the overheads of running a physical store. You can pick out the best designer shades from the comfort of your own home and easily compare prices and get a good deal without having to trudge from store to store. Browse around some sites online and see what you can find.

Get the Designer Lamp Shade Look for Less

Get the Designer Lamp Shade Look for Less

3. Buy from eBay

You can often get great designer lamp shades on eBay where many small stores and manufacturers as well as individuals sell their goods at cheaper prices.

Remember to add on the cost of shipping when doing your price calculations and check out the feedback on each seller to make sure you are happy to deal with them before buying.

4. Flat Pack

You can buy great lamp shades, especially pendant lamp shades, in beautiful shapes from places like IKEA which you have to slot together yourself. Though they are a bit of work to put together the finished look is far from DIY.

5. Look Out for Sales

You’ll often find great lamp shades on sale in department stores and lighting shops. Check out anything you buy for defects however as any stains or other problems will show up and be glaringly obvious when the light is on.

6. Trim a Plain Lamp Shade

You can pick up plain lamp shades quite cheaply online or in local stores. Give them the designer look by trimming with beading, fringing or braid. If you take a look at the haberdashery department in a large store you will get some great ideas. If you see a designer look you like you can try and copy it in this way.

7. Cover an Old Lamp Shade

If you already have lamp shades but they are past their best cover them with beautiful fabric or paper to match your decor. If you don’t have lamp shades to cover you can pick them up in garage sales or consignment stores or buy cheap plain lamp shades to cover.