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DIY Tutorial - Make a Paper Conical Lampshade with Bias Binding Edge
- Dannells Admin
- Jul 22
- 5 min read
Paper lampshades are having a major style moment - and the best part? You don’t need to spend a fortune to join the trend. In today’s post, we’ll show you how to make a chic, DIY conical paper lampshade with a bias binding edge on a budget.
No matter your interior design style, a well-crafted paper lampshade can instantly elevate your space. We've chosen the on-trend conical shape for our tutorial, but the techniques, tips, and creative ideas we’re sharing can be easily adapted to suit any DIY lampshade making kit shape or style. Read on for the full lampshade making tutorial.
What you'll need to make a Paper Concial Lampshade with Bias Binding Edge
Paper covering measuring 70 x 32 cm - we used Cambridge Imprint Paper
1.3 metres of 16mm wide Bias binding - we used our Scarlet Polycotton Bias
Clean flat working area
Iron and ironing board
Note on Choosing Papers and Fabrics
Due to the curved shape of the conical lampshade, plain or non-directional all-over prints work best with this lampshade style. Linear patterns will not remain straight. To test your paper, masking tape your panel seam together and wrap your paper around in advance of adhering to the panel.
How to Paper Conical Lampshade
1. Fold back and remove the kisscut from the top and bottom of the Stick It® panel.
2. Cut away the backing paper close to the edge of the panel.
3. Cut down your paper to a workable size. Place face down and position the Stick-It panel on top. When you’re happy with placement peel back some of the release paper and stick down onto your paper.
Professional Tip: Unlike fabric there is really only one chance to adhere your paper to the panel. so take your time.
4. Smooth out from the middle and press the adhesive onto the paper firmly until all the release paper is removed.
5. Inspected the right side of your fabric for creases.
6. Cut off surplus covering with a sharp knife or scissors along the edges of the panel
7. Apply double-sided Tesa tape to one side of the panel edge. This will be used to stick the seam. Remove the release paper and your panel is now complete and ready for attaching to the frame.
8. Apply double-sided Tesa tape to the larger ring of the duplex ring. Apply evenly to avoid creases.
9. Push the Tesa tape down evenly and firmly onto the ring then remove the release paper. Repeat Steps 8 and 9 for the plain metal ring.
Place the rings on the PVC edge, leaning them towards the top of the lampshade panel. Start to roll towards the seam edge (step 6). Ensure the smaller of the duplex rings face inwards towards the centre of the lampshades.
Professional Tip: Apply only light pressure when rolling to make it easier to finish the shade.
11. Keep the rings in line with the PVC edge. If you run off the edge, go back and correct.
12. When you reach the seam (the overlap), press the tape together from the centre out to close. Do not apply any pressure here or you can dent the lampshade.
13. Place the lampshade seam down on a hard surface and apply firm pressure, pressing the tape down.
Professional Tip: For best results use a seam roller
How to Apply a Bias Binding Edge to a Paper Lampshade
For paper lampshades, a bias binding edging is not only decorative but will also play apart in holding the structure of your lampshade together. The method we are sharing today is applied after the lampshade is made, due to the lampshade's conical shape and this method can also be used on an Empire Lampshade Making Kit LINK.
The alternative method is applying the bias binding before the lampshade rings are rolled, which works well with strught side lampshades. You can find the full tutorial in our Lampshade Kit Hack #7 – Applying Bias Binding to a Lampshade blog post.
1. Measure your bias tape by roughly wrapping this around the circumference of the top edge of your lampshade. Add 2cm to the length and then cut. Repeat the process on the bottom edge of the lampshade.
2. Apply 6mm double-sided tape along the bottom edge of the lampshade, ensuring the top edge of the tape lines up with the top edge of the panel.
3. Repeat on the top edge of the lampshade. Remove the tape backing.
4. Your bias binding for both edges and open out one long edge. Press flat. Taking the bottom edge bias binding, cut cleanly across you bias binding to form a straight edge to start from.
5. Position the cut edge with 0.5cm over hanging the lampshade seam.
6.Apply the bias binding with the folded bias edge matching the edge of the double sided tape. Apply slowly and check every few centimetres that this is applied evenly.
7. Approximately 5cm before reaching the seam, lay the bias tape gently onto the tape so this can be lifted off again. Cut the bias tape approximately 0.5cm beyond the lampshade seam. For guidance, once folded this should sit in line with the seam.
8. Fold the 0.5cm overhang underneath itself to create a neat folded edge.
Professional Tip: If the bias binding feels quite springy, use a small dab of fabric glue inside the fold to hold the fold in place.
9. Cut a 5mm wide piece of double-sided tape and stick to the left of the lampshade seam, at the initial bias binding starting point. Remove the tape backing.
10. Neatly stick the folded bias edge over the tape and press into place.
11. Hold in place with a Mini Wonder Clip.
12. Gently push down the fabric over the rings. Be careful not to pull the bias tape away from the double-sided tape.
13. Starting at the inside seam, gently tuck the bias binding under the rings, using the Rolled Edge tools provided in the Conical Lampshade Making Kit.
15. Repeat Steps 5 to 12 on the top edge of the lampshade, but with the addition of snipping into the bias binding for the struts on the top lampshade ring, between Step 10 and 11.
Professional Tip: When tucking in the top edge, use a butter or palette knife to easily reach the bias binding, to create a professional finish.
Alternative Ways of Finishing Paper Lampshades
A bias binding edge is just one way one way of finishing a paper lampshade but there are other alternatives and these will depend on the type of paper, and style of finish you are looking for.
Offering a similar finish to bias binding, our 35 colour strong Lampshade Self Adhesive Textile Tape range is made from our Chic Fabric , which is easy to apply because of it's self adhesive backing.
Whilst bias binding has a natural stretch, our Lampshade Self Adhesive Textile Tape does not, therefore this is more suited to lampshades with straight sides, such as Drums, ovals, squares etc. Read out blog post Introducing Self-Adhesive Textile tape and how to use it
Tucking the Paper Under
Similar to making a lampshade from fabric, where the excess ‘kiss cut’ margin is tucked under the rings to finish, this technique can also be used with some papers. This will very much depend on the flexibility of the paper and how this will tuck under the edge. Some wallpapers which are soft to handle or thinner papers, such as maps will allow tucking under – for wallpapers look for those that don’t tear easily.
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