DIY Seagrass Lamp Shade

A fun challenge for DIYers is to take popular items and create knock-offs of them! Use this tutorial to make a DIY seagrass lamp shade that will cost you a small fraction of the price of those name-brand ones!

How To Make DIY Seagrass Lamp Shade

As a crafter and DIYer, I often look at name-brand items and think about how I can create a similar version in a budget-friendly way. Homemade items won’t look exactly the same as their store-bought equivalents, but you probably wouldn’t notice the difference most of the time.

Today, I’m showing you how I made this seagrass lamp shade that is inspired by all those versions you see at the high-end home decor stores! These lamp shades are known for their incredible look and texture, so I thought it would be a fun challenge to try and make my own.

So, the first thing I needed to do was visit the thrift store. I bet you saw that coming!

I found this woven thing, which I believe is supposed to be a seat cushion. Or maybe a placemat. I have no clue.

The one thing I did know was that the texture looked perfect for a seagrass lamp shade. It seemed like it would fit the bill, so for $2, I was ready to start making this knock-off.

Ok, let’s dive in and create this lamp!

Supplies Needed To Make DIY Seagrass Lamp Shade

• Lamp with lamp shade
  • This is the lamp shade I used for this project. I was never entirely happy with how the shade turned out, so I decided to try again. No harm in changing things up!
• Woven grass rope
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

NOTE: If you get grass rope in some other form, your initial steps may be slightly different.

Step 1: Take Apart Seagrass

When I got it home, the first thing I needed to do was deconstruct the wound-up seagrass. As I took it apart, I discovered it was two halves that were attached. So I clipped the threads and separated the two halves.

Guess what I found inside? C’mon, you will never, ever guess. Like not in 1 million years. Corn husks! What the heck??

I mention that little nugget because if you have these, this is what the inside looks like:

Step 2: Unwinding Seagrass

After I removed the husks, they found their way into the garbage. Then I continued my deconstructing mission.

As I get further along with unwinding this bundle, I can see what I suspected all along: this is going to be the perfect material!

I used one half and then part of the other half for my lampshade. Here is the pile of the mess after half of it was deconstructed.

Fun tidbit: Hubby asked one of the kids what I was doing in the living room, and they said, “making a mess”. Ahem…it may be a mess now, but it will be a gorgeous seagrass lampshade in a few minutes!

Step 3: Hot Glue Seagrass Rope To Lampshade

Next, hot glue the woven grass rope to the lampshade. That is it. Wrap it around, and glue it in place. I glued the top and bottom rows all the way around to ensure they were secured in place.

For the rest of the rows, I just added hot glue everywhere there were wire supports in the lampshade. I don’t think gluing the rope to the fabric would make the lampshade any stronger, so I skipped those areas.

Now, thanks to a few shows on the DIY network and some patience, I have a woven seagrass lampshade! This is so much better than just the fabric on the shade. I love that texture!

I am adding this seagrass lamp to my family room, but I think that this texture would be a terrific addition to any room in your home! Maybe my love of baskets is what has me loving this shade so much. I had a hard time walking past a lamp like this without buying it – until now!

So, how did my product compare to the store-bought version? Well, my version cost $2, while a high-end version costs $119. You do the math. I hope this seagrass lamp shade tutorial helps you create a “new” lamp you love to look at!

FAQs About DIY Seagrass Lamp Shade

Here are a couple of questions that I see readers ask about making this DIY seagrass lamp shade. If you have a question, please check to see if I’ve already answered it below. Don’t see your question? Leave it for me in the comments!

Does This Project Only Work With Round Lamp Shades?

No! You could totally do this to any shade and any shape. The process remains the same, regardless of the type of lamp shade you use.

What Can I Use If I Can’t Find A Seagrass Cushion or Mat?

Technically, you don’t need a seagrass cushion or mat to make this project. I just used one because I really liked the texture and thought it resembled seagrass rope. Instead, you can buy seagrass braided rope (online) in different thicknesses.

Would Other Types Of Glue Work?

Hot glue is the ideal adhesive for this seagrass lamp shade knock-off because it sets quickly and has a stronghold. Super glue is too thin. Craft glue takes too long to set. I recommend using hot glue if you want to make a seagrass lamp shade!

5 More Home Decor DIYs

If you loved learning how to make this DIY seagrass lamp and are looking for more home decor DIYs, check out the projects below!

• Mod Podge Cardstock DIY: Custom Monogram Letter Decor
• DIY Farmhouse Decor: How to Paint a Large Basket
• How to Make a Photo Lantern
• Washi Tape Chalkboards
• DIY Mason Jar Wall Decor