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Lamp Shade Hack

Modified: Jul 15, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links · 65 Comments

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A nifty little lamp shade hack for getting the wrong kind of lamp shade to fit on an Uno socket lamp base.

Don't you hate it when you score a great thrifty find, only to realize that the amount of work you have to put into it to make it usable is more than a new one would cost?  This is what I'm always trying to avoid when shopping in thrift stores.  

But sometimes a plan just doesn't come together like you think it will.  Then you need a hack.  As in, to hack in to a system and make it work for you in a way it probably wasn't originally intended.  

Today, I'm sharing a cool hack that my husband came up with for retrofitting a lamp with an uno socket.

Lamp Shade Hack

Not all Lamp Shades are Created Equal

What's an Uno Socket?  That's the term for the bulb socket that has a little flared lip on it so a lamp shade doesn't need a harp (the metal support thing that looks like a lyre, with a finial on top).  

Uno sockets are usually found on table lamps or smaller accent lamps, since larger floor lamps require larger shades, with more room for a harp.

How to Hack your Lamp Shade

Anyway, back at the fun part of the ranch, I found this gorgeous glass lamp base at Goodwill for $3.99, then I scored this beautiful lamp shade on sale, and with a coupon, from World Market, so this was a pretty thrifty pairing.  

But when I got the lamp shade home, I realized it was the wrong kind for my lamp base.  I needed an uno socket to be able to use the lamp shade, but I really didn't want to rewire the whole lamp.

Not to be deterred, I got online and did a search for "uno socket retrofits" and found that you can buy them, but at almost the same cost of the whole lamp and shade!  

Now I was discouraged, and complained to my husband.  Always one to support me spending less money, he came up with the brilliant plan to use the neck from a gallon milk jug to make a flange around the socket that the shade could sit on.  

Here's how it works.

  1. First, I cut the neck off of a gallon jug.
  2. Then trimmed it a little, to take off the sharp edges.
  3. I checked to make sure it fit the lamp and shade.
  4. I layered the milk jug piece on the socket, then the shade, then the bulb.

Now my lamp shade is sittin' pretty, with the whole lamp costing less than $11.00!

Lamp shade retrofitted to thrift store lamp base

Sometimes you just need to think out of the box, and into the jug, to solve a problem.

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Comments

  1. Audrey Smalldridge says

    June 19, 2014 at 10:53 am

    I will be using this brilliant idea. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      June 20, 2014 at 4:08 pm

      I'm so glad! Thanks for stopping by...

      Reply
  2. jeanettesantori says

    December 06, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    You are brilliant! I'm so glad there was such an easy solution for a seemingly insurmountable problem! Even better than I didn't even have to leave my house to fix it!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 07, 2014 at 9:49 am

      Thanks Jeanette! Glad it helped you, and thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  3. Leslie says

    January 13, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    BRILLIANT!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 14, 2015 at 5:46 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Amy says

    January 23, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    Have you had any issues with the plastic heating up? I have a gorgeous shade I bought online that I love, but it doesn't fit the base I have correctly. It's an uno, but it wobbles. I think your solution should work, but I'm worried about safety.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 25, 2015 at 4:13 pm

      That's a great question! The answer is no, and to make sure, I left the lamp on for hours yesterday, but the plastic didn't heat up at all. If you're worried about it, you might try using a CFL or LED bulb because those put off even less heat than an incandescent bulb, like I was using. It shouldn't be a problem, but you can never be too careful!

      Reply
      • Sue says

        May 02, 2016 at 4:52 pm

        I used dental floss. Wrapped it around several times until the shade was tight. Fixed!

        Reply
  5. Linda Disilva says

    November 26, 2015 at 5:56 am

    thanks for sharing i really loved it yours Lamps & Shades products

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 01, 2015 at 10:31 am

      Thanks Linda!

      Reply
      • Kathy D says

        January 20, 2017 at 10:02 am

        Meredith you are a genious... so frustrated with my new uno lamp shades...they all warbled. I used your gallon jug idea and am so happy with the out come. NO MORE WOBBLE. Thank you!!!!!! Kathy ❤?❤

        Reply
        • Meredith says

          January 30, 2017 at 11:43 am

          I'm so thrilled to hear that Kathy!

          Reply
  6. Chelsea says

    June 09, 2016 at 9:30 am

    Just what I'm looking for to make my $6 thrift store lamp work with my already-owned shade! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      June 13, 2016 at 11:33 am

      I'm so glad, Chelsea! What a great thrift store find! You make me want to go shopping...

      Reply
  7. Margaret O'Brien says

    September 01, 2016 at 8:02 am

    This is a fabulous idea and so glad I found your post from 3 years ago! I have literally made 4-5 trips to the local big box hardware store (plus a couple trips to Walmart) in my attempt to get my thrift store lamp (originally from Pottery Barn and now retired) and Uno-style lamp shade to work! Something so simple and yet the perfect solution!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      September 02, 2016 at 10:12 am

      Thanks Margaret! I'm so glad you found something that will work!

      Reply
  8. Paula Eason says

    September 01, 2016 at 2:26 pm

    I love the internet...typed in my problem and up comes this solution! Worked perfectly!!! So now I can use the lamp shade I found and loved on the lamp I already owned and loved. Thanks so much for sharing, Meredith!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      September 02, 2016 at 10:12 am

      I'm so glad Paula! What did we ever do before the internet?!?

      Reply
  9. Imogen says

    September 05, 2016 at 1:34 am

    Brilliant idea! Solved my problem. Many thanks

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      September 10, 2016 at 8:18 am

      I'm so glad! Thanks!

      Reply
  10. Sue Hill says

    November 20, 2016 at 6:02 am

    I have the opposite problem. The socket on the lamp base is a bit big for the shade as it barely sits on the socket. Have you experienced this?

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      November 22, 2016 at 3:54 pm

      Hi Sue, no I haven't run into that problem yet. Perhaps one of the harp style brackets could be attached? Let us know if you find a solution!

      Reply
    • Janet says

      April 25, 2017 at 10:51 am

      Same problem here. The shade is only as steady as the light bulb. Did you find any solution? Some have suggested electrical tape or rubber gaskets or bands, or even a bead of silicon underneath the uno fitting to give it something large to sit on.

      Reply
  11. Dee says

    January 09, 2017 at 11:18 am

    Finally a great idea for wobbled shades! I have had this problem for many years! Thanks...

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 10, 2017 at 4:55 pm

      You're welcome Dee, hope it works great for you!

      Reply
  12. Kimberly Sheets says

    February 01, 2017 at 9:04 am

    OMG I love you

    Reply
  13. caren says

    March 01, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Best hack yet. I try to think outside the box..and had created a hack that was doable but not ideal. This is ideal...thank you for sharing .

    Reply
  14. BB says

    March 05, 2017 at 8:23 am

    I have been trying to figure out a lamp shade/base combo for months, finally got the right shade for the base and since World Market shades aren't universal, I thought I was out of luck- til I found this! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 08, 2017 at 10:51 am

      I'm so glad BB! I figured I couldn't be the only one with this problem!

      Reply
  15. Sonya says

    July 12, 2017 at 11:14 am

    Thank you so much! This worked great with my old floor lamp and my new shade from World Market. We had tried everything we could think of and everything that we could find online. I was ready to return the shade. My husband added a slight variation where he put the milk jug neck (as shown) on the socket followed by the shade then the milk jug lid (with a hole cut in the top) to secure the fit with no wobble.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      July 20, 2017 at 3:47 pm

      I'm so glad! Sounds like you made yours even better!

      Reply
  16. Danielle says

    November 29, 2017 at 8:58 am

    I'd hug you if I could! I've been carrying around a lampshade for a year trying to find a base! Now I can use the $3 I found from the thrift store. Just grabbed a milk jug from recycling and this worked perfect. Thank you again!!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 11, 2017 at 1:48 pm

      I'm so glad to hear this helped you Danielle!

      Reply
  17. Jonathan M Berman says

    March 08, 2018 at 1:47 pm

    Wow, this might work for my super round LED bulb and my cute clip on shade... worth a try!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 17, 2018 at 1:55 pm

      I hope it works for you Jonathan!

      Reply
  18. Mary-The Boondocks Blog says

    July 03, 2018 at 9:04 pm

    Meredith that is such a brilliant hack. I have been busting my brain trying to figure out how to add that lampshade to the lamp base. So easy. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      July 17, 2018 at 4:29 pm

      I'm so glad it helped, Mary! I figured if I had that problem, I might not be the only one. ?

      Reply
  19. Julie says

    July 10, 2018 at 12:13 pm

    Thank you! I needed this hack for three new lampshades. Perfect!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      July 17, 2018 at 4:29 pm

      You're welcome Julie, so glad to help!

      Reply
  20. Jody B Chapel says

    July 17, 2019 at 7:53 am

    You saved me from buying a new shade and ripping it apart to try to reconstruct a solution. I haven't tried it yet, I have to buy a gallon jug of something, but I'm hopeful!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      July 17, 2019 at 11:06 am

      I'm so glad - I hope it works for you!

      Reply
  21. Karen Jacques says

    November 14, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    You solved my problem! And at no cost! Yay you

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      November 18, 2020 at 2:50 pm

      Yay! I'm so glad to hear that, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  22. KAREN says

    January 30, 2021 at 8:40 am

    I'm here after searching for such a hack. I actually was proud of myself for thinking to use a dvd to hold the shade in place but then I thought about the flammability piece that could bring danger. So, I think I'm just going to have to go to a hardware store and find a metal ring. Hope yours was safe and sound!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 01, 2021 at 12:07 pm

      Hi Karen, thanks for commenting! Yes, mine has been safe and sound with never any problem. Another way to make it safer is to get a new energy efficient LED bulb since they don't get warm at all.

      Reply
  23. Gina says

    January 22, 2022 at 10:02 pm

    There is a world market lamp I want. But the website says only use world market lampshade on this lamp but it can be an uno shade. You mention you for a world market shade one a regular lamp. How would that work the other way? It the world market lamp too small or too big for an uno shade? Any ideas about how to fix this?

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 22, 2022 at 9:21 am

      Hi Gina, without seeing the lamp, I'm not sure if I can give you a good answer. The problem is probably with the attachment, more than the size. Uno lamps have two prongs that need the correct base to sit on. This hack works better for non-uno lamp shades.

      Reply
  24. Jen says

    February 24, 2022 at 1:28 pm

    Oh. My. God. Thank you for this! I just spent the most frustrating hour trying to come up with a hack for this exact problem!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 22, 2022 at 9:08 am

      Ha! I know that feeling. So glad this helped!

      Reply
  25. Connie says

    November 28, 2022 at 3:16 pm

    Thank you for posting, have the same problem and this was genius. Tried using glue dots but would constantly be uneven. Doing this right away!!!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      November 30, 2022 at 9:54 am

      Yay, I'm so glad this helped you!

      Reply
  26. Twila says

    January 04, 2023 at 9:40 pm

    Thanks so much!!! I have the same situation on a lamp/shade I LOVE.

    Reply
  27. Jan says

    January 28, 2023 at 8:56 pm

    I faced the same problem! My husband doesn't think like yours does so thanks for sharing your hack.

    Reply
  28. GeGe says

    February 20, 2023 at 8:46 am

    Using this hack now! Thanks for posting! I bought all these World Market lamp shades which don't fit average lamp bases (that I buy at thrift stores), so this will allow me to proceed with using them!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 24, 2023 at 4:16 pm

      Yes that was my problem exactly, so glad this helped you too!

      Reply
  29. S. Stone says

    July 11, 2023 at 9:37 am

    Shade appears to large for lamp. There’s no room for hand to turn on lamp

    Reply
  30. Linda says

    August 15, 2023 at 10:54 am

    I love these little things that make bargains a true bargain…… retrofitting! I love the word!

    Reply
  31. Becky says

    August 20, 2023 at 2:17 pm

    Brilliant and just what I needed! Thanks

    Reply
  32. Katherine says

    December 20, 2023 at 6:20 am

    Genius. I had a hard time finding out what you had done.....but finally found it. Milk carton...or anything else with similar pour spout. Have a nearly finished sweet tea jug...going to try it today. Thanks.

    Reply
  33. Renee says

    January 09, 2024 at 1:03 pm

    Didn't work for my Target lamp and shade! Too small to fit over the lamp.

    Reply
  34. carla says

    January 25, 2024 at 1:41 pm

    BRILLIANT

    Reply
  35. Lisa says

    February 24, 2024 at 5:18 pm

    Thank you!! Found a cute cheap lamp and thought I would have to give it up. Going to cut my jug now!

    Reply
  36. Judy says

    April 13, 2025 at 8:20 am

    Is there a way to convert an uno shade to a clip on or spider shade?

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Master Bedroom Makeover on a Budget - The Palette Muse says:
    April 16, 2015 at 11:10 am

    […] In case you need to know how to fit a shade to the wrong kind of base, I show you one way in my Lampshade Hack […]

    Reply

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I'm Meredith, the designer, crafter, and DIY-er behind The Palette Muse. I love all things colorful and creative, and I love sharing them with you. Thanks for visiting today!

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