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.
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.
- First, I cut the neck off of a gallon jug.
- Then trimmed it a little, to take off the sharp edges.
- I checked to make sure it fit the lamp and shade.
- 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!
Sometimes you just need to think out of the box, and into the jug, to solve a problem.
Audrey Smalldridge says
I will be using this brilliant idea. Thank you!
Meredith says
I'm so glad! Thanks for stopping by...
jeanettesantori says
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!
Meredith says
Thanks Jeanette! Glad it helped you, and thanks for letting me know!
Leslie says
BRILLIANT!
Meredith says
Thank you! 🙂
Amy says
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.
Meredith says
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!
Sue says
I used dental floss. Wrapped it around several times until the shade was tight. Fixed!
Linda Disilva says
thanks for sharing i really loved it yours Lamps & Shades products
Meredith says
Thanks Linda!
Kathy D says
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 ❤?❤
Meredith says
I'm so thrilled to hear that Kathy!
Chelsea says
Just what I'm looking for to make my $6 thrift store lamp work with my already-owned shade! Thanks!
Meredith says
I'm so glad, Chelsea! What a great thrift store find! You make me want to go shopping...
Margaret O'Brien says
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!
Meredith says
Thanks Margaret! I'm so glad you found something that will work!
Paula Eason says
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!
Meredith says
I'm so glad Paula! What did we ever do before the internet?!?
Imogen says
Brilliant idea! Solved my problem. Many thanks
Meredith says
I'm so glad! Thanks!
Sue Hill says
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?
Meredith says
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!
Janet says
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.
Dee says
Finally a great idea for wobbled shades! I have had this problem for many years! Thanks...
Meredith says
You're welcome Dee, hope it works great for you!
Kimberly Sheets says
OMG I love you
caren says
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 .
BB says
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!
Meredith says
I'm so glad BB! I figured I couldn't be the only one with this problem!
Sonya says
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.
Meredith says
I'm so glad! Sounds like you made yours even better!
Danielle says
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!!
Meredith says
I'm so glad to hear this helped you Danielle!
Jonathan M Berman says
Wow, this might work for my super round LED bulb and my cute clip on shade... worth a try!
Meredith says
I hope it works for you Jonathan!
Mary-The Boondocks Blog says
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!
Meredith says
I'm so glad it helped, Mary! I figured if I had that problem, I might not be the only one. ?
Julie says
Thank you! I needed this hack for three new lampshades. Perfect!
Meredith says
You're welcome Julie, so glad to help!
Jody B Chapel says
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!
Meredith says
I'm so glad - I hope it works for you!
Karen Jacques says
You solved my problem! And at no cost! Yay you
Meredith says
Yay! I'm so glad to hear that, thanks for sharing!
KAREN says
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!
Meredith says
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.
Gina says
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?
Meredith says
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.
Jen says
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!
Meredith says
Ha! I know that feeling. So glad this helped!
Connie says
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!!!
Meredith says
Yay, I'm so glad this helped you!
Twila says
Thanks so much!!! I have the same situation on a lamp/shade I LOVE.
Jan says
I faced the same problem! My husband doesn't think like yours does so thanks for sharing your hack.
GeGe says
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!
Meredith says
Yes that was my problem exactly, so glad this helped you too!
S. Stone says
Shade appears to large for lamp. There’s no room for hand to turn on lamp
Linda says
I love these little things that make bargains a true bargain…… retrofitting! I love the word!
Becky says
Brilliant and just what I needed! Thanks
Katherine says
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.
Renee says
Didn't work for my Target lamp and shade! Too small to fit over the lamp.
carla says
BRILLIANT
Lisa says
Thank you!! Found a cute cheap lamp and thought I would have to give it up. Going to cut my jug now!
Judy says
Is there a way to convert an uno shade to a clip on or spider shade?