How to Paint a Red Lamp Shade White to Make It Pink

White and red mixed together make pink, but it's not always easy to mix the paint colors after one them is already dry. If you're looking to dress up an old lamp shade, however, you may find that the existing red color is exactly the tone you want for your finished pink color, so you won't want to add a heavy layer of pink and cover it up entirely. Instead, apply white paint mixed to a certain degree of translucency to turn that existing red into the pink you want.

Cleaning rags
Towel
White acrylic paint
Clear acrylic medium
Mixing dish
House paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the lampshade with a damp cloth. Pat dry with a soft towel.
- 2
  Make a mixture of one part acrylic paint and two parts clear acrylic medium in a disposable dish. Stir thoroughly with a paint brush or paint stick.
- 3
  Apply a test patch of the paint mixture to a small portion of the red lamp shade. Assess the color; if you don't like it, wipe it away with a damp cloth before it dries. Adjust the ratios of white paint and clear acrylic as needed and try new test patches until you get the pink color you want.
- 4
  Paint the lamp shade with a large house painting brush. Use long strokes that move from the top of the shade down to the bottom.
- 5
  Let the lamp shade dry for three to six hours.

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