One of the biggest mistakes people make when decorating their home is to overlook or forget about lighting. A room isn’t successful or finished until appropriate lighting is installed.

I love vintage and antique lamps. Doesn’t matter if the cord is old and frayed, rewiring a lamp is as simple as buying a lamp kit at the hardware store. Anyone can do it.

Lamp shades are another story. Rarely does an old shade survive in good, clean condition. Sun damaged silk shades fall apart. A bent frame will always be crooked. If I get a bargain on a lamp, I don’t mind spending a few extra dollars on a fabulous shade.

This time I got lucky at Goodwill. I found this wonderful Eiffel Tower lamp for $9.99 and a rectangular fabric shade for $1.99. Although the shade is in good condition and clean, it is rather boring.

A little bit of chalkboard paint and I have an original, unique way to add ambient lighting to any room.

The fabric shade has a plastic lining. It took two coats of the black paint for good coverage. Although it’s opaque, a little bit of light shines through.

Since I’m a Francophile (someone who adores everything French!), I chose French adjectives to decorate my shade. Ravissant means delightful.

You can write anything or draw pictures or have your kids decorate the shade. The best part, if you make a mistake or want to write something new, simply wipe it off with a damp cloth and start over!