Tangled lamp: This new look will make your room glow

This beautiful Tangled lamp captures Rapunzel’s floating lights in a unique way that only requires a few more steps beyond the Tangled table or shelf lantern with candle. If you’re looking for a subtle accent piece in your living room or princess-themed bedroom, this lamp might do the trick!

These DIY instructions will support any round lantern pattern. I featured the purple round pattern in this post but the pink and gold patterns look amazing as well!

I also found that forming square lanterns into a Tangled lamp shade are significantly more challenging. For that reason alone, I focused this post on round lamps only. If you pursue a square Tangled lamp shade, let me know as I’d love to see the finished product!

Choose your design for your Tangled lamp

Lantern patterns for your DIY project (non-commercial use only, please):

• Purple round and purple square
• Pink round and pink square
• Gold round and gold square
• Turquoise round and turquoise square

Form the lantern

After you glue two sheets of paper together, complete the shape by gluing the other side into the round shape of the lantern. There is no need for the Con-Tact paper liner in this design.

I use a frosted white shelf liner for increased rigidity in this design. Rubbermaid makes an affordable product available at Lowe’s. If Lowe’s doesn’t have this liner in stock, the ClosetMaid shelf liner from Amazon is nearly identical.

If these products are not available, look for a liner with an opaque finish. Know that any visible patterns on the liner will shine through the lantern and produce results that differ from the Tangled lamp pictured in this post. (When running low on my preferred liner, I selected a honeycomb design and learned this the hard way!)

Trim and shape the lining

The shelf liner is a little more difficult to work with than Con-Tact paper but the results are worth it. First, you’ll want to measure 16-7/8″ of liner and cut a straight line. I used two framing squares to cut straight lines. Alternately, you may obtain similar results by cutting carefully with scissors. I also applied blue tape to keep the liner from “jumping” and sliding on the cutting mat.

Shape the lining

Once you cut the shelf liner, complete the circle by taping the edges together. Since I recommend trimming either side of the lantern after the liner is shaped, you’ll want to leave an inch or two untaped at either end as shown below

Stand the liner up with the seam facing you. Next, press in on either side by using your thumbs to make a heart shape. Then, gently slide the liner into your paper lantern. It should slide in easily but nest firmly once you release pressure from the seam.

Once you confirm that the liner fits snug without putting undue stress on the paper lantern, you can trim it. Next, place the lantern on its side, centering the lantern so the liner tabs stick out of each side. Begin by trimming one side 2mm from the edge of the paper. (This added spacing allows you to cut the liner without damaging the lantern.)

After the first cut, offset the interior lining by 2mm on the inside in preparation to trim the other side.

Glue the lining inside the Tangled lamp shade

Remove the internal liner, and use a glue stick along all edges of the paper lantern as well as both the outside edges and body of the shelf liner cylinder. Once adequately sticky, re-insert into the lantern, placing the seam of the shelf liner over one of the areas of overlap (2 sheets of linen paper) on the lantern.

Add wire to maintain the shape

You’ll notice that the shelf liner seam does not sit flush against the paper lantern so the wire rings help keep the shape of the finished product.

Since the shelf liner is thicker than contact paper, you’ll want to cut the top and bottom wire ring to 16-3/4″ (1/8″ shorter than the hanging lantern wires).

I use the 2.0 mm wire for the top of the lantern. and 1.5mm for the bottom.

To complete the wire shape, I found it easiest to first tape the wire together, then following up with another piece of tape on top of the seam for extra strength.

Optimum placement of the wire is equidistant from the Tangled boat border and the edge of the lantern. This provides a nice visual cue when looking at the finished product.

I placed four pieces of tape on both the top and bottom wires to secure them inside the lantern.

— Start here if you already created the Tangled table lamp in the other post —

If you have a 3D printer, you can print your lamp support rings in one of two styles. My original lamp base from Wal-Mart requires an UNO fitter adapter that rests on the light bulb socket. A few months after publishing this post, I noticed that availability of this base is spotty. Fortunately, you can design your lamp shade for an UNO fitter adapter or the traditional harp & finial style to fit most lamp bases.

3D print your support rings

Note: The top and bottom support ring is identical. The only critical factor is placing the ring at the correct end of your finished lamp shade which is dependent upon your selection of the UNO fitter or harp & finial style lamp shade

Glue support rings in place

I use hot glue to secure the 3D printed rings to the table lamp design. You may notice notches on both the top and bottom ring which should be placed facing inward. This will allow the glue to settle and minimize your ability to view the hot glue on the finished product.

Align the top ring inside the Tangled lamp

First, carefully place the the top ring (right) with the notches facing inward into the top of the lamp. You may need to adjust the inner wire so the ring rests directly on top of it but this is at your discretion.

Secure the top ring with hot glue

Next, carefully place hot glue in the notches, securing the top ring to the lamp wall. I aim to create a nice glue bubble about the size of Hot Tamales candy at each notch. Keep in mind that a keen eye will notice the outline of the glue through the lamp shade so you will want to make this look nice, clean, and uniform.

Let the hot glue dry inside the top support ring for a couple of minutes before proceeding to the bottom ring.

Align and glue the bottom ring inside the Tangled lamp

The pictures above were easier to capture with the glue gun on the outside but you may add hot glue as pictured or by carefully placing the glue gun through the lamp structure to glue in the notches from the inside. This may make more sense in the photo below which depicts gluing the bottom ring from the inside.

I found that it was easier to glue the bottom ring by placing the glue gun inside and through the table lamp since four notches rest above the cross brace bars.

Let the hot glue in the bottom ring dry for a couple of minutes.

Alternative approach for the harp & finial lamp base

For those of you with a harp & finial lamp base, you’ll complete the same steps above with two changes:

1. The support ring goes on the bottom of the lamp so glue this first
2. The harp & finial ring goes on top so glue this last

Assemble your Tangled lamp

Now, all you have to do is place the lamp shade on the lamp base and add your favorite LED light bulb! I use these 40W Edison-style LED bulbs.

Caution: Since the lamp shade exterior is made of linen paper, do not use incandescent bulbs in the lamp base. LED light bulbs produce less heat and are a better energy choice as well. Assembly and use of this lamp is at your own risk. Please follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer for your lamp base.

Disclaimer: The Walt Disney Company maintains the copyright for Tangled, Disney’s Rapunzel, the Tangled golden sun, Walt Disney World, and the Magic Kingdom. I do not own nor claim any copyrights to these items. Rather, this project is inspired by the creativity and innovation of the Walt Disney Company through their depictions in the movie and at the Magic Kingdom. Thank you, Disney, for bringing magic into all of our lives.