(Courtesy to Pioneer Press: Donna Erickson)

I love lampshades and how they create character in a room. Sometimes, they recall a more romantic time. Just walk into a specialty lampshade store and notice the beautiful silk and pleated shades in lovely curving shapes that seem to have popped right out of a Victorian parlor. And all that fringe!

But there's something else I like about lampshades: Their inexpensive versatility. The simplest kind, once redesigned, can light up a room in more ways than one. This is great news for budget-minded families, for kids who want to jazz up their bedrooms this fall and for college-bound teens who are hankering for a more sophisticated space.

Whether you pick up a new, inexpensive plain-white fabric shade at Target or touch up one you already own, you'll quickly discover it's a perfect canvas to showcase your child's bright ideas and creativity. To get started, make your first attempt easy. Start with the happiest and simplest of designs — polka dots.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED

  • Inexpensive, standard, plain-white lampshade without pleats

  • Acrylic paint from craft stores in a color that provides an accent to the room

  • Pencil

  • Newspaper

  • Paintbrush

  • Flat buttons and glue gun (optional)

    HERE'S WHAT TO DO

    1. Lightly sketch circles freehand on the lampshade with the pencil. When you are ready to paint, spread out newspaper on your work surface. Dip your brush in the paint bottle and start filling in all those

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    circles. Go dot to dot from top to bottom. Let dry completely.

    2. Pull out your button jar and hunt for flat buttons in contrasting colors that are smaller than the painted dots. Glue them to the center of a few or all of the dots. Add more buttons around the top and bottom rims of the shade. Place on your lamp base.

    MORE BRIGHT IDEAS

    If your kids want to connect more dots, let them go wild. "What else can I decorate?" they may exclaim.

    Well, they can paint polka dots on wastepaper baskets, planters and placemats. They can arrange colorful dot stickers on scrapbook covers, picture frames and school binders.

  • Meet Donna Erickson in person at the Minnesota State Fair Monday. She will appear on "Twin Cities Live" on Channel 5 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the KSTP-TV building. She also will be interviewed on KKMS Live! AM-980 Radio at 4:30 p.m. at Judson Avenue and Clough Street.

  • Donna Erickson's award-winning television series, "Donna's Day," is airing on public television nationwide. Watch it in the Twin Cities at 7:30 a.m. Fridays on tptLife on channels 13 and 17. Sign up for Donna's e-newsletter at donnasday.com. Her latest book is "Donna Erickson's Fabulous Funstuff for Families."