Lamp Shades

How to Choose the Right Lamp Shades

Getting the right lamp shades and lamps for your room is important because lighting plays such a big role in the look and feel of a room. It affects the whole ambience. The right lamp shade can enhance the whole picture and feeling you are trying to create, whereas one which clashes in any way can quickly ruin your room scheme and undo any of the great design decisions you have made with window treatments, furniture and floor coverings.

No need for bare bulbs

No need for bare bulbs

Color

Many people automatically choose white or cream colored lamp shades as they believe that this is a “safe” choice (and sometimes because there is not much else available in their local store). However white and off-white can look a little stark and are only right in an all-pale or minimalist room. Most rooms look best with a little warmth and color in decoration and you need to continue this through to your shades by choosing an equally rich color tone. If you shop online you will find just the right color of lamp shade to suit your room.

Size

The interior design rule of thumb for selecting the size of lamp shades is that the shade should be no larger than a third of the size of the lamp base height and ideally should just cover the lighting elements or hardware of the lamp. You want the bulb to be covered but not the base. The lampshades that most people buy are too large for the base. Don’t buy all your lamp shades the same size thinking that they should match – unless you have matching bases!

When measuring you don’t need to include decorative elements such as tassels – just the solid part of the shade.

For a normal table lamp the diameter of the base of the lampshade should be within two inches of the height of the lamp measured from the bottom of the light bulb fitting to the base.

For safety reasons make sure that the fabric of the lamp shade will clear the bulb with plenty of space – the higher the wattage of the bulb the more clearance is required between the bulb and the shade. If you’re worried about a shade you’ve chosen check that the part of the shade nearest the bulb does not get hot within 5 minutes of switching on the light.

Shape and style

The shape of the shade should be in keeping with the lampbase. A plain simple base lends itself to a simple shape whereas a fancy antique fitting deserves a more elaborate shade and an Asian style lamp goes well with a hexagonal shaped shade.

If your decor has a particular theme such as a particular historical period or designer style then choose lamp shades which suit that. You can get help by looking at pictures of whole room schemes which are in a similar theme including the lighting and lamp shades used. You can find these easily online.

Also consider where you lamp is going to be in relation to its surroundings. Some lamp shades mean that the lamp could not sit close to the wall or surrounding furniture.

What if you can’t find the right shade?

There are thousands of lamp shades to buy online but if all else fails you can buy custom shades made up in the exact size, color, shape, style and fabric you require.

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Huge Selection of Table Lamp Shades

There is a huge selection of table lamp shades available to purchase on the web and the aim here is to help you select the right one to purchase and save money and time. If you have a lamp base without a light shade or you are desperately in need of a new one then you have a few things to consider.

Which Table Lamp Shade?

You can buy lamp shades for table lamps in many different shapes, colors, sizes, materials and patterns. The sheer variety will astonish you once you start to look, but you will also quickly find that many of the shades available will not work well with your base. To choose a shade

1. Make Sure it is the Right Size

Your lamp shade needs to be the right size for the base and it needs to cover the bulb and electrical fittings so that they are not seen in normal use. In general the shade should be no more than one third the height of the whole lamp. As for diameter this should be in proportion to the size of the table the lamp is sitting on – a tiny lamp would look lost on a big coffee table and a huge lamp would look ridiculous precariously perched on top of a tiny table.

2. Make Sure it is the Right Style

If you have a formal living room then choose a formal lamp base and shade. If you have a romantic bedroom then a table lamp with a silk beaded lamp shade would look good. And if you have a contemporary loft apartment go for one of the new lamps with chrome and glass table lamp shades which will give the right impression.

Parchment table lamp shade in Burgundy (Click image for details)

Parchment table lamp shade in Burgundy (Click image for details)

3. Make Sure it is the Right Color

The color of the shade needs to go well with the color of the table lamp base and together they need to make a pleasing object in your room. They can either blend in with the color scheme or provide an accent piece by standing out from other objects but in any case, they need to look like they go well with your scheme.

How to Get the Best Price

If you need both a base and a shade, and especially if you need a pair of lamps it is generally cheaper to buy a table lamp set. It is usually only if you have a base you love and the shade has been damaged or no longer suits your interior that you are better shopping for shades alone. (Shades and bases may be sold separately in a lighting store but it makes for an easier purchase, even then, if you buy them at the same time from the same store. If nothing else you will be able to see that your table lamp base and shade work well together before you leave the store).

Getting back to achieving the best price for table lamp shades, it is simply a question of shopping around and waiting for your favorite department stores and lighting outlets to put their goods on sale. You will often find some great reductions especially in January and July although sales can happen at any time of year these days.

Alternatively buy lamp shades online and you will get discounts and low prices simply because many online retailers are competing with each other for your business on the web whereas locally stores know you have just a few options. Amazon offer a huge number of table lamp shades at a discount – see some of the best HERE.

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Chandelier Lamp Shades in all Colors, Sizes and Materials

A chandelier light can add instant elegance and glamor to a room. There are basically two types : those which are very decorative and delicate, being made up made up largely of metal, glass and crystals and others which are more sturdy and are embellished with lamp shades. Chandelier lamp shades themselves come in various styles. Some are made to suit the light fitting exactly and are generally made of blown glass while others are made of fabric, paper or similar materials and are attached to the bulbs by means of clips. The clip on lamp shades are easily interchangeable.

You may be looking for these small chandelier lamp shades because you don’t like those on the light you currently have and it is good to know that they are easy to change to update the whole look of your light. This can mean a big saving from buying a whole new chandelier. You may also want to look for chandelier shades if you buy a new light. New chandeliers generally come with very plain shades which may or may not suit your room decoration.

Beaded Chandelier Lamp Shade (Click Image for Details)

Beaded Chandelier Lamp Shade (Click Image for Details)

Styles of Chandelier Lamp Shade

Most shades are classified as mini chandelier light shades as you will have a number of these on any one light fitting, usually between 3 and 8. There is no room for anything other than a small shade. Even though these shades are small there is still plenty of scope for variety and you will find different shapes of shade as well as shades in different materials including silk, paper, plastic, metal, perspex and glass. You will also find embellished fabric shades – beaded chandelier lamp shades are particularly popular – and you will also find shades trimmed with fringing and braid. There are plain shades available in ever color imaginable and also patterned shades in anything from floral to plaid. In this way you can be sure of finding something to suit your style of room whether art deco, vintage, retro or contemporary.

How to Choose a Chandelier Shade

When buying lamp shades for chandeliers always read the recommendations or instructions which came with your light if you still have these to see what size you need to buy. If not, either measure the old shade carefully or take it to the store. The measurements required will be the diameter of the top opening, the diameter of the base and the height of the lamp shade.

Regarding style, this is, of course, dependent on the style of the room but if possible buy the type of shade which clips onto the bulb so that they are easy to change.

One of the main things to consider when buying shades is color. The color has to go with the chandelier light itself as well as with the room color scheme and changing the color can make a dramatic difference. One room I saw seemed to come alive when plain black chandelier lamp shades were changed to hot pink, but of course, that would not work in every room!

Why Use Chandelier Lamp Shades

You might question whether you need shades at all for your light but an overhead light like a chandelier can be quite glaring and lamp shades mean that you with enjoy a softer light than you would with so many bare bulbs. When testing out various shades see how different color shades affect the quality of light and use that in your criteria for finding the right chandelier lamp shade.

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