Lamp Shades

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.

Drum Lamp Shades

If you’re looking for new lamp shades for your home you may have come across the term “drum lamp shades” in descriptions and not quite known what they are or how to use them so here is my guide to using them in your home.

What are Drum Lamp Shades?

A drum lamp shade is a shade which is cylindrical in nature, typically shaped like an oil drum with the same circumference at the top as at the bottom. You may also come across some shades which have a slightly smaller diameter at the top than the bottom that are still called drum shades. No matter, they are definitely not conical lamp shades where the diameter reduces sharply from a wide base to a much smaller gap at the top!

Drum lamp shade on floor lamp (Click image for details)

Drum lamp shade on floor lamp (Click image for details)

Are They Fashionable?

These lamp shades were very popular in the eighties and then went out of style but they are now making a big come back. Most work better with contemporary rooms than with traditional settings as the latter tend to suit conical and pagoda shapes better than plain cylindrical. Nevertheless if you get the right size shade in the right materials they can enhance traditional interiors too.

Why are They Popular?

A drum lampshade is useful in lighting your interior as they cast light both upwards through the relatively large gap at the top of the shade as well as downwards. Plus they fit well with our need for simple interiors and shapes. As these shades are simple to manufacture you will find many examples which are low in price too. If you choose cheap drum lamp shades in plain shades they are pretty simple to decorate and make unique with trimmings that will give you a designer lamp shade for very little cash.

What Sizes Are Available?

You can get drum shaped lamp shades in all sorts of sizes from very small, with a three inch diameter and six inch height (for fitting the top of a small slim candlestick base) to large drum lamp shades with a diameter of 18 inches or more which look great as pendant lights in contemporary apartments.

How to Choose a Drum Shade

The main thing to take into account is to determine the size of the lamp shade you need. In the previous example the tiny candle stick light would have looked ridiculous with a massive shade and the small shade would have looked out of proportion hanging from the ceiling. So think about what will best suit your situation. Also make sure that the lamp shade can be used on a base or hanging as a pendant (depending what you need it for). Many have interchangeable fittings but it is best to be on the safe side.

Then look at colors and patterns. A black drum lamp shade will look great in a monochromatic room scheme, a hot pink shade in a teenage girl’s bedroom with matching accessories and a neutral cream drum shade (or even one in raffia) in a natural color scheme. You should be able to find drum lamp shades in every color and pattern whether tartan or cow print if you look online! And if not drum lamp shades are relatively easy to cover. If you have a lime green rug you especially want to match up, for example, simply find a paper in a similar shade or one with lime green in the pattern and cover your shade.

Glass Lamp Shades

Why Use Glass lamp Shades?

Glass lamp shades are some of the most elegant lamp shades you can find and they have a beauty rarely surpassed by fabric shades. It is the nature of glass which gives them that edge as it can be made into wonderful shapes, stained with attractive colors giving it an opaque look (while still allowing the light to shine through) and it can even be cut into small colored shapes and crafted into a reproduction Tiffany style lamp shade which is a work of art in itself.

Yet glass shades are not all copies of the kind of antique glass lamp shapes you pay a fortune for at auction, you can also buy contemporary glass lamp shades and light fittings which would look just right in a modern loft apartment. In fact, these modern glass creations will often be the focal point in a minimalist scheme.

Glass Lamp with Crackle Lamp Shade (Click Image for Details)

Glass Lamp with Crackle Lamp Shade (Click Image for Details)

Replacement Glass Lamp Shades

Although they are beautiful, glass shades are unfortunately pretty easy to break so you do need to take care with your shade. While they are not so fragile that you need to treat them with kid gloves, they will probably crack or shatter if you knock them over or drop them. Then you will be faced with looking for replacement glass lamp shades which is not always an easy task unless the manufacturer is still making the same kind. You may be lucky however and find a similar glass lamp shade in your local store. Take your base if possible (easier with a table lamp than a floor lamp) when you look around and see if you can find something that will fit your lamp and suit the style. At the very least take notes of the fitting such as dimensions and so on so that the store assistant can help you.

How to Choose a Glass Lamp Shade

The style of shade you should choose very much depends on the effect you want to achieve. If you are going for a period or antique look then frosted glass lamp shades in a classic shape (such as you find on an oil lamp) will be just right. If you have a romantic style bedroom then a flower shaped shade with fluted edges in cranberry glass might be just the thing. And if you have a floor lamp look at torchiere glass lamp shades which funnel the light upwards towards the ceiling (torchiere comes from the French word for torch) and will cast a wash of light over your room. If your traditional style living room need a focal point then you might like to look at stained glass lamp shades which will add a touch of beauty to your room. Finally for a contemporary room look at the many chrome and glass light fittings which you will find in interior design and specialist upmarket lighting stores as well as cheap and cheerful furniture stores specializing in the latest designs such as IKEA.