Lamp Shades

A new lampshade is as easily the most accessible thing to change when thinking of renovating your space. Their functionality in shading the harsh light and personalization of your space makes for a handy feature. They can be switched out whenever you want, season-wise, new décor, or you are feeling a change in the mood. Many different shades can be added to an existing lamp.

Though there are certain things you must consider before opting out for a lampshade.

1. Shape:

In the choice of a lampshade, it is better to pick one that is closest to the shape of the lamp’s base. Doing this helps the lamp blend in with the shade and not look out of place.

2. Color:

In choosing a lampshade, it is better to go with the theme of the room with a pop of color, so that the lamp becomes the focal point of the room.

3. Material:

There are many lampshade materials, which is why it is quite essential to pick the right one. Make sure that the content being chosen is translucent enough that it does not block the light completely.

Types of Lamp Shades:

1. Empire:

This type of shade is the most standard look. The light spread downward via the wide brim in a classical conical shape.

2. Bell:

The Bell-shaped shade is an elegant skirt mimicking cone, it has a wide brim at its bottom, and the sides are curved. They are commonly used for classic and traditional décor.

3. Drum:

The drum shade provides you with a cylindrical, full shape having wide rims and tall sides of equal size. This design allows the light to flow in both directions equally.

4. Novelty:

The Novelty shade comes in many different sizes, designs, and shapes. They have an eccentricity about them that catches the eye.

5. Square and Rectangular:

These types of shades are more prevalent in modern spaces, showing a touch of symmetry.

6. Bowl:

The empire shape inspires the bowl; this shade has resemblance with a wide basin, and the light is distributed in a downward manner.

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How to Measure a Lamp Shade

Going through the vast universe that is lamps and lampshades is a tricky state of affair indeed. You might have liked a lamp base, but now you are in a trickier pinch, finding a lampshade to go along with it. What would your line of sight be? From where would you start? You do have the option of going through all the single lampshades and trying them, but we all know that it is both time consuming and an impossible feat for the online buyer. So what will you do now? Let us go through it all step by step.

What will be the perfect size of the lampshade for a table lamp?

For finding the correct size of the lampshade, it is better to start with the measurement of the lam itself via a tape measure or ruler. For the height of the lamp, it is better to measure from the bottom of the rod to the lamp base; in this way, the bulb holder and the rod are not added in the measurement. Make a mental note of the width and the height of the lamp. Some rules of thumb are better to be remembered when measuring the lampshade; the width of the lamp must be equal to the height of the lampshade.

But it is not a hard and fast rule, and every rule has some exceptions as well. It is pivotal to keep everything in the share so that the lamp is not diminished by the colossal shade or be unbalanced by a tiny one. If the lampshade you want is in between two lampshade sizes, then it is better to opt for the larger one as it works better proportionally and will even distribute more excellent light. A shade too tiny for the lamp looks stingy.  

Which size of the lampshade will be best for your floor lamp?

When it comes to floor lamps’ size and shape of the lampshade, it is much trickier than the former. Often the floor lamps are narrow and tall, so if we look at the shape, it is better than the lampshade that will suit them would-be empire, rectangular, square, or drum. For the determination of the size of the lampshade for the floor lamp, measurement of the lamp base height from top to bottom of the bulb rod is done, the measurement is then divided by four for getting an estimate for the shade. It is better to take into account the area around the shade you have, and you have the option to go for a smaller size if the lamp is too close to the furniture. But the most important thing is to trust your eye and do what feels right.

Height of the Lampshade and Where Should it Sit?

A perfect sized lampshade is one that hides the fitting under it without intruding the lamp base and looks pleasing to the eye as well. It is essential to be clear on where you would be putting the lamp in the room, will the area be stuffed or will the lamp have space around it, or keeping in mind whether it will be in juxtaposition to the wall, furniture, or will it be placed near a path that sees a frequent footfall? If there is limited space, then it is better to choose a lampshade that has a narrow frame and combine it with an equally narrow statured shade; doing so will make it less prone to be knocked over or damaged.

Lamp Shade Fittings:

How the shade is attached to the lamp is determined by the fitting of the lampshade. That is why it is better to know the type of fitting before replacing a lampshade. There are four types of lamp shade fittings available:

1. Clip-on Lampshades:

They have a fitting of wire that is attached to the lightbulb directly. These lampshades are customarily made for bulbs that have low wattage or for the small accent lamps.

2. Spider Lampshades:

These are the most common type of lampshade fitting. In the spider, lampshades are attached to the lamp with the help of a harp and a finial, which is easily swappable for another size for the accommodation of different lamps.

3. Uno lampshades:

The Uno lampshades attach right to the socket of the lamp without using harp. They are sometimes permanently setup; this makes the fitting quite challenging to be replaced. However, this type of fitting is underneath the light bulb securely, allowing for ease in the removal and replacement of lampshade. These types of fitting are the most common in swing-arm lamps and small table lamps.

4. Screw-on lampshades:

These are another type of Uno lampshade, but they are removable unlike them. They are also known to be as threaded Uno. These types of lampshades sit right about the light bulb, securing them with a screw thread.