Lamp Buying Guide – Shades

How do you pick the right lamp shade?

Alright, you figured out what lamp to get, but you still have other decisions. For example, what lampshade should you get? Shades have functional responsibilities, but they also add character and can reinforce the decor style and create a cohesive look. Lamps often come with coordinating shades, but you may have an option to swap them out. Other times, shades are sold separately. The most important characteristics to consider when evaluating lamp shades include shape, size, material, color/pattern and safety.

What is the right shape for a lamp shade?

There are no hard and fast rules for the shape of lamp shades since aesthetics are subjective. However, in general, it’s a good idea for the lamp base and shade to have a similar contour. If the lamp base is curved, a rounded shade is likely to look better than one with sharp angles. The same goes for straight-edged bases and squared shades. Mixing and matching shapes might appease your eclectic spirit, but it can lead to cognitive dissonance – something just feels off.

The angle of the sides of the shade is another thing to think about. Virtually all shades have tapered or vertical sides, which may be straight or slightly concave. Shade corners may be sharp, rounded or cut at 45° angles. Finally, the bottom edge of the shade may be straight or scalloped (rounded sections). Much of the decision is really just personal preference.

Most popular shapes for lamp shades

What is the right size for a lamp shade?

Are you replacing an old shade and want something different? Or, are you buying a new lamp that doesn’t come with one? Either way, it can be difficult to figure out the proper size to get. There are aesthetic and functional factors to consider. It’s also important to take a couple of key measurements of the lamp base: the height from the bottom to just below the socket fixture and the diameter or width at the bottom.

• Diameter/width – Table lamp shades are roughly as wide as the base is tall. They should be half an inch wider than the base on each side. Floor lamp shades are at least 18″ in diameter or larger.
• Height – Table lamp shades should be approximately ¾ the height of the base.
• Position – All shades should cover the top of the lamp fitter, socket and bulb. This ensures you cannot see any of the hardware from the side.
• Proportion – Table lamp shades should not be wider than the table. Floor lamp shades should be sized commensurate with the free space in the room (use common sense).

What is the best material for lamp shades?

The primary function of a lamp is a key determinant of the ideal shade material. For instance, if the main purpose of a floor lamp is to provide bright ambient light, then a translucent fabric shade is appropriate. On the other hand, a table lamp meant for reading would be better off with a darker shade made from denser material. The backing also plays an important part in how the lamp shade performs.

Lampshade interior lining types

• Hard-backed shade – This shade may have a metal framework and is lined with plastic or another firm material. It reflects light away from the interior surface (usually gold or white) and out the top and bottom. This makes the light seem brighter.
• Soft-backed shade – Shades of this kind usually have a metal framework with vertical supports between the top and bottom. They may have a flexible lining (paper or linen) that allows light to pass through the walls.

Lampshade exterior surface materials

Lamp shades can be made from several materials with distinct characteristics, benefits and drawbacks.

1. Silk – Elegant smooth fabric whose fibers act as tiny prisms to scatter light with a unique luster, filters light effectively and absorbs dyes easily [S Nivedita & PK Mishra 2016]
2. Linen – Long-lasting laid-back textile that has a beautiful natural color and provides a subtle textured look
3. Cotton – Inexpensive fabric option that can absorb bold colors and be rolled smooth or gathered in a pleated design
4. Parchment – Lightweight paper with a clean contemporary look that holds bold colors and vivid printed designs
5. Glass – Opaque white glass works well for kitchens and bathrooms, where you need bright light, while art glass and Tiffany lamps have vintage appeal in any room
6. Plastic – Similar to glass, but you have unlimited modern color choices and varied opacity, although it is more susceptible to scratches
7. Metal – Great directional lighting material with an urban industrial look, but it can get a bit heavy and hot to the touch

How do you choose a lamp shade color or pattern?

Are we to the fun part yet? Yes and no. Like most things, there are tradeoffs based on various shade choices. The darker the shade (and thicker), the less light will filter through. So, a matte black drum shade might look ultra-chic on your minimalist modern table lamp, but it will provide less ambient light than a white one of the same material. You have to consider the implications and decide based on your priorities.

The good news is that many stylish options exist within each color palette. If your lamp base is multi-colored, you might want to consider a solid-colored shade that closely matches one of the accent colors. Otherwise, neutral hues are your safest bet. Bright solids and vibrant patterns make a lively contrast to lamp bases with more subdued tones. Think of them like you would a tie with a suit – a little fun is not just accepted, it’s appreciated.

Lamp shades are great for picking up colors used elsewhere in the room. They can also provide a complementary accent to break up a monochromatic room. To create a calm environment, add neutral colors to create a soothing light and coordinate with virtually any color scheme. Don’t forget about textures – visual appeal can come from understated tactile patterns.

What are potential safety concerns with lamp shades?

An oft-overlooked aspect of choosing a lamp shade is safety. Confused? To put it simply – the greater the amount of heat generated by a light bulb, the more ventilation is required. The wider or larger the shade, the greater the amount of ventilation. With incandescent bulbs, the higher the wattage of the bulb used, the greater the heat generated. In general, 2-3 a 2-3 inch separation between the center of the bulb and the inside edge of the lamp shade wall (i.e. “critical radius”) is sufficient. However, you may want to review the table (shown below) from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for more detailed insight. Cooler burning bulbs like LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) don’t emit as much heat. But, they are often larger than hotter burning incandescent bulbs and may require a wide shade.

Underwriters Laboratories Heat Ventilation Recommendations
Wattage	Critical Radius
0-25 Watts	1 ⅝”
26-40 Watts	2″
41-60 Watts	2 ½”
61-75 Watts	2 ⅞”
76-100 Watts	3 ½”
101-150 Watts	4 ¾”

What’s a shade without lightbulbs?

With apologies to Timbuk 3’s, “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades” there’s no need for a lampshade without a light bulb. The final section of our guide highlights some important bulb “must knows,” miscellaneous lamp features and a few curious styles to check out.

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References

• Nivedita, S., & Mishra, P. K. (2016). Novel Applications of Silk Nonwovens in Living Enclosures. In International Conference on Inter Disciplinary Research in Engineering and Technology (Vol. 1, p. 04).

Guide Sections

Lamp Buying Guide

Lamp Buying Guide – Table Lamps

Lamp Buying Guide – Floor Lamps

Lamp Buying Guide – Wall Lamps

Lamp Buying Guide – Light Bulbs & Features