Lamp Shade

Lamp shades have moved over from being mere lighting accessories to exquisite pieces of art. You can pick up lamp shades to complement the room décor – sophisticated and contemporary or ethnic and decorative. Try mixing different styles and shapes of lamps in a room. Look up creative tips to selecting lampshades and enhancing your home décor.

Lamp shade

Shades for lamps come in a range of size, color and style options. Select a lampshade depending on whether it is going to be a table lamp or a floor-standing lamp. It is essential to pick a lamp shade that is proportionate to the setting it is going to be placed in. Measure your lamp base accurately to determine the size and shape of lamp shade you need. Find the drop that is needed so that the shade fits onto the base. Shades for lamps come in a dazzling mix of colors and materials, from run of the mill plastic and vinyl to exotic silk and leather to linen and cotton fabrics.

Most often lamp shades are several inches wider than the lamp base. If the lamp is being placed on a table at eye level, consider having the lamp shade cover the bottom of the socket. The vertical measurement of a well-proportioned lampshade should not exceed its diameter. The width of the lamp shade should extend past the widest part of the lamp base. The height of the shade should be roughly 3/4 the height of the base.

Ensure that the lampshade you select extends far enough to cover all the electrical fittings and the base of the socket. Use lower wattage bulbs in your lamp shades for a diffused lighting. 3 way bulbs are safest for lamps. Soft, diffuse light cast through a shade or sconce is an excellent choice for all-round general lighting. Lamps that throw light down towards the floor are good for illuminating tabletops, art pieces or other wall decorations. Lamp shades that cast light toward the ceiling result in indirect lighting that can make a room appear larger than it actually is.

Choosing lamp shades
Choosing an appropriate lampshade depends on the base of the lamp too. Wooden lamps, with polished smooth or carved bases can be classic and timeless. They can be combined with most types of lampshades…versatile and elegant. Wrought iron lamps come in infinite and exquisite designs. You can choose from natural color backgrounds.

Enliven an existing lampshade with silk braided trim or glass-beaded trim. Simple embellishments can work wonders on a plain vanilla lampshade. Popular lamp shade color options are white, ivory and pale cream. Lamp shades in pale pinks and peaches can create a diffused and romantic lighting. Choose from lamp shade fabrics like silk stenciled fabric.

You can add pleats or try a scalloped edge variation. Another interesting option is to go in for oriental lamp shades made of paper, silk or mulberry or mango fibers. These lamp shades are a work of art and make an artistic expression, lit or unlit. You can make innovative lamp bases with terracotta pots, figurines or candlesticks. Select a lamp shade that enhances the shape or curve of the lamp base.

Glass lamp shade
Glass lampshades or Tiffany style lamp shades come in different styles. These glass art lamp shades, with their riot of colors, offer a range of subtle shadings. Tiffany glass lamp shades come in a myriad hues, bringing alive the beauty of stained glass panels.

You can match the glass lamp shade bases to suit your room décor, be it in polished oak or wrought iron castings. The glow of light through a glass lamp shade brings a classic and timeless look to a room. Choose a style that suits a room best. Add a touch of drama to a drab corner or a staid dining room with a dazzling glass lamp shade.