How to Buy Lamp Shades

Whether you are going for a new look in your room or just replacing your existing lampshade, understanding some fundamentals for proper lampshade selection can help you make the right decision when you employ some simple tips. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Measure Surrounding Furniture

1

Measure the width and depth of any existing piece of furniture, such as a side table, upon which your lamp rests. Your new shade should not hang over the edges of the side table.

2

Take your lamp and its harp (the metal U-shaped bracket which fits on top of the lamp's base and upon which the lampshade will sit) to the lamp store with you when shopping for lampshades. Also take your existing lampshade with you (if you have one) even if you are changing it from say, formal to contemporary, or if you are changing the fabric, paper or parchment from which it is made. This will assist you with determining proper scale, proportion and fit for your new lampshade. Some good on-line resources, such as Restoration Hardware (www.restorationhardware.com), offer a variety of attractive, simple shades in a variety of fabrics which are appropriate for most lamp bases.

3

Try on several different fabrics and styles of lampshades with your lamp base. Proportion and scale are major elements to consider for proper lampshade selection. Just as an elongated base usually calls for a taller shade, so too a more boxy lamp usually looks best with a wider shade, but it can be fun to try unexpected shapes and sizes. Drum shades made from silk, linen or paper impart a sleek, contemporary vibe and can work with even the most formal or traditional lamp bases. If the lamp is used more for reading than decorative, ambient light, select a translucent fabric or paper over an opaque material. Color selection in white, ivory or cream give you the greatest flexibility for most decors. Your new shade should not compete with the base; however, a simpler base can many times handle a shade with more detail. Likewise a fancier lamp base usually looks best with a more streamlined shade. The taller or shorter harp can also be replaced for your lamp, which can make it possible for you to explore many different styles of lampshades. But remember, in the end, it's all about the lamp's base or the lampshade - not both.