A Guide | Shedding the Light on Lampshades

Today I am talking everything lampshades! From picking the right size and shape to making your own cover. When to choose a fun pattern or color, and when to keep it simple. I am also sharing shades from around my home, plus shopping links for some fun shades I love!

Lampshades As Home Decor

You have heard me say it before.

(And you will certainly hear me say it again.)

“Design is in the details.”

Today I am talking about how this applies to the humble lampshade.

Maybe not something you really think of as a design element.

Because, really, a lampshade’s basic purpose is simply to soften and diffuse the harsh glare of the light bulb, creating an ambient light that is easier on the eyes.

But the right lampshade can also be a small but mighty home decor accessory.

It is the detail that can take your lamp from okay to wow, making the entire design of your room more complete.

They are a way to add another layer of color, pattern, and texture to your space. And that is always a good thing in my book!

These days there are more fun lampshade choices than ever.

And even if you can’t afford that beautiful shade you are coveting (they can be pricey), I will show you how you can easily customize the basic shade that came with your lamp to create something unique just for your home.

And it won’t break your piggy bank!

Before we get started with the fun stuff, though, let’s get the math of the way…

How To Choose The Right Size Lampshade For Your Lamp

There are numerous simple formulas to help you choose the right size lampshade for your lamp.

Shades of Light says that your shade height should be 2/3 the size of the height of your lamp. And the bottom width should be within two inches of the height of the lamp. Or, twice the width of your lamp base. (The same as Chairish.)

So, while there are formulas, there are no hard and fast rules.

You need to determine the proportions that you like for your lamp.

Generally, though, from a visual standpoint, only 1/2″ of the connecting neck should be showing and none of the lamp’s mechanics (such as the harp and lightbulb base).

And the shade should be at least a little wider than the widest part of the lamp.

I would say you need only concern yourself with exact measurements if you are ordering a shade online. Otherwise try a few shades on your lamp and see which one looks best to you.

It is your home, afterall!

Lampshade Hardware

I lied.

There is one more not-so-fun section before we get to the pretty stuff.

There are a few pieces of lampshade hardware that you should be aware of in order to select the correct shade for your lamp.

Fitters

The fitter is the piece that attaches the shade to the lamp.

They come as part of the shade, so you need to buy one with the fitter that matches your lamp hardware.

There are four common types: Spider, Uno, Clip-on, and Euro.

This article from The Spruce goes into detail about each type if you are curious to know more.

Otherwise, just be aware, so you buy a shade that has the correct fitter for your lamp.

Harp

The harp is an inverted U-shaped metal piece that is used to attach a Spider shade to the lamp.

One of the nice things about harps is that they come in different heights (and some are even adjustable), so that you can lower or raise where the shade sits just by changing or adjusting the harp.

Finial

The finial is a small piece that screws on to secure a lampshade with a Spider fitting to the top of the harp.

You can choose one that is unobtrusive and purely functional or go with something ornamental that adds extra personality to your lamp.

Different Lampshade Shapes

Okay, now let’s get to the decorative part!

Starting with different lampshade shapes.

The 5 shapes you will encounter most frequently are:

Drum or Cylinder Shades

These are simple round shades with straight or slightly tapered sides.

Drum shades are shorter in height, resembling (surprise!) a drum.

Cylinder shades are taller, but I have heard them called drum shades too.

This is the most basic shade, with a clean modern aesthetic.

It is the shade that you will most likely find on a lamp you get from someplace like HomeGoods.

It is a great match for a lamp with a lot of decorative detail.

For a more simple lamp, I think it is nice to add some interest with a patterned drum shade. The good news is that drum shades are very easy to cover yourself!

Empire

A classic!

The empire shade looks great on just about any lamp.

It is perfectly tapered, with the top diameter one half the size of the bottom.

Bell

The bell shade is tapered like the empire. It has a bit of a flare at the bottom, though, like a bell.

I think they are the most elegantly-shaped shade, lovely with a classic lamp!

Square or Rectangle

Square or rectangle shades are just what they sound like.

They provide a modern aesthetic, ideal for a contemporary interior.

A square or rectangle shade could also be used to update a traditional lamp.

Oval

Oval-shaped shades are best with oval or rectangular lamps.

Other shade shapes are pagoda, coolie, and chimney. They are less common, but could be exactly what your lamp needs!

Patterned Shades and More

When it comes to lamp shade materials and design, the sky is the limit!

Shades are most commonly covered in fabric, but there are also paper, metal, glass, plastic, and various natural materials.

Each material has its own aesthetic .

Cotton fabric has a traditional look. Linen is relaxed. Silk is elegant. Burlap adds great texture and is a nice contrast to a traditional ceramic lamp.

A shade covered in patterned fabric can make a real design statement in a room. Keep the fabric smooth against the shade when you want to showcase the pattern.

A gathered or pleated fabric shade is perfect for both traditional and cottage style. For some real fun, top a ginger jar lamp with a coordinating shirred patterned lamp shade!

I have a number of paper shades on light fixtures in my house because they are more resistant to coastal moisture than fabric.

I love the wicker and rattan shades that are so popular these days. They add such great texture to a room. And even better if they have a sweet scalloped bottom! Can you believe I don’t yet have one in my home?

Customizing Your Own Fabric Lampshade

We have talked about all the fun decorative fabric lamp shades available these days.

The down side is that they can be pricey.

Don’t fret!

There are a number of ways you can customize that shade you already have (and that already fits your lamp), to take it from drab to fab!

Cover a shade in fabric

I have done this to several lampshades with relative success.

I say “relative”, because I am a perfectionist, and there always seems to be something small that I am not happy with when I am done.

But no one else would probably notice. And overall I love the way they turned out.

So, really, this is an easy project.

There are a number of methods if you search on the internet. All they really require is some kind of adhesive — a glue gun, tacky glue, spray adhesive.

The tricky part for me is finishing the raw edge on the inside of the shade. I have used variously a ribbon, binding, and sewed a hem.

As I mentioned above, a drum shade is easiest to cover, because it is just a straight piece of fabric.

Tapered shades require a curved piece of fabric, which can be tricky, especially if the fabric has a linear pattern on it.

Make a shirred or pleated cover

I have never made a shirred or pleated shade cover myself.

These are a bit trickier than the smooth covered shade, but there are any number of how-to’s out there.

Marian, aka Miss Mustard Seed, has a tutorial for a pleated shade, which would also work for a gathered one. It is funny reading the opening to her blog post. She has tried many different methods for covering lampshades, just like me, ha! It seems I am in good company!

Lampshade “slipcover”

I have been seeing box-pleated lampshade “slipcovers” all over the internet recently — on IG, Etsy, and at various online retail sites.

And I have to say I have become a bit obsessed with them.

So much so, that I had to give it a try…

The result is far and away my favorite lampshade transformation to date.

Now I am obsessed with my own charming little lampshade slipcover!

I will be sharing all the details of how I transformed this little lamp, including a lampshade tutorial in a special mid-week blog post next week!

Add trim

When you don’t want to overhaul your lamp shade completely, or you just want to add a little something extra to a plain lampshade, try some trim!

You can create some definition with a colored trim, or some subtle texture with a tone-on-tone. You could even use a band of fabric for a small pop of pattern.

I picked up a beautiful white Asian-style ceramic lamp at a local rummage sale last weekend. So as not to distract from the delicate white-on-white floral design, I opted for a simple white drum shade. I liked the clean lines of the shade with the intricate detail of the lamp. To give the shade a custom look, I added a band of ivory cotton lace at the top and bottom of the shade. Easy!

Paint or stencil

If you are artistically inclined, you could paint a beautiful design on a plain white lampshade.

If your skills are more basic, try your hand at stripes, polka dots, or maybe a stencil!

Dye your lampshade

Someone I know on Instragram recently colored a lampshade using fabric dye. She just dunked the whole think in a bucket.

I am “dyeing” to give this a try on this little bell shade in the bedroom.

I will report back after I do!

Shop Lampshades

Here are some lampshades that have caught my eye around the web!

This Week Into Next

We had gorgeous summer-like weather last weekend and well into the week.

It was glorious!

On Saturday I went to the garden center and got most of my pots on the deck planted.

I also stopped by a fun local rummage sale and a classic Maine “junque” store, where I picked up a bunch of old buoys.

I can’t wait to share what I did with them soon!

Sunday evening I had some friends for drinks and nibbles on the deck.

I am so ready for deck time!

By the end of the week, though, we were back to our typical weather for this time of year — cool, wet, and foggy.

We have had such a fabulous late spring/early summer, so I am not complaining… yet!

This week In Zoe’s Kitchen, she is sharing recipes for Indian-ish Nachos and Summer Farro Salad. Zo says the nachos are “SO GOOD”. I can’t wait to give them a try!

That’s it for this week!

Be well, friends!