choosing the right lampshade
In the overall budget of any home decorating project, lamps are typically an expensive item. They’re also essential, so finding ways to purchase them on sale or at a steep discount is key. Recently we’ve come across some great bargains at tag sales and flea markets, and we have a feeling you’ll be finding the same wherever you live. More often than not, lamps like these (second-hand) don’t come with a lampshade, or if they do, they’re often pretty tired looking, so finding the perfect lampshade to go with any lamp is a skill worth learning. Here are a few key things to keep in mind the next time you’re looking to pair the perfect lampshade with your tag sale find! This may sound obvious, but you need to take your lamp with you when you’re shopping for a lampshade. Nothing is more accurate than trying on different shapes and sizes on the lamp itself. As in fashion, the lamp and shade must look effortless together (think: the right shoes for the right dress). Below, a glossary of basic lamp parts that you’ll probably need to know to go further.
There are two key rules of thumb when trying on a lampshade. The first is that the proportion and shape of the lamp dictate how far down the shade will sit. Keep in mind that the diameter of the lampshade should never exceed the size of the lamp base, and second, the shade should always cover the saddle and the socket of the lamp. What’s interesting is that there isn’t just one perfect lampshade for any one lamp–there are many! And it’s all really a matter of personal style. I’m not a stickler for choosing a shade that “matches” the decor in a room. It’s about choosing a shade that looks absolutely the best with that specific lamp. After all, I rarely rotate lampshades. We chose this hand-blown Italian glass lamp made by Decorative Crafts to show you some of the different types of lampshades that are available. Below, far left you’ll see a very traditional Empire French pleated shade. You can see how the proportion of this shade is perfect for the scale of the lamp: all that you can see is a small section of the neck of the lamp between the shade and the lamp. In the middle, a very elegant round top, octagonal bottom shade. This is a very safe and traditional choice. And at right, a chic pleated drum shade for a more contemporary style. I’m kind of a drum shade fan, myself. What about you?
Trolling through one of my favorite consignment stores with a friend recently, we came across this tall black decorative lamp (below). It’s kind of a modern take on a traditional form. We loved it, and I went back and picked it up a few days later (that’s often how it goes!). We took it to the Accessory Store in Stamford, CT, to find a great shade. Take a look at the four very different shades we chose. The round square shade (top left) is made of silk and looks very dressy. The black sharp-corner rectangular shade (top right) has a more modern feel to it. The red rectangular shade (below left) seemed to make the lamp younger and more whimsical. And finally, the white silk pagoda shade with the dark trim (below right) looked retro and fun at the same time. We had a really hard time deciding which one we liked best. What do you think?
Questions about finding your perfect lampshade? Check out our new ask gbgp section and we’ll do our best to provide you with a stylish (and affordable) solution. -S & L
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We're a mother-daughter design team with a unique approach to style. Suzanne is an Emmy-winning producer, garnering five Emmys over her decade-long career at Martha Stewart Living Television and Lauren is a former fashion features writer for Teen Vogue magazine.
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Love your blog — but those are lisianthus, not ranunculus. The pink ones.
i vote for the round square! so classy
brass lamp with harp measures 37″tall – lamp is four spheres ranging from top smallest to 6″ largest on bottom – base is 8″. Do I use a drum shape shade?
If so what size and color shade do I choose?