A modern office with a blue accent wall, wooden desk, gray office chair, two wooden bookshelves with books and decor, lamp, framed art, potted plant, and large windows overlooking a city skyline. Modern home office with a wooden desk, laptop, lamp, shelves filled with books and decor, abstract wall art, a plant, and a large window showing a city skyline against a blue wall.

How to choose the right lampshade

Lampshades are the unsung heroes of the interior design process, and choosing the right lampshade can make a huge difference! What other design element offers as much versatility?

The right lampshade can enhance your decor

What other design element offers as much versatility? From size, color, material/texture and translucency, the right lampshade can warm, soften or energize a room, complement your color scheme and dynamically highlight your other architectural, design and decorating choices. Are you getting the most out of your lampshades?

A wooden table lamp with a white stitched lampshade sits next to a cream upholstered chair. A blue cushion and a vase with pink flowers are visible, with a framed abstract painting on the wall behind.

Photo credit of S.R. Gambrel, Inc.

Three lampshades in neutral tones—two beige with different pleated designs and one smooth white—are displayed against a plain white background.

Pleating styles

Pleated lamp shades have been used predominately for traditional spaces. The new trend is to use a fun or bold print, and pleat the fabric. Pleated shades give a custom look, without custom pricing.

Bold statements

For a more modern look, go with a hardbacked shade, possibly with rolled edges. Red is meant for bold statements. It could also make a romantic vibe. Every bold color or mix of textures will give a large change to your space. For shapes, you could choose a drum or rectangles.

Three modern lampshades: one gray oval with a subtle pattern, one plain white cone, and one tall, cylindrical black shade, all set against a plain white background.
Eight different lampshade shapes displayed in two rows: drum, coolie, empire, oval (top row); rectangle, square, hexagon/octagon, and bell (bottom row). Each lampshade has a distinct color and shape.

Shape

The more basic the lamp, the more varied the lampshades can be.

Visual synergy is important: if the body of your lamp is tall and cylindrical, a tall drum lampshade may be best; if the lamp has a square base and a round body, a lampshade with a square base and round top may be a good fit. A shapely lamp can take a shapely shade - your goal is to match the mood of the base.

Large, round, modern ceiling light fixtures with a soft, warm glow, hanging against a dark background. Some window reflections are visible at the bottom edges of the image. Large, round, modern ceiling light fixtures with a soft, warm glow, hanging against a dark background. Some window reflections are visible at the bottom edges of the image.

Sometimes breaking the ''rules'' results in unexpected surprises! Trust your eye and individualize your lampshade experience to reflect your distinct aesthetic style.

A table lamp with a pleated beige lampshade and a silver base shaped like a palm tree. To the right, a vertical height indicator shows the lampshade is 40% and the base is 60% of the lamps height.

Size

Proportion is the key to choosing the right size lampshade. Generally, the taller the lamp, the larger the lampshade. Choose a lampshade that is roughly 40% of the overall height of the lamp and roughly double the size of the lamp base.

However, one must also consider the width of the lamp base. Most importantly, the shade must be long enough to cover the socket of the lamp, so that the hardware is not visible. With shades that have a standard spider, this can often be adjusted by changing the harp or adding a riser.

This formula is a general rule of thumb, and may not work in all instances.

A silver table lamp with a palm tree-shaped base and a cream-colored pleated lampshade. Text above shows 100% and below shows 50% to indicate width measurements.

How to measure your shade

Lampshade size is shown as: (top) x (bottom) x (side)

If you are replacing an existing lampshade it may help to measure it first. Start by measuring the widest part (diameter) of the top and bottom of your shade, then finish by measuring the slant/height along the side.

A cream-colored, pleated lampshade is shown with labeled measurements for top diameter, bottom diameter, and side length. The image is on a light background.

Color and Texture

Your lampshade can accent a primary color scheme or highlight a subtle tone in the environment, including the colors in the lamp base.

Lampshades come in a variety of fabrics and textures including paper, linen, burlap, silk, and silk blends. Other materials such as string or sticks add a unique look.

  • Soft-sided shades are lined and can be pleated or non-pleated, and work best for a more traditional look.
  • Hardback shades are usually non-pleated and work well with more contemporary and modern looks.
A grid of fifteen squares, each displaying a different solid color or textured pattern, including shades of black, brown, beige, green, red, blue, and gray.

Translucency

Translucency refers to the amount of light that passes through the lampshade. An opaque lampshade directs light from the top and bottom of the shade, often used to create dramatic mood lighting.

A table lamp with a black lampshade and a vertically ribbed white base stands on a flat surface, casting a warm, circular light both downward and upward against a gray background.

OPAQUE

A table lamp with a brown lampshade and a white, vertically grooved base is illuminated, casting light both above and below onto a plain, light gray background.

SEMI - TRANSLUCENT

A modern table lamp with a pleated white base and a wide, light gray lampshade, illuminated and set against a plain white background.

TRANSLUCENT

Colors and translucency

Lampshades come in different colors and textures, each with their own translucency. A translucent lamp shade will allow more light to emanate around the room.

Bulb type and wattage

Light bulb type and wattage play an important role. Be sure you have adequate separation from the bulb to the shade, especially for higher wattage bulbs. Compact Fluorescent or LED bulbs burn cooler and are more efficient.

Fitter

The fitter is hardware that allows you to connect the lampshade to the lamp. There are many different kinds, so make sure the shade you love has the fitter that matches your lamp.

A simple black and white drawing of a light bulb with two overlapping red circles inside, below a horizontal black line representing a ceiling or surface.

REGULAR BULB CLIP

A simple black and white line drawing of a light bulb with a black screw base, filament, and red elliptical lines representing light or energy fields around the bulb.

CANDLE BULB CLIP

Bulb clips

Bulb clips are typically found on smaller lamps or chandeliers. Regular bulb clips traditionally clip onto round lightbulbs while candle clips fit onto bulbs that mimic the shape of a candle

A light bulb with a ring around it.

WASHER & SPIDER FITTER

Washer and Spider fitters are typically the most common. These sit on top of the harp and are secured by a finial.

A simple black-and-white line drawing of a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, viewed from below. The ceiling fixture and wiring are also visible above the bulb.

REFLECTOR BOWL FITTER

Reflector Bowl fitters are similar to Spider fitters, however they have grooves in the spider arms that secure the lamp shade's position on top of a reflector bowl. These are often secured by a finial.

A simple line drawing of a lightbulb with a lampshade above it, showing how the shade directs and spreads the light downward and outward.

NARDI OR SLIP UNO FITTER

Nardi or Slip Uno fitters are generally held in place by the bulb and sit on top of the socket.

A simple black and white line drawing of a light bulb hanging from the ceiling, with its light spreading outward in a cone shape.

THREADED UNO FITTER

Threaded Uno fitters are typically for down-bridge lamps and feature a screw thread that attaches directly to a threaded socket.

A simple line drawing of a light bulb hanging from the center of a circular lampshade frame with visible support wires extending from the socket to the shades edge.

EURO FITTER

Euro fitters are made for shades with European sockets, where the bulb can be facing either downwards or upwards, and are held in place by a threaded ring that attaches to the socket. The placement of the fitting depends on which way the bulb is facing.

Finial

Most lampshades are secured by a finial. Like lampshades themselves, they come in many different colors, shapes and materials. They are just another element that can add distinctive charm and personality to your lamp set-up.

Three decorative lamp finials are displayed: one black pointed, one gold with a black oval, and one bronze with a monkey figure, all standing upright against a white background.
A close-up of a lamp’s metal harp and finial, with labeled text pointing to each part; the finial is a decorative, round metallic piece on top, and the harp is a supporting metal frame below.