How do you Know What Shade of Lamp to Get?

Choosing a lampshade should be easy enough. But if you really think about it, seemingly small things like color clashes, incoherent styles, or wrong sizes can play a huge role when it comes to creating beautiful spaces in your home.

So, where do you even begin?

Without a natural eye for design, it can be tricky to figure out what shade of lamps to get. However, Lamps Lab might just have the answer for you!

This website curates a wide array of articles that highlight everything you need to know about lamps, including product reviews and DIY projects.

We’ve scoured some of their best tips and categorized them into four factors, so it’ll be easy for beginners like you to choose the best shades of lamps to get for your home.

Ready? Let’s begin!

Factor #1: Size

There is one rule to follow when it comes to lampshade size: The shade size should be proportional to the base size.

Imagine your lamp’s shade as a hat on your head. If it’s too big or too small, you risk looking ridiculous. Harmony between proportions should be prioritized.

A few things to consider for table lamps are:

• Your lamp height should be longer than your shade height. For starters, go for a base height that is three-quarters taller than the height of the shade.
• Your shade top should be wider than its base by at least 1.3 centimeters for a balanced look.
• Between the shade base and the height of the lamp base and fitting, go for a roughly equal height.
• If you don’t know what to choose, always go for larger sizes.
• Thin and tall lamps pair well with smaller shades.

A shade base of 18 inches or larger is the way for tall floor lamps.

As for what size of the lamp should go with your room, consider the size and design of your room. Big floor lamps pair well with large, minimal rooms. On the other hand, table lamp size is decided by how big the table it will sit on is and how simple or ornate the surrounding décor will be.

Factor #2: Shape

Depending on the lamp base, the room, and the lamp position, you can go for lampshade shapes that are either square, empire, straight empire, oval, or drum.

Square and oval lampshades are pretty self-explanatory. Except, they have square tops and rectangular bottoms when it comes to square lampshades.

Empire and straight empire lampshades are like cones with the tops cut off. As the name indicates, Drum lampshades look like drums without the top and bottom covers.

A few tips we can offer are:

For a cohesive look, match your shade base with your lamp base (ex.: drum shades with circular bases)

While rounded options are more popular, squared-off lampshades can fit in well in small spaces, on angled corners, or right up against the wall.

Factor #3: Material

Cheaper shades can be made of plastic, but we will always recommend the ones made out of velvet, cotton, silk, parchment, paper, and linen.

Velvet lampshades give off a more opulent vibe and can provide a little sophistication in any room. However, matching them with the rest of your décor can be tricky.

Cotton and silk lampshades are usually pleated. They pair well with classic or vintage décor because of their generally traditional feel.

Parchment lampshades with block color prints work great in contemporary, minimalist, or modern décor.

Paper lampshades come in different colors and patterns, but, traditionally, they are usually marbled with paints and oils.

And finally, linen lampshades can work either with plain colors or with busy prints.

Factor #4: Designs and Colors

Before you can get started on the fun part, ask yourself:

How much light does my space need?

Lampshades can be an easy and cheap way to bring more light into a room without having to pay for new windows or having new lights installed.

If you’re simply looking for accent lighting, thick, dark-colored shades will do well in any room. If you prefer your lamps to be more functional, translucent shades are a must.

How daring do I want to go?

Lampshades can change a room depending on the color you choose. As a general rule, we do not worry too much about bringing different shades of color into any room.

If you feel like your room is too bland, lampshades with bright, bold colors can spruce it up immediately.

And there you have it — the four factors you need to consider when choosing what shade of lamp to get.

We hope that these four tips will take the guesswork out of your design decisions and help you create the kind of space you want.