Lamp Shade Styles

Choosing the Lamp Shade
When choosing a lampshade for your lamp, remember these tips:

Consider the base. Lamp shades and bases work together and need to complement each other without overwhelming one another. If your base is ornate with a lot of Victorian decorative flourishes, you'll want to choose a lamp shade in the same style, but less ornate. Interesting effects can be created by wedding modern shades with Victorian bases, or vice versa. Balance. Take into account the proportion of the shade to the lamp base. Don't overwhelm your base with a shade that looks too large or exposes too much of the socket or harps. Take a look around your room. Do a quick scan of your room. Could you use a little extra color in the corner? Opt for a Tiffany-style shade. Is everything so busy that you need a break? Try ultra-modern white. Remember, table lamps add another dimension to room design and can be used to subtly enhance your style.

Styles
The lamp shade you choose will, of course, depend on the lamp itself.

• Glass: If your lamp requires a glass globe shade, then your options are going to revolve around color, opalescence, and opacity. Frosted white globes give off a calming glow, while decorative multi-colored shades can turn your lamp into a luminous sculpture. If you have a down-facing shade and a heavy base, you could try out the stained glass beauty of a Tiffany shade.
• Fabric and paper: Shades made from fabric or paper give off a warm glow when paired with a bright bulb underneath. Fabric shades are manufactured in varieties from silk to linen to corduroy. Paper lamp shades look terrific in white, but can also add a subtle note of color when chosen in pastels.
• Reverse-painted or patterned: Some designers choose to take advantage of the light inside to reveal beautiful paintings and patterns printed on the lamp shades. These look great in basic rooms as an element of surprise.