Lamp Shades - How To Select One

There are quite a few issues to consider when selecting a lamp shade. After 27 years of helping dealers, designers and retail customers match their lamps and shades we have developed some defining points which will allow you to answer this sometimes daunting question for yourself.

Beauty is not the only thing in the eye of the beholder. Individuals may already have preconceived ideas of the right size, shape, color, material, etc. for a particular lamp shade. Further, after one has looked upon and lived with a certain lamp and shade combination for years any deviation from that can very likely be perceived as "wrong". So, how can you be sure that a particular lamp shade is right or that it "goes" with the lamp? Keep three basic considerations foremost in your mind: portrayal style, shade size and shade vertical location.

PORTRAYAL STYLE: First and foremost, what do you wish to portray with the lamp? Look at your lamp and decide what style it is such as contemporary, traditional, antique, funky, etc. If you really cannot discern a specific style then you must decide which style or look that you wish to portray with this lamp. You will want the basic look or style of your lamp shade to compliment, not clash with the lamp style itself. You generally do not want a very ornate and detailed shade if you wish to portray the clean lines of a very contemporary lamp. Likewise, you do not want a clean cut Chinese coolee (wide bottom compared to top) type shade for a lamp that you want to portray as a traditional style. Think in terms of like styles for the lamp and shade. This does not mean like colors, textures, size etc. but general style. Once you have decided the general lamp style that you wish to portray, then you can begin concentrating on other details.

SHADE SIZE: This characteristic of your lamp shade like all the others will of course be subjective and will vary with the observer. But there are some guidelines that will help you determine the boundaries within which you must consider. You are basically looking for a balance in lamp and shade sizes that will make the lamp look neither top heavy or bottom heavy when viewed from a distance of about 20 feet away. There are four (4) measurements to consider when selecting a shade: top diameter (across), bottom diameter (across), side length (slope), and drop. The drop is the vertical distance the shade washer is from the top edge of the shade. Do not be too concerned with the drop. The drop and the harp size will determine the shade vertical location which we will cover later. You just need to be aware that different shades do have different drops. Small changes in the bottom diameter (1"-2") will have a dramatic effect on the look of your lamp. The same applies to the side length and top diameter. The numerous combinations of these various measurements can be mind boggling. Below are some specific guidelines that you can carry with you to the store when selecting a lamp shade.

Medium - small size traditional or antique style lamps that are 20" - 27" tall to the top of the shade will likely require shades about 9" - 11" side length and 16" - 19" bottom diameter.

Medium size traditional or antique style lamps that are 27" - 30" tall to the top of the shade will likely require shades about 11" - 13" side length and 16" - 19" bottom diameter.

Large size traditional or antique style lamps that are 30" - 36" tall to the top of the shade will likely require shades about 12" - 15" side length and 18" - 20" bottom diameter.

For each of the above examples, contemporary lamp shades will generally have larger bottom diameters and possibly side length as well. Larger diameter lamps require larger diameter shades and more slender lamps require smaller diameter shades.

Multiple socket lamps are a special consideration that should be addressed individually by an experienced lighting professional that you will find in most reputable lamp and lighting showrooms.

SHADE VERTICAL LOCATION: This characteristic of your lamp shade is fairly simple to judge. It is the vertical location of the bottom edge of your lamp shade. On a single socket lamp this will almost always be about 2" below the bottom of the socket assembly. To determine the correct vertical location, first look straight across the bottom edge of the lamp shade and visually line up the near edge of the shade with the far edge of the shade. This line should then intersect about 2" below the bottom of the socket assembly for most single socket lamps. The way that you adjust this vertical location of the lamp shade is with the HARP. This is the "U" shaped wire that attaches the lamp to the shade and it comes in different lengths from about 4" on up. Shorter shades will require shorter harps and longer shades will require longer harps. Multiple socket lamps are a special consideration and I strongly recommend professional guidance for these instances, especially for safety concerns as well as aesthetic values.

SUMMARY: Use the above ideas as a general guideline and it should get you started in the right direction. For further assistance I strongly recommend a reputable lamp and lighting showroom as this type store will likely have knowledgeable experienced staff who are well equipped to help you with the many subtle intricacies of lamp shade selection.

Biography: Since 1979 Jim Hoyle has owned and operated Lamp Outlet - North Carolina's Most Exclusive Unique Lamps and Lamp Shades. Jim designs and manufactures fine cast metal table lamps and floor lamps and collects, sells, repairs, restores and appraises antique lamps from special acquisitions and estates worldwide. His company also specializes in lamp and home decor factory buyouts and warehouse closings. All comments and questions are answered personally: LampHomeOutlet@bellsouth.net. His company's website contains a wealth of free information about lamps and lighting: www.hoylelamps.com. Visit his store personally at 2233 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina about 25 minutes from Charlotte.