If you don't want the lamp to attract attention, choose a simpler style without decoration. If you want something stylish, go for a shade with lots of color or elegant trim. Decorative lamps need to be attractive and appropriate to the setting. A rectangular or oval shade also lends itself to a small space because it has a narrow side, which can be pushed close to the wall.Īnother consideration in choosing a shade is the aesthetic role of the lamp. It's also good for a lamp on a sofa console because it's wider at the top, which makes the shade appear larger without taking up precious space. The empire shade (similar to a drum but more flared) has a contemporary look. A round or cylindrical base usually calls for a round or oval shade.įloor lamps work best with an empire shade as opposed to, say, a coolie shade (named because it resembles the hats worn by Chinese peasants), which has a wide slant, says Cheri Jamison of the Lamp Shop in San Francisco. If you have a lamp with a square base, try a square shade. A wider base, like an urn lamp, takes a larger shade. A slender base, such as a candlestick lamp, often looks better with a small, boxy shade. Where it falls below that is a matter of preference.Īlso look for a shade to fit the size and shape of the lamp base. 'The rule for table lamps is that the bottom edge of the shade is low enough so you don't see the hardware (socket or harp),' Johnson says. A lamp on a low table can take a smaller shade than a lamp on a high shelf because you can't see underneath a shade below eye level. Where the lamp is located helps to determine the size of the shade. A reading shade is also bigger because you want a higher-wattage bulb to read so more light comes from under the shade.

Reading lamps are a form of task lighting and require a larger shade because you want bright, directed light to come from the lamp.

Task lighting, for instance, calls for a broader shade to provide illumination to the work area. One of the first considerations is the lamp's role in the room.

Made in the shade