The Difference A Lamp Shade Makes

 Hi all!  I hope everyone has had a great week.  My week has been jammed packed and I’m so happy the weekend is here.

Today I wanted to talk about a decorative element that I think has the power to change the dynamics of a room.  It’s a little thing but in my book it’s one of the details you should pay close attention to when decorating.

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Lampshades are what I’m talking about and specifically the color of the lampshade.

You see, I’m not a fan of a crisp white lampshade (under most circumstances) and prefer to use a lampshade with color.  White lampshades can appear cheap, thin and in many cases be too stark within a room, even rooms with lots of white furnishings and architectural details.

To pull off a crisp white lampshade, I think a room needs bold color or layers of neutrals.

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In contrast to a white lampshade, a soft neutral color is always a winning choice and provides just enough warmth to keep the lighting from looking stark.

 

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And then there are those times when a lampshade in a statement color is what a room calls for…

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Cucokoo4Design

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Tips for picking the right lampshade:

Height

As a rule of thumb, choose a shade that’s two-thirds the height of the base. That proportion assures that the lamp won’t look top or bottom heavy.

You also want to make sure the shade doesn’t expose any of the hardware underneath, such as the harp (the wire frame around the lightbulb).

Shape

If the base is round, it will look best with a round shade.

A square or angular base generally looks best with a square shade.

The exception: If you’re putting a square-base lamp on a round table, you might like to echo the tabletop by using a round shade.

In general, it’s best to choose a shade that reflects the shape of the base and the shape of the table it’s sitting on.

Width

The widest part of the shade should be at least a half-inch wider on each side than the widest point of the base.

Make sure the shade doesn’t extend beyond the tabletop.

Fabric

If you need the lamp to read by or to shed ambient light, go with a translucent shade.

If you’re using the lamp only as an accent light and don’t need it to illuminate the room or to shed light on a task, an opaque shade can be a good choice.

Now go light up your world!