Pin It

Choosing the Right Lampshade for Any Lamp

AlyssaDavis | Dec 14, 2010 |

0 Comments | Rating: 0

While some lamps come with a shade already fitted to the lamp base, lamps and shades are also sold separately. Selecting an individual shade for a lamp lets you personalize the look of a room and pick up accent colors or shapes that add interest. There are also times when you may convert a vase or other decorative item to a lamp and need to find a shade that will work, or you may be replacing an old shade to give a lamp a new look.

In all these cases, not only is it important to know how to coordinate shades and lamps, you also need to know which kind of lamp fitter will properly attach the shade to the base. Unlike metal bike wall art, kitchen metal art or other wall decor that simply has to fit your style and available wall space, there are other factors in addtion to style that must be considered when fitting a lampshade to a lamp.

Tips for Coordination Shade and Lamp

In addition to decorative considerations, you need to understand the function of a lampshade. A properly sized lampshade will mask the hardware that secures the lightbulb and will also reduce glare from the bulb. Compare the size, shape and color of the shade to that of the lamp base. The lamp and base should be in proportion to each other and in general, a round lamp should be matched with a round shade; a square base with a square shade. You should also consider which component of the lamp, the base or the shade, should be the center of attention. If the base is very ornate, for example, don't make it compete with an equally ornate shade. A shade can be also used to bring out colors in the base: For example, if the base is primarily beige with a tiny bit of green in the design, a shade in the same shade of green will make the green in the base more predominant.

Spider, Uno or Clip-On?

There are three varieites of lamp fitters: Spider, uno and clip-on.

A spider fitter is very commonly used on floor and table lamps. A finial is used to connect the spider fitter to the top of a lamp harp. Harps range in size from approximately seven to twelve inches and changing the size of the harp is an easy way to change the height of the shade in relation to the base.
An uno fitter directly attaches the shade to the bulb socket and no harp is required. A slip uno fitter attaches underneath the lightbulb and the bulb actually holds it in place. A threaded uno fitter is designed to sit on top of a downward facing light bulb and screws into place; this type of fitter is typically used on small table lamps and wall lamps.
Clip-on fitters slip directly onto the bulb and the most common type of fitter found on chandelier shades.

There's nothing more frustrating than bringing home the ideal lampshade only to find that the fitter does not match the lamp's hardware. So it is essential that you choose a lampshade with the proper fitter. The best way to be sure that you've found the ideal shade, with regards to both style and fit, is to bring the lamp base along while you shop for a shade.