Selecting the right shade for your lamp’s shape, style and size
Dear Gail: I’ve been looking for new lamps for my living room, and I like that the stores now have mix-and-match lamps and shades. But how do I go about selecting the right shade for a lamp? Nicole
Dear Nicole: It is nice that the stores now give you a choice of putting together your own look, but it can be confusing on how to match up a lamp and shade.
Look to see if the manufacturer gives you any direction on the size of shade the lamp takes. Many mixand-match lines will tell you the size to look for. If it doesn’t, or if you’re not buying them in the same store, it’s good to have the lamp with you when buying the shade. Just as it’s important to have a dress when you’re looking for matching shoes, a shade can make a lamp. Plus, it’s easier than running around making returns. I’m terrible about that.
First, consider where you’re placing it. Make sure the lamp and shade are properly scaled to the table it will be sitting on. You don’t want a shade that’s so wide you have to move the table to keep the shade from making contact with the wall.
Next, don’t forget to consider the lamp’s function. If it’s going to be a lamp for reading, a lighter-colored shade is better, as it will provide more light. Also a wider shade at the bottom will give a broader spread of light. As in all design, form follows function. Once, I found this great lamp that had a stainless steel shade, it would have looked great in my office. But on my desk, it didn’t give me enough light to see anything, plus the shade got extremely hot. It looked great, but was not functional at all, so back it went.
Now, you’ll want to look at the shape, style and size of the lamp base, and proportionally fit the shade to the lamp. The basic purpose of a shade is to hide the lamp’s hardware and bulb to prevent glare. As a general guideline, look at the shape of the base to direct you to the shape of the shade you’ll want. A round or octagon base would look good with a round shade. A rectangular base would look best with a rectangular shade, and a square base would take a square, rectangular or round shape.
With an idea of the shape you’re looking for, you now need to have the proper size and scale. That is why you want to bring your lamp, so that you can try the shades in the store. As a general rule, the bottom diameter of the shade should be at least 1½ to 2 times the diameter of the widest diameter of the lamp. Some lamps are wider in the middle than at the base, so make sure the shade is at least 1½ to 2 times wider than the lamp at its widest part.
It’s also important to have adequate ventilation around the bulb. There should be at least an inch or two around the bulb. Double-check by leaving the lamp on for five minutes, and if the shade is hot, it needs to be bigger for the wattage that you’re using. Of course, LEDs are not as hot as other bulbs, but not everyone has switched to all LEDs yet.
If you find the perfect shade but it is too short or too long, that can be adjusted. You can purchase a new harp, whether it needs to be taller or shorter. If the shade is too long, you can add a shade riser. A shade riser is a metal rod that comes in different sizes, and it simply screws onto the top of the harp to elevate the shape. Harps and risers can be purchased at lighting supply stores.
Finally, if you’re at a lamp or home improvement store where you can plug in your lamp, see how the shade looks without the lamp on. The light coming through the shade can dramatically change the overall appearance and color of the shade.
The main characteristic of a lamp is that it’s functional, but it is also an important decorative accessory in any room. So, Nicole, have fun creating your own custom lamp. Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by email to: GMJinteriors@ gmail.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www. GMJinteriors.com.