Choosing a Lamp No Shade

While a bare bulb can look gorgeous in a certain context – draughtsmen’s offices, sewing machine sweatshops and school classrooms come to mind – it can also be distracting, particularly in a reading room where the light is meant to focus on text. Lampshades not only soften the brightness and direct it where you want it, they also protect your eyes from the glare of the bulb.

The shape and size of the lampshade is a key factor in how it looks on your table or nightstand. It should be proportional to the base – too small and it can look dinky, too big and it may overwhelm its surface. For most tables, the ideal height of a lamp shade is about three times the width of the base, but it’s important to remember that a shade that’s too tall can be a safety hazard since it will put your head at an uncomfortable angle when you’re sitting in a chair or reclining on a bed.

You’ll find shades in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so there’s one out there to suit your style and match the mood of any room. Opaque options such as silk and thick parchment are great for directing light in defined up-and-down beams, while translucent options like cotton, linen and paper allow light to spread more broadly. You can further customize your lampshade with details such as embroidery, decoupage and paint that turn it from accessory to show-stopping focal point.

If you choose to go with a harp-free base, it’s best to keep the shade no larger than two inches above the widest part of the base. You can then add a harp or use an adapter to fit your new shade, but be careful not to exceed the maximum diameter of the harp as this could result in a light that’s too heavy for its stand.

A well-chosen shade can elevate an otherwise ordinary lamp, so have fun mixing and matching styles and colors if your budget allows it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many variations are available on the market, and a little experimentation can reveal unexpected combinations that work wonderfully together.

A lamp with a simple, unadorned shade is perfect for highlighting a more ornate lamp base, while an elaborate base and plain shade creates a cohesive effect. You don’t have to stick with matching lamps in a room either; contrasting a patterned lamp with a solid-colored shade can look just as stylish and interesting, especially when other decor features, such as artwork or a well dressed window, lend context to the pairing.