How to Choose a Lampshade: The Ultimate Guide

What shape of lampshade? 

Before you get into colour, pattern, material or even size, it helps to identify what shape of lampshade will best suit your lamp base.

In general, what’s considered most aesthetically pleasing when it comes to matching lamps and shades? Kime tells us to look at the shape of the base, then find a shade with a similar contour. “Mirror the shape of the lamp in your lampshade,” he advises. “Bottle and urn-shaped lamps tend to work well with tapered shades, and square lamps with straight-sided shades. Column lamps go well with either.”

However, it all comes down to personal preference. If you’re less concerned with rules and formality, you could achieve an eclectic finish by mixing and matching a geometric lamp and curved lampshade, for instance. But bear in mind that if something doesn’t seem quite right visually, it might be because a cohesive look is more satisfying to the eye.

Here’s how to identify some of the most popular types of lampshade and make the best of them. 

Drum Lampshades 

• A drum shade is exactly what you’d expect – shaped like a drum, with vertical sides and a cylindrical profile. 

• Drum lampshades add a contemporary feel to a room and complement wider or rounder lamp bases, as well as floor lamps. 

Oval Lampshades 

• Oval shades look just like drum shades, but longer. 

• They’re best suited to traditional schemes. 

• Due to their narrow proportions, they’re a good match for wall lights and small column lamps, and are often used in bathrooms and hallways or windowsills. 

Empire Lampshades 

• An empire lampshade is a classic ‘frustum’ shaped shade, created by taking the top off a cone with the cut made parallel to the base. 

• This design means that more light is cast down than up. 

• Often used to complement classic interiors or floor lamps.

Cone Lampshades 

• Cone lampshades feature a tapered top and narrow base. 

• They work well paired with long or tall lamps, as the sizes even out. 

• Due to their narrow proportions, cone-shaped shades are a good choice if you’re trying to fit a lamp into a small space. 

Square Lampshades 

• Square lampshades are similar in style to empire shades but have a square base. 

• They can complement both traditional and modern homes. 

Rectangular Lampshades 

• Rectangular lampshades have straight sides, and are sometimes tapered.

• They work well with narrow lamps, particularly ones with a contemporary or geometric basel.  

How to choose the right size lampshade 

Size matters when it comes to lampshades. Too small and you have an unfortunate bottom-heavy situation; too big and you really are throwing shade. Kime’s advice is to “go for the largest shade that the space will allow”, even if your lamp is between lampshade sizes. This is because the larger the shade, the more light is distributed. It seems counterintuitive, but even in smaller rooms an oversized design will create the illusion of space. 

Grab your tape measure – below are some essential principles to follow when choosing the right lampshade size. 

What is the best size lampshade for a table lamp? 

As with all elements of a decorating scheme, getting the proportions right for a lamp/lampshade combination is vital. A table lamp shouldn’t be dwarfed by a giant shade or unbalanced by a small one.

To find the right size lampshade for a table lamp, start by measuring the height of the lamp base itself using a tape measure or ruler. When we say height, we mean from the bottom of the lamp base to the bottom of the rod – the rod and bulb holder shouldn’t be included in this measurement.

Then apply the golden rule for table lamp shades

1. The width of the lampshade should be equal to the height of the lamp base. 

2. The height of the lampshade should be two thirds of the height of the lamp base. 

3. The lampshade should be wider than the widest part of the lamp base.

If the dimensions of your lamp are between two lampshade sizes, choose the larger of the two – it will look better proportionally, and will distribute more light. 

What size lampshade is best for a floor lamp? 

As floor lamp designs are often tall and narrow, they work well with drum, empire, rectangular or square lampshades. When calculating what size to get, the maths is marginally more complicated than the measurements used to determine a table lamp pairing. 

To work out what lampshade size you need for your floor lamp:  

Measure the height of the lamp base – from the bottom all the way to the top of the bulb rod. 

Divide by four. This will give you an approximate height for the shade itself. 

Don’t forget to take into account how much room you have around your floor lamp shade, as this will also determine the width of the design. Remember, you can always go a size down if the size you’ve calculated makes the space feel tight, or it looks too close to other pieces of furniture. Trust your eye! 

How high (or low) should my lampshade sit? 

The height at which a lampshade sits on a lamp base can totally alter its visual effect. As a general rule, the perfect sized lampshade hides the fittings underneath without encroaching on the lamp base itself. Put simply, the shade shouldn’t take away from the design of the base. 

What about the width of the lampshade – does that matter? 

As we touched on with floor lamps, while the height of a lampshade is impacted by the design of the base, its width is often determined by the size of your space, and the location of the lamp itself within it. Consider where you’ll be positioning your lamp in the room – will there be plenty of space around it, or will it be in close proximity to a wall or piece of furniture, or placed near a well-used route through the room? If space is limited, it makes sense to choose a lamp base with a narrow profile and pair it with an equally narrow shade – that way it’s less likely to get knocked or damaged. 

Choosing the right lampshade material

Once you’ve selected your lampshade shape and size, it’s time to think about the material or fabric your lampshade is made from. Most lampshades designs are made from linen, cotton or card, and if you’re likely to update your lampshades seasonally, a simple design crafted from one of these materials would be a good choice.

The best materials for drum shades, and indeed empire, pleated or rectangular shades, comes down to the kind of atmosphere you want to create in the room where the lamp will be placed. Here are some pointers on the effects each lampshade material could achieve. 

Card lampshades: a classic and versatile choice

Card lampshades will instantly lighten a room, making it feel more spacious.heir clean façade is particularly effective when crafted in a white hue.

Linen: an elegant and natural texture

To achieve a striking statement with a lamp, go for a black-out linen lampshade.A simple, block-coloured lampshade will always create a contemporary effect. For a softer look, opt for a lighter colour that will let the natural texture of the fabric glow.

Cotton: softness and subtle lighting

For traditional‘French cottage’ appeal, pleated cotton shades are ideal, as they lend a little whimsy to a more classic scheme. This lightweight fabric will let lots of light shine through.

Silk: luxurious elegance and light diffusion

For an opulent and timeless look, silk shades are the epitome of elegance and add an extra tactile layer to your home décor. The delicate fabric helps to scatter the light evenly, creating a soft and welcoming glow.

The style and material of the lamp base itself can also influence the fabric used for the lampshade. A base with a smooth finish might call for contrast – meaning a lampshade with lots of texture and detail – while pairing a lamp and lampshade with a similar feel will unify the two elements.

Choosing the best colour or pattern for a lampshade

Neutral or colourful? Plain or patterned? When choosing a lampshade finish, these are the questions many of us will ask. Each option has its pros and cons.

Plain lampshades

As well as complementing pretty much any decorating scheme, plain lampshades are great if you have a statement lamp and are worried about it being overshadowed by a showy shade. On the other hand, plain designs can also be used to create a unique focal point – especially if paired with stand-alone floor lamps or a patterned lamp base. For the latter, keep prints simple and pick a thread of colour that unites the lamp and shade designs.

Patterned lampshades

If you tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to using bold patterns in your home décor, now is your chance to experiment with a design you love using a patterned lampshade.

For simple lamp bases – such as the traditional column style – a patterned lampshade can draw attention to an otherwise subtle lamp. But don’t let the lampshade compete with your lamp base – in order to remain the focus, a show-stopping lamp base that features multiple colours or a lot of texture needs a more subdued lampshade.

“If you opt for a colourful patterned lampshade, ensure that the dominant colour is echoed somewhere else in the scheme, such as on cushions, throws, curtains or rugs,” adds Kime. Our handmade patterned card lampshades work well with lots of lamp designs, and many of the fabrics we use also feature on our cushions as well, making it easy to create a coordinated scheme.

Finally, keep in mind that pattern isn’t simply about colour; textured designs can create a more subtle effect that still makes a statement.

Choosing a lampshade colour

When it comes to colour, think about what you want to achieve with your lighting. If aesthetics are your sole concern, you have much more freedom to play with darker hues. However, if you’re creating a reading corner, where ambient light is a priority, go for a soft-coloured shade that will let more light filter through it.

While a natural-coloured lampshade looks good all year round and will work in any scheme, you can also switch the colour of your lampshade to reflect the time of year. During spring and summer, you could opt for pale, neutral hues, such as off-white and cream, then switch to darker colours when autumn arrives to achieve a warmer, more cocooning effect.

Neutrals are a safe choice if you’re undecided about what colour to choose, but if your lamp base features a number of hues, picking one and highlighting that with your lampshade can look really effective. 

How to fit a lampshade

Now that you’ve chosen your perfect lampshade, all that remains is to fit it. We’d recommend fitting your lampshade during the day and in a room with good natural light so you can see exactly what you’re doing, as the lamp will need to be turned off when you do this.

First, check the fitting of your new lampshade. Most of our lampshades either have a duplex fitting and require a shade carrier (to ensure stable use) or have a fixed fitting that comes with a converter ring, making the shade compatible with either an E14 or an E27 bulb holder.

Shade carriers: some lamp fittings require a shade carrier to be attached. To do this, unscrew the ring-shaped socket cap located at the top of your lamp base. Loop the smaller ring of your shade carrier over the neck of your lamp base, then screw the cap back in place to keep it secure. Once this is in place, you can screw in your chosen lightbulb.

Duplex fittings: these aren’t designed to be directly secured to the base, so simply rest the lampshade on top of the shade carrier.

Fixed fittings: If your lampshade has a fixed fitting, there’s no need for a shade carrier. Attach the shade directly to the base using the socket cap provided.

You can then screw in a bulb of your choice, switch on your lamp and enjoy the full effect of your perfectly chosen new lampshade.