How To Select The Right Lampshade To Update Your Look

Here’s how to select the right lampshade to update your look. A new lampshade can give your room a quick, simple upgrade to both the lighting style and function, making it feel fresh.

That table lamp you’ve had for years, inherited or found at a garage sale may still look good, but chances are a new replacement lampshade can make it look even better!

Here we added a more modern drum shade in linen to the vintage lamp that our cousin gave us. The translucent shade provides ambient light in this part of our living room.

Select The Right Lamp Shade By Matching Your Décor Style

Lampshades can help define or enhance the style of a room. Whether you prefer a modern, traditional, or eclectic look, the right lampshade can tie your decorating together.

• Modern: Drum shaped shades in neutral colors work well in transitional and more modern rooms.
• Eclectic or Bohemian: Textured materials like woven fibers or printed patterns add character.
• Traditional: Bell shades in classic shapes and complementary colors work in more traditional rooms.

Add Color or Pattern

Lampshades can introduce color or pattern without overwhelming the room. A bold-colored shade can brighten a neutral room, while a patterned one adds interest to a plain space.

• Color: A bright shade like blue, green, or yellow can energize the room.
• Pattern: Geometric designs, stripes, or florals bring variety to a simple décor scheme.

A new shade in a different color or pattern is an easy way to refresh your room without making big changes. The one above is from Ballard Design.

Adjust the Lighting

The type of lampshade you choose also affects the light in the room. Different shades can create softer or more focused light, depending on the material and shape.

• Light Or Opaque Shades: White or light-colored shades allow more light to filter through, making the room feel brighter. They are good for task lighting
• Dark Shades: Black or deep-colored shades focus the light downward, creating a cozier atmosphere.

By switching out the lampshade, you can adjust how light is distributed in the room to match your needs.

The Importance Of Size and Proportion To The Height Of Your Lamp

The size of the lampshade should be in proportion to the shape of the lamp base. If it’s a replacement shade you can just measure the existing shade.

Or if you are buying from scratch, these are general guidelines but I always like to “eyeball” the scale:

• Shade Height: The height of the shade should be about two-thirds the height of the lamp base. So if a table lamp base is 24″ tall, a good height for the shade would be about 16″ from the top of the lamp to the socket base). You should not be able to see the light bulb.
• Width: The width of the shade should be wider than the base but not extend too far beyond the lamp. A general rule of thumb is that the width of the shade should be twice the widest part of the lamp base.

You probably know that you should have two to three lighting sources in a room to keep it balanced. That’s why when we were helping my brother move into a new home recently, I was determined to get the lighting right in his living room. But one of his lamps was missing a harp and shade, so using the measurement guide above and these sources below, we fixed the situation!

Lamp Harp And Finial Replacements

We found a good selection of harps at Lowe’s. Amazon also has a good assortment.

Lamp Shade Sources

• Wayfair has and extensive inventory of different types of lampshades. I like to read the reviews before buying.They have free shipping.
• I’ve taken lamp bases into Pottery Barn and Ballard Design to try them on, too.
• Target has some pretty lampshades…especially online. And they have clip-on shades if that is what you need.
• Cruel Mountain on Etsy can create custom fabric lampshades like the horizontal striped cotton ones on the bedside tables in our neutral guest room (below). You can purchase what’s in stock or even request a custom order.

Use Texture for Visual Interest

Choosing a textured shade is a simple way to introduce more interest without changing other elements of the room.

• Woven, Rattan or Jute Shades: These give a natural, casual feel.
• Pleated Fabric Shades: These add a subtle texture to a simple room.

That’s how to select the perfect lampshade to update your look. The right shade can change and refresh your interior design, improve the lighting, and create balance in the room.

You may also like Rechargeable Mood Lighting and Shop Our Beach Home for the lighting in our home.

Here is another good guide from Wayfair.

And there is more here with pretty light fixtures and wattage versus lumens: Why You Need Accent Lighting To Finish Your Room.