The Easiest Way to Choose the Perfect Lampshade
If you’ve ever bought a lampshade for a specific base, there’s a good chance that when you put the two pieces together, they won’t work. Even experienced professionals have a hard time understanding this. This is because there are many factors that determine whether a lampshade and base will look like they belong together, or leftovers from a yard sale.
Here’s what you need to know about how to find the right size and shape for your base.
How to find the right lampshade
Of course, interior design comes down to your personal preference and making your home a place where you feel happy and comfortable, and that includes the lighting you choose for the room. But choosing an unconventional lampshade is one thing; choosing one that is so small that you can see the bulb and switch is another.
Finding the Right Size
To find the right lampshade, start by measuring the base and height of the lamp. Lampshades will look proportional to the lamp base if they:
- Twice as wide as lamp base
- One third of the total height of the lamp base
- At least half an inch wider than base on both sides
If a visual would help, check out this short video from Architectural Digest that walks you through the process.
And let’s say you can’t find lampshades with the exact dimensions you need, but stumble upon two that are pretty close. What to choose? The more, the usually safer.
How to find the right shape
Generally speaking, lampshades look best when they follow the shape of the base of the lamp – be it a cylinder, bell, square, oval, rectangle, or hexagon. When in doubt, round lampshades tend to fit most lamp bases. But, if the lamp is going to be in a hallway or a room without a lot of space, keep in mind that a square or rectangular lampshade can stand close to the wall and take up less space.