Every Type of Lamp Shade, Explained

While a lamp shades' primary purpose is to provide shade from harsh light, they also personalise your space. A lamp shade can be updated to compliment new decor, a change in season or a shift in mood. Though most lamps come with one shade included, there are many different types of lamp shades you can add and play around with. Follow our guide to find the best type of lamp shade for you.

Overview:

Things to Consider
Types of Lamp Shades
Mix 'n' Match Lamp Bases and Shades
Types of Lamp Fitters

Things to Consider

Shape: When choosing a lamp shade, we recommend picking one that mimics the shape of your lamp’s base. Keep it traditional with a bell shade or empire shade, or switch things up with a more modern option like oval or rectangular.

Colour: Choose a lamp shade with a pop of colour or an eccentric pattern to create a strong focal point in any room. Opt for a soft, neutral shade for a more muted approach.

Material: There are a plethora of materials your lamp shade can be made out of. Be sure that the material you choose is translucent enough that light still shines through. Some popular options include linen, paper and silk.

Types of Lamp Shades

Empire: The empire lamp shade is the standard look for a lamp shade. Light is spread downward through the wide brim of this classic cone shape.

Bell: This elegant skirt-shaped cone has a wide brim at the bottom of its curved sides. This shade is typically used for traditional and classic decor.

Drum: A drum shade has a wide cylindrical shape with tall sides and wide rims of equal size, allowing light to flow upward and downward equally.

Novelty: Novelty lamp shades come in a variety of unique shapes, sizes and designs. They're eccentric in nature and add something unique to everyday home decor.

Rectangular & Square: Both of these shades are popular in modern spaces. Rectangular shades have two sides that are longer than the others, whereas all the sides of a square shade are the same.

Bowl: An adaptation of the empire, bowl-shaped shades resemble a wide basin with light distributed downward.

Mix 'n' Match Lamp Bases and Shades

Mixing and matching your lamp bases with different shades allows you to create a personalised design for your space. When matching a shade with a lamp base, it's important to consider the type of lamp shade fitter. The fitter is the part of the shade that attaches directly to the lightbulb. In most cases, the type of fitter is not interchangeable, so be sure to match the shade attachment to a compatible lamp base.

Types of Lamp Fitters

There are three types of lamp fitters: spider, clip-on, and Uno.

Spider: This common option has three prongs that meet at the centre of the shade. This centre point is where the fitter attaches to the top of a harp, a metal U-shaped wiring that protects the actual lightbulb. The harp is not always included with a spider fitter lamp shade.

Clip-On: This fitter clips directly onto the lightbulb like a clamp. Since clip-on fitters are directly touching the lightbulb, it’s safest to only use these lamp shades with a low-wattage bulb.

UNO: While there are two variations of the UNO fitter, the more common type rests directly atop the bulb socket where the bulb slips through the centre ring. The alternate version has a centre ring toward the top of the shade where the bulb is threaded through from its bottom. These are typically found in older lamps.

For more lighting ideas and inspiration, read our in-depth guide to types of lamps, as well as our handy lightbulb buying guide.