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When people think of lampshades, various things come into mind. Some associate a lamp shade with light, some relate it to beauty and aesthetics, and some think about the warm and inviting ambience it gives off. The assortment of things associated with lampshades roots from the fact that these furniture exhibit form and function at the same time.  

On the aspect of form, lampshades serve to beautify the surroundings, adding chic and elegance to the interior of our homes. On the other hand, they are also highly functional as these pieces of furniture give off light to make our everyday living much easier, allowing us to move around and do tasks with more conveniently.  

Today, a wide collection of lampshades abounds the market. Name it, they have it. From all sorts of shapes (square, oval, bell, empire, drum, round, rectangle) to all sorts of materials (parchment, fabric, paper, glass, leather, faux leather), there is a lampshade that will cater to your needs and be reflective of your personal taste.  

For example, if your style is contemporary, black leather lamp shades will suit your modern taste. Now, if you are more of a traditionalist, the classic pleated lampshade is ideal for you.  Finding the perfect shade for your lampAgain, the equilibrium between form and function comes into play when it comes to finding the perfect shade for your lamp. The shade for your lamp should not only enable it to function properly but also be aesthetically appealing.

When we talk about a shade’s functionality, we are referring to its ability to allow the lamp to perform well and give off the right kind of lighting you are looking for.

The three kinds of lighting include general or ambient lighting (overall illumination of the room), task lighting, and decorative lighting.  It is very important to make sure that the shade you choose can handle the wattage of the bulb you plan to use for the lamp. The higher the wattage, the bigger the shade needed. This does not only cover functionality but safety as well.  

For lampshades that you will use for reading, a bulb with at least 60 watts is needed. This means that your shade should have an opening that measures at least 4 inches at the top.  The size of the opening also depends on the material of the shade.

Those made of parchment or paper should have a big opening to be able to release the heat. To tell if the opening of your black parchment lampshade is enough, feel the surface and see to it that it is warm but not hot.  If you intend your lamp to be a source of ambient or task lighting, shades made of transparent material are the ones that will give off maximum light. But if you plan to use the lamp as an accent or for decorative lighting, it is all right to use opaque shades or those with dark prints on the surface.  

Moreover, general and task lighting requires broader shades to be able to provide sufficient illumination for the area.  It is also necessary for the bottom of the shade to be at shoulder height when a person is seated especially if it is going to be used for reading.

This will ensure that the lamp will cast enough light on the book but does not shed glare in your eyes.  Now at the other side of the spectrum is a lampshade’s form or physique.

Your lampshade can give off the most generous amount of light but if it screams ugly, you might as well just keep it hidden in the storeroom. On the other hand, a beautiful chandelier lampshade that works efficiently is truly worth keeping.  

It’s important to always remember that there is a fine line between stylish and outrageous, sophisticated and silly, unique and outlandish. Shape, style, color, size are some of the features that you have to consider in finding the shade with good aesthetic appeal.  

To determine the size of your shade, you should first decide on what location you want to put it. For example, if you intend the lamp to be placed on a low table, it can have a shorter shade.

Now if you plan to place it beside a couch, standing from the floor, a longer shade will be more suitable.  The overall theme of the room also has an influence on the physical attributes of the lamp.

As mentioned earlier, it should reflect the personality of the area you intend to put it in and should not clash with the design and colors of the room.  

Furthermore, it is necessary that you are able to fit the shade to the size and shape of the lamp base for three reasons: to give it a proportioned look, to prevent glare, and to hide the hardware that surrounds the bulb. The shape of the shape should also match that of the lamp base.

For a cylindrical base, a round or drum shade will look good while an angular base will need a square lamp shade.  There are thousands of online resources that will teach you how to find the right shade for your lamp. Although these will prove to be helpful in so many ways, at the end of the day, it is still your personal taste that should be your ultimate guide in choosing the style of your shade.

This way, you can be sure that you end up not only with a beautiful shade but also with one that suits and reflects your personality.  Aside from personal taste, the ability to weigh form and function carefully will be extremely helpful in your quest to find the perfect lampshade.

Make sure that you choose one that does not only have either beauty or efficiency but is excellent in both aspects so that you get the best of both worlds.
 

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