Lamp Shade Shapes
Once the use of
electric light became common place in households at the start of the 20th
century there has been a requirement of lampshades to mask the harsh effects of
the light and to add an element of class and design to home lighting.
There are a
number of classic lampshade design shapes and in this article we look at five classic
lampshade shapes and the different moods and lighting effects that each of the
shade shapes can help to create.
A well-chosen
lamp with the right bulb, shade and position can add that extra touch of class
and drama to a room.
Empire Lamp Shade
The Empire Lamp
Shade is the most common type of lamp shade and is designed with gently sloping
sides to the bottom so that the top is narrower than the bottom but within
stylishly proportion. Empire shades come
in a wide range of sizes, finishes and can be used for celling lamps or
standing lamps.
The empire style
fits well in Victorian styled rooms. It is mostly commonly used in table lamps
and the top diameter should be half the size of the bottom diameter.
Bell Lamp Shade
The design of the
bell lampshade is similar to that of the empire shade with an added touch of
1950’s glamour. The design has the narrow top and wide bottom of the empire but
has more flair in terms of a bell shaped wave at the end. They are popular for
table lamps and floor lamps.
Drum Lamp Shade
Drum lampshades
are flatter than both the bell and empire lampshade shapes. The have the shape
of a snare drum with the top and bottom of the shade the same size with a
thinner middle connecting the top and bottom.
Retro drum shades
are more open at the top with a steeper slope than the classic empire and bell
shapes. Drum lampshades work well on table lamps and on the ceiling of larger
rooms. Drum lamp shades are great because they can
diffuse light outward through the shade fabric, but they also reflect light
downward and upward where it can light up the ceiling.
Tube Lamp Shade
Tube lamp shades
tend to be the most common type of lampshade that you see in homes. They are
very similar to the drum shade, the opening at top and bottom are the same size,
however the central piece of the shade is much wider and longer.
They are commonly
used in bathrooms, hallways, landings and kitchens. Tube lampshades have been
in production since the early 1900’s but the design can be keep very contemporary with
modern materials and finishes.
Coolie
The coolie lampshade is sometime called the flare
lamphade. Coolie’s feature a sharp pitch between a narrow top and a much wider
opening at the bottom. A coolie lampshade works very well with certain table
lamps – especially end table lamps
It is very close in term of design to that of the
bell shade. However the coolie lampshade is shorter and squatter with a more
pronounced difference between the top and bottom of the shade.
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