Home decorating can be a daunting task, but details such as the type of light fixtures can transform a living area into a warm and and elegant space. Here are a few tips on picking the perfect lampshade for your home.
Lampshades and light fixtures come in various materials, shapes and sizes. The best way to decide on a lampshade design is to determine the right shape for a room, according to interior designer Lauren Liess, House Beautiful reports. After that, choosing the size and material or fabric of the lampshade can follow.
The same report also lists the lampshade shapes to use for room designs or to achieve a certain look, following Liess' interior decorating advice. The classic bell-shaped "decorator" works on most kind of lamps and lends a graceful look to traditional spaces. Meanwhile, a drum-shaped lampshade can be used for both traditional and modern living spaces. This versatile lampshade shape has "clean lines" that can "help make a dated lamp seem now," Liess explained.
For smaller rooms, the best shape to use would be an oval lampshade. It lends an air of sophistication to a room, Liess stated. Another lampshade design you can try are pleated shades, which Liess described as "an old guard designers' staple." This type of lampshade provides a more feminine feel to a room.
People looking for a more modern home design with strong statement pieces can use square-shaped or rectangular lampshades. However, Liess said that these shades are best placed on square or rectangular lamps. For a contemporary and classic design, a tapered drum-shaped lampshade is a good home design option.
On the size of the lampshade, according to Liess, it should be "roughly two-fifths of the total height of the full lamp including the shade." For the material, fabrics can be very versatile, while paper shades provide a casual and relaxed mood. Lampshades made of glass offer a vintage look, and opaque white glass is perfect for bathrooms and kitchens.
Another home design tip is to incorporate the year's color theme in a room, including lampshades, The National reports. For 2016, Pantone's colors of the year include Serenity, which is a tranquil blue, and Rose Quartz, which is a soft pink color.
