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Lampshades

About Lampshades

A desk lamp is not just another light fixture in a room. Apart from the functional side of it as a source of diffused ambient light, they are also a decorative element. But the showiest part of a desk lamp is not the bulb or even the base; it is the lampshade.

The decorations in your home can tell a lot about your personality. It can tell whether you are into antique, sci-fi, minimalism, or if you have a flair for arts. A table lamp and a lampshade are therefore things that can add personality to your home. Or to be more specific, they can reflect your personality. Fortunately, lampshades are one of the best ways to do this because of the wide range of choices and designs. But before you go shopping for them, read this article to know more. Having a better understanding of various aspects of them can help you make better purchase decisions when you shop.

Different types of lamp shades for interior decoration

A lampshade serves more than one purpose. The essential purpose of it is to stop glare from a table lamp and to provide a soft and diffused light. However, lampshades also serve as a decorative element in the room. And although there are so many different kinds of lampshades, the major difference lies in the material that they use. The material can dictate everything from the style of the shade to its price and durability. Here is a list of the four most common types of materials that are found in lampshades.

Barkcloth table lamp shade

These lampshades are for those people who prioritise both sustainability and design. If you think about it, barkcloth is one of the oldest types of fabrics. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t look any good. In fact, this cloth will look like animal leather at first sight. It is pretty durable, as well. Every tree bark will have a unique texture and pattern that is different from any other bark. So, no two bark cloths are identical. So, if you want a lampshade that is not like the mass-produced ones that look the same to one another, your best option is a barkcloth lamp shade. But these are a bit expensive because of all the work that is involved in the making.

Linen lamp shades

These shades offer unlimited possibilities for customisation and intricate detailing. Linen is a pretty common type of fabric. But the detailing that goes into linen lamp shades can change the appearance of the lamp completely and give it a high-end luxury look. It is also possible to dye these lampshades in a variety of different ways. Some brands offer linen shades with a beautiful dip-dye effect. And if you are an artsy person, you can make your own design on these shades using fabric paints. When you are shopping for linen shades, the things to look for are the stitching pattern and the use of dyes in the fabric.

Belly braided ceiling lamp shades

Here is something if you fancy a handcrafted lampshade made of 100 per cent biodegradable material. Braided ceiling lamp shades make use of natural fibres from bamboo and other types of grass. Apart from the weave itself, there will be some solid pieces of wood to give the whole thing a structure. This type of lamp gives the light that comes out of it a warm glow. But one downside is that the brightness of the light will be substantially low as the material is inherently opaque. Also, the small holes in the shade might cause some fringing effect of light.

Velvet drum shades

A modern looking living room requires a lampshade with a futuristic design. The velvet itself is an atypical material for lampshades. Because they are thick and do not let the light pass through them, there aren’t many shades that use velvet. The drum shape of the shade and the velvet covering means the light only comes out through the bottom of the shade. This feature is ideal for ceiling lights that people use for reading. It can angle the beam towards the surface you want without lighting up the whole room. Such indoor lighting can create a dramatic atmosphere.

Tips on how to buy the right type of lampshade for your home decor

A table lamp with a lampshade can give the interiors a luxurious look. But to get it right, you have to make sure that you are getting the right type of shade that suits your interior and the lamp itself. If you are shopping for lampshades for the first time, finding the right one among thousands of different models can be a little overwhelming. But it gets easier if you know the right factors to consider when you shop. Here are some tips that you can follow when you are shopping for lampshades.

  • Size of the lampshade – The width of the lampshade should not be too wider than the base of the lamp. If the lampshade is too wide, not only will it look a bit awkward, but it will also affect the stability of the lamp. Also, such a shade will take up a lot of space and will get in your way when you are trying to do something at the table.
  • Style and design – The primary motif of using a lampshade is for the decoration. There are a couple of things that you have to look for when choosing the shade if you want to get the style right. You have to strike a balance between the design of the lamp base and the rest of the interior while selecting the shade.
  • Material – The material of the shade also matters. If it is a shade that uses natural material, it can do a lot to the appearance of the room. The cost of the shade will also depend mostly on the material. While materials like barkcloth and natural fibres are good choices if you are trying to achieve an antique style.
  • Cost and durability – Most people base their final purchase decision by looking at the price of the shade. It is possible to get a durable lampshade at affordable prices. But the challenge is finding a lampshade that is within your budget and also suits the style that you are looking for.

Lampshades are like any other fabric full of pores that can trap dust. And you will notice that your lampshade can catch a lot of dust within a week or two. To maintain the brand-new look of the lampshade, you have to regularly clean and dust them. Having a soft, dusting brush will make it easier for you to do the cleaning. You can look for them too when you are buying lampshades in Shops.ae. Also, don’t forget to check out other products from Home & Living.

Question & Answer

How are lampshades measured?

The measurements that you will need to select a shade of the right size are the top and bottom width of the shade and the height of the shade without the lamp. You can use a regular ruler to measure these as it doesn’t have to be really accurate. Because most of the shades have a slanting side, you have to make sure that you measure the vertical height of the shade and not the side length. Apart from the measurements of the shade itself, to compare the sizes of both. For this, you have to measure the base width of the lamp and its total height. When shopping, you can compare both when you are selecting a shade.

Can lampshades catch fire?

There is no simple answer to this question. Lampshades are made out of all sorts of materials: wood, linen, cotton, paper, plastic, and whatnot. Generally, none of these materials has fire-retardant properties. Because of this, the risk comes if they are sitting close to a bulb that generates a lot of heat. So, the table lamps that use an incandescent bulb and have a combustible material for the lampshade is a fire hazard. These days most table lamps use LED bulbs that do not heat up as much. This reduces the risk significantly. But there should still be some distance between the bulb and the shade to avoid it catching fire in case of a short circuit.

How do you clean a feather lampshade?

Getting dust off a feather lampshade can be tricky as there are millions of barbs that can trap dust. With some DIY tricks, you can clean this without ruining the lampshade. The easiest way is to use a hairdryer. Just point the hairdryer at the feathers and turn it on. Rotate the shade when you are blowing to dislodge the dust from the insides of the feathers. This step will do the job of cleaning all the loose dust. After that, you have to deal with more stubborn dust. For this, use a soft-bristled brush and run it gently through the feathers.

Where can I buy lamp shades?

Lampshades are very versatile and affordable interior decoration items. If you are looking to buy lamp shades online in Dubai, look no further as you are in the right place. You will find anything from cheap white lampshades to the best ceiling lamp shades to buy online on Shops.ae. All you have to do is to look for the models you love using our shopping search engine. This will help you compare the prices and features of different models and find out the best one among them.

There are more than 500 shops and brands offering lampshades here on Shops.ae. These include some of the popular brands like Elite d’Art, IKEA, VITA Copenhagen, Normann Copenhagen, Kid’s Concept, EGLO, Kartell, and Seletti.