About Lampshades
Lampshades do more than just shade the light from a lamp. A well-designed lamp shade can change the whole look of your room. Choosing the right lampshade is an important decorating choice for many different reasons. Does this Spark an idea?
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Function
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A lampshade has three major functions. First, it softens the light from a light bulb or other light source and reduces the glare. Second, a lampshade covers the lamp hardware for a better appearance. Third, it serves to focus or direct the light from a lamp in a desired direction.
History
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The earliest lampshades were used on public oil lamps in Milan, Italy. Each lamp contained a number of wicks and was fitted with a reflector above the flame to direct the light down toward the street, and one near the flame to direct the light laterally.
With the advent of gas lighting, lampshades took on a new role. Gas light was very white and hot and had to be filtered in order to prevent hurting the eyes. Generally, gas light was filtered by opal glass or fabric lampshades.
In 1879, both Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan independently developed incandescent filament light bulbs. The bright electric light was even brighter than gas light and required lampshades, which were often made of colored glass to diffuse and dim the light.
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Considerations
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When choosing a lampshade, there are a number of factors to consider. First, the shade should complement the style of the lamp base. In general, a square lamp base looks best with a square lamp. A tall lamp looks best with a cylindrical lampshade.
The purpose of the lamp should also be taken into consideration. A lamp that is meant to provide light for reading or work, for instance, should have a lampshade that directs the light to the work surface. A lamp which is chosen to provide ambient light should direct light upwards or outward.
You should also consider the position of the lamp in the room. A ceiling light requires a different style of light than a table lamp, and a floor lamp yet another style of lampshade.
Finally, the color scheme and room decor will help define the type and style of the lamp shade that you choose. There's an enormous variety of lampshades for all types of lamps. Choose one that suits the decor, time period and furniture style for your room.
Types
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There are a number of different types of lampshades, and numerous ways to categorize them. The most common type of lampshade is made of a wire frame covered with fabric or paper. The shape may be cylindrical, conical or square. Some wire frame lampshades are whimsically shaped or painted.
A style of lamp popular in the 1960s featured scenic painted lampshades that revolved around the light bulb, giving the illusion of movement.
Tiffany lampshades are made of stained glass. Antique Tiffany shades are often prized heirlooms, but there are some excellent reproductions available. Other glass lampshades may be made of colored glass or painted glass. Ceiling lamps often have opaque glass shades.
Warning
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It's very important to choose the right size lampshade. Light bulbs emit a lot of heat. A paper or fabric lampshade that is too close to the light bulb can become a fire hazard. Likewise, cylindrical lampshades should always have enough clearance and venting to allow heat to escape. Never cover the top of a lampshade with a scarf or other fabric, as this can cause a fire.
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Resources
- Photo Credit juliaf@stock.xchang
