A lampshade can make or break a lamp. Interior designer Cathy Whitlock shows a variety of lampshade styles and offers tips for selecting just the right shade for your lamp. The vertical measurement of a well-proportioned lampshade should not exceed its diameter. When you're shopping for a lampshade, it's best to take the lamp along and try out shades. Standard lampshades are often pale cream, ivory or white (all good choices for overall lighting). But with so many choices available, why not try something new? A pale-yellow silk shade with smocked pleats is a pretty variation on the standard shade (figure A) and would lend an air of elegance to a formal living room or a romantic bedroom. Try a rustic wooden lampshade in a den or study or a romantic pleated-paper shade with a wallpaper border in a bedroom or a large bathroom (figure B). Other unique options include a scalloped-edge paper shade with painted stripes (figure C) and a leaf-stenciled shade trimmed in black (figure D). Accentuate the lines of a tall lamp with a deeply tapered shade. This kind of shade is especially pretty lined with gold foil, which produces more reflection. Give a room a romantic look by lining the lampshade with pale-pink or pale-peach paper to soften and diffuse the light. Or use a soft-pink lightbulb for a similar effect. Small marbleized or hand-painted chandelier shades are charming when used to top a small lamp or a candlestick. Make your own with marbleized paper from an art-supply store.
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