A lamp serves two purposes in your home. Its gives light that adds ambience to a room and makes the space immediately surrounding the lamp much more usable. The lamp also serves as a sculptural object that accentuates your decor even if it is not lit. Think of the colour as the bridge between form and function. Select a shade that shows your lamp foundation’s contour and sends mild to where it is needed.

Assess the distance from the foundation of lamp to the stem in case your lamp has one bulb socket. The stem is the portion of the lamp that sits immediately below the socket. Assess the distance between the base of this lamp as well as the socket cluster in case your lamp has a cluster of bulb sockets. Write down the measurement to bring with you when you shop for the colour.

Measure and write down the clearance your lamp comes with from furniture and walls so you can buy a shade that is suitable for the space.

Note the lamp harp’s style. The harp is the cable section that supports the shade. The lamp shade must be harmonious with the harp.

Determine what wattage bulb you will need for the lamp so you can buy a shade that stays a secure distance from the bulb. Supply 40- and 60-watt bulbs 2 inches of clearance and 150-watt lights 4 inches of clearance.

Sketch the form of your own lamp base. The shade should have a similar form.

Bring your measurements, notes and sketch when you shop for a colour. Choose a choice of shades that have shapes like complementary to the contour of the lamp and that are compatible with your lamp’s harp.

Gauge the underside diameters of the shades. The shade you select should have a bottom diameter that’s within 2 inches of the height of the lamp base.

Put the ruler along the slope of this shade to measure the distance between the base and top borders. This measurement should be within 1/2 inch of the height of this lamp’s stem.

Choose a shade that’s the appropriate size for the lamp that fits the space where you’ll use it which allows a secure distance between shade and wax.

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