Square Lamp Shades vs. Round Lamp Shades

Square lamp shades or round lamp shades can be a hard choice to make. When it comes to decoration, you want the lampshade to look as elegant as your lamp, but it also needs to go with the table it is sitting on. It is time to see what type of shade will look good where.

Round Lamp Shades or Square Lamp Shades

The first thing you will want to do is to check the type of lamp you want to put your shade on. Do you have a round lamp or a square lamp? You will want to determine the type of lamp base you are going to have. If you choose a round lamp shade, you may want to pick a round base. Square bases go best with square shades. Sometimes you can mix and match the lamp with the shade depending on the style of the base. Some bases, such as a candlestick lamp will go well with any kind of a shade.

Measuring your Lamp Bases

You should measure the base of your lamp. You want to be sure that you get the right size shade. You don’t want your lamp to be top heavy, but you don’t want it to look out of balance either. You will need to measure the base of the lamp and then multiply that by two. If you are measuring a round base, then you will measure it straight across. If it is a square base, measure the base diagonally. Your shade should be at least 1/2 inch wider than the widest part of the base.

Lighting

If the lamp is for show only, then you won’t need a lamp that illuminates the room. The more transparent the shade is the more light you will get. The material used will determine the amount of light that the shade will let come through. Round lampshades will let the light bend therefore allowing light into the room. Square lamp shades make it harder for the light to bend and therefore block more light.

Styles of Shades

Square lamp shades come in a variety of styles. They can be seen as something very plain or something very elegant. The square shades will come with a classic cut and can come with pleats. Many of the round shades come in many colors and styles as well. Round shades come with pleats, scallops, drum style and many colors and patterns to choose from.

So now that you have had a look at a couple of different types of lampshades, you can get an idea of what you want for you lamp. Round lampshades are the most popular, but there are some who like the square ones, as well. With the proper measurements and the right base, your lampshade is sure to provide you with the best lighting possible for your room. The lamp shade that you choose will enhance any lamp that you decided to use it on. The color and style of shade makes all the difference, whether it is a square lamp shade or a round one.