How To Fit A Lampshade To A Lamp

Most of the time when buying a lamp, you purchase one that has a shade fitted to the base. However, in some cases you will need to know how to select the right lampshade for a lamp. You may need a new shade to replace one that is damaged, or you may be putting together a shade and base that you have selected individually. There are also different kinds of fitters that attach the lampshade to the lamp base, and it is important to know which one is suitable for your lamp.

Coordinating your lamp and shade

Apart from being decorative, a lampshade conceals the hardware surrounding the light bulb and acts as a shield to reduce glare. A lampshade should just cover the lamp switch and should not touch the light bulb. Think about the size, shape, color, and style of the base when selecting a shade. The shade should look proportionate in size to the base. Match a square base with a square shade, and a round base with a round shade.

Also consider whether you wish to draw attention to the base or the shade – you don’t want to have the parts competing for attention if they are both highly decorative or equally bold in color, for example. A plain shade may complement an ornate lamp stand nicely.

Types of lamp fitters

A lampshade will almost always come with one of three types of fitters: spider, uno, and clip-on.

A spider fitter is the most common fitter that you will find in shades for floor lamps and table lamps. It fits on top of a harp with a metal loop that sits vertically to connect the spider fitter to the top of the lamp base. The harp and spider fitter are secured together with a finial. Changing the harp in your lampshade is one way of adjusting the height of your shade as it relates to the base. Harps vary in size from about 7 to 12 inches.

An uno fitter attaches the lampshade to the bulb socket without the use of a harp. One kind of uno fitter, called a slip uno fitter, sits beneath the light bulb and is held in place by the bulb. A threaded uno fitter, on the other hand, is made for a downward facing bulb and sits on top of the bulb, attached by a screw thread. An uno fitter is usually found in smaller shades for table and wall lamps.

A clip-on fitter secures the bulb to the shade by holding the bulb in a clip grasp. Clip-on fitters are designed mainly for candelabra bulbs which fit in chandelier candelabra shades.

It is important to select a lampshade that has the type of fitter that the lamp base is designed to accompany. This will avoid the disappointment of buying a beautiful shade only to find that it does not fit with your existing lamp base. For fail-proof shopping, bring your lamp base with you to the store so you can try out the fit. Then also consider accent colors in the room as well as other decorative wall art, likebutterflies metal wall art, that will complement the color and shape of the shades.