Shades Decide the Light, Not the Bulb

Bulbs are advertised and shades are chosen for looks, which is roughly backwards. A shade decides how much light escapes, in which direction, and whether the lamp is comfortable to sit next to.

Three properties of every shade

Material, opacity and geometry. Material controls colour tint. Opacity controls how much light comes through the side walls. Geometry controls the spread of the light leaving the top and bottom openings.

Direction: the top and bottom openings do the work

A drum shade with open ends sends most of its useful light up and down. A shade with a closed top throws everything downward. A diffuser at the bottom softens the pool of light on the table, which is why so many hospitality lamps use one.

Opacity and glare

A shade that transmits light through its walls cannot hide the bulb. If a customer can see the filament through the fabric from a seated position, the lamp will be described as glaring no matter how good the bulb is.

Colour tint changes the finished lamp

A cream linen shade over a 2700K bulb reads warmer than the bulb alone. A grey linen shade pulls it cooler. When a customer asks for a warm lamp, the shade is often the cheaper place to solve it.

Shipping and shape

Wide shades cost more to pack, and they are the part most likely to arrive dented. A shade with a slight taper is easier to protect than a wide cylinder of the same diameter, which is a packaging decision made at the design stage rather than the warehouse.