Large lampshades

About

Large lampshades have a rather useful talent for making a room feel finished. They bring scale, softness and a proper decorative presence to table lamps , floor lamps and, when the proportions are right, ceiling fittings too. A large lampshade can settle a sitting room corner, give a hallway console real confidence, or make a bedroom lamp feel less like an afterthought and more like part of the scheme. The trick is not simply choosing the biggest shade available, tempting though that can be. A large floor lampshade needs enough width to balance the base, while large lampshades for table lamps should feel generous without swallowing the lamp beneath. Shape matters as much as size: drum shades feel neat and contemporary, empire shapes bring a slightly softer outline, and square lampshades are rather good at adding structure. Large lampshades are especially good in rooms that need warmth after dark. In a sitting room they create low, flattering pools of light. In a bedroom they can make bedside or chest-of-drawers lamps feel properly considered. And in a dining room , a generous shade can add a little softness to the harder business of tables, chairs and glassware. Quite a lot of charm, from one larger-than-life shade.