A seriously good lampshade should have something about it even when the light is off…
Lampshades, in our view, should have a bit of substance about them. If they are to truly please the eye, they should please the fingertips too.
When a cotton is lovely and thick or a linen has a quality weave, you can somehow ‘feel’ it just by looking at it, and before you’ve even switched the light on. The same applies to silks with real depth and lustre, and to beautifully toothy and tactile papers and cards.
Pretty important this, because a lampshade occupies a lot of visual territory in a room as well as having a practical job to do; indeed, on a pendant the shade may effectively be the light. So it seems a shame to treat the quality of the lampshade material as an afterthought…
Fabric and light
It’s sometimes overlooked that a lampshade does not merely sit around a bulb looking decorative. Because the light has to pass through it, bounce off it or creep around its edges, the choice of material changes the light itself. A lampshade is unique amongst decorative objects in that it has a second personality after dark.
For instance, a pale linen might produce a warm, softly textured glow, with the weave becoming more pronounced when illuminated, while a denser or darker fabric allows less light through the sides and pushes more of it upwards and downwards, creating those lovely pools of illumination that make a room feel layered.
Pattern too changes according to light. Quite often, bold graphics may become softer when illuminated, or reveal details you hardly noticed before.
Thick and thin
There’s a tendency in interiors to associate refinement with thinness, and things that are finer, lighter, more delicate. Of course there’s a place for that, but sometimes what you want is a bit of heft.
There is a particular satisfaction in a lampshade made from really substantial, good quality material. It gives a sense of something that will last, that’s not in any way cheap or disposable.
And because lampshades aren’t enormous or enormously expensive objects, you can indulge in luxurious materials, colours and patterns that might feel like a major commitment elsewhere. For example, whereas a richly woven fabric on a sofa is a big move, on a lampshade it can be a delicious little hit of texture.
Texture and colour
Yet another reason to love substantial materials is that the quality of the fabric affects colour; it becomes more interesting.
If you take a red and put it on a flat surface, it’s just red. But put that same red across linen, silk or thick woven cotton, you will see variations, as threads catch the light differently and tiny shadows appear in the weave. The colour appearance will also change according to where you stand, and whether the lamp is switched on.
Having more going on like this is especially good if you prefer neutral colours: neutrals like cream, oatmeal, parchment and soft white are much more interesting on textured surfaces. But strong colours benefit too: texture can prevent a bold shade from feeling like a great solid block and give it depth instead.
The pleasure of living with lovely materials
A great pleasure of good materials is that you never really tire of them. Beautiful silks and linens are things you can appreciate afresh every day.
And lampshades specifically have a special advantage here, because they offer a double pleasure. During the day, you can enjoy them as objects in their own right: the colour, the texture, the weave, the way the material holds its shape. Then, when evening comes and you switch on the lamp, you get to enjoy them all over again, transformed by the light.
At Pooky, we spend an inordinate amount of time seeking out beautiful materials for exactly this reason. We think there's something rather wonderful about making an everyday object from something that gives you such lasting joy.
And after all, if you're going to have a lampshade in your life, you might as well have one that makes you want to reach out and stroke it.