As the name suggests, a "lamp" shade is usually used with a lamp, such as a table lamp or floor lamp. But lamp shades are useful for other types of lighting. They don't have to be used with table lamps and floor lamps, they can also be used with light fixtures.

A light fixture is often overhead or attached to a wall. It can be in the line of sight when looking up from below, and harsh glare from the bulb must be avoided. A lamp shade might be used in the design of the light fixture so that it shields your eyes from harsh direct light, helping to diffuse and reflect the light more indirectly.

Lamp shades are used in the design of light fixtures to produce popular and often modern looking fixtures. The drum pendant is particularly popular, and mini lamp shades have been used with chandeliers for many years. Lamp shades for light fixtures offer a pleasant balance between the hardware of the fixture and the softer materials and textures of the shade.

Chandelier lamp shades

A chandelier is a large light fixture, which hangs from the ceiling. It features a main stem or trunk which comes down, and then several arms reach out from the central column. At the end of each arm is a light bulb.

Of course, there are many chandelier and island light designs which challenge the norms, especially modern chandeliers. But in general it has been a tradition to use small chandelier lamp shades with a chandelier to shield each of the bulbs individually.

A more traditional chandelier look might feature candelabra bulbs with flame-like shapes, where the bulbs are exposed and bare. It can look elegant, but also can produce glare from the bright lights. An increasing trend is to wrap each of the bulbs in a small lamp shade.

Drum pendant shades

A pendant light is a light fixture which hangs from the ceiling, similar to a chandelier. The main difference is that the pendant doesn't usually feature a central column. Instead, either a single bulb will hang on its own, or multiple cords or chains may hang down, each with their own light on the end.

Some pendants may feature a small group of perhaps up to 3 light bulbs, maybe surrounded with a bowl-shaped shade, but generally lacks the elaborate arms of a chandelier.

A drum shade is a circular round shade with a cylindrical shape. When used as part of the design of a pendant light, the drum is often large and surrounds multiple bulbs. The shade tends to be shallower so that it is wider than tall, creating a modern contemporary streamlined look.

Inside, the drum will often feature up to 3 or more bulbs in an arrangement. The drum pendant looks modern and sophisticated. Sometimes a double drum is used, where the inside drum is a solid color and the outside may be constructed from a more transparent material or partly see-through design.

Swag pendant lamp shades

a plug-in swag pendant light with drum shade

While drum pendant lights are hardwired into the electrical supply, its also possible to hang a pendant light that's portable. The plug-in swag pendant light can be plugged into a regular electrical outlet.

Its cord and sometimes a chain proceeds up the wall, fastened to the ceiling with one or two hooks, as it swags or drapes across the ceiling. Then the pendant finally hangs down with the light on the end. This allows for great versatility since the swag pendant can easily be moved to another location or adjusted in height.

Just as with a regular drum pendant, swag pendants often feature drum shades for a contemporary and stylish look. It's also possible to find swag pendants with empire shades and other types as well. They work well over a table, a seating area or in the corner of a smaller room.

Swimg-arm wall lamps with shades

Some light fixtures attach to a wall, such as a wall sconce. Another type of wall light is the swing-arm wall light. This features an arm with an elbow joint, which allows the light to be swung out into different positions, or folded back closer to the wall. It also usually features a shoulder joint allowing it to be moved from side to side, such as to position it over a chair or desk.

At the end of the arm is a lamp shade, often in an empire or drum style. The swing arm wall light acts in some ways similar to a table or floor lamp, but in the form of a wall light fixture.

Pleated empire shades are also a popular look for a swing-arm light, as well as plug-in wall light options which can easily be plugged into an regular power socket. These are versatile, allowing the swing arm wall light to be moved to another location.

Candelabra tree lamps

Another hybrid fixture crosses a chandelier with a floor lamp. This tall floor lamp will have branches coming out similar to the arms of a chandelier, somewhat like a tree.

At the end of each branch or arm will be a light, surrounded by a mini chandelier shade. This tree-style floor lamp somewhat resembles a chandelier mounted on top of a floor lamp base.

A wide variety of chandelier lampshades can be used to decorate the lamp and coordinate it with the surroundings. Or even an assortment of different colored or styles or shapes of shade to create an unusual collage.

Flush mount ceiling lights

a flush mount ceiling light fixture with lamp shade

We're all tired of the old and ugly ceiling lights, you know the ones which are just like a round dome and hug close to the ceiling. Modern flush mounts overcome these flaws by using more decorative elements.

An increasingly popular design uses a drum-style lamp shade instead of the regular glass dome, and the lamp shade will likely include a diffuser on the bottom. This allows the bulb light to still be diffused, to minimize harsh glare from the bulbs, while supporting a more modern and sleek looking drum shade.

A variant also of the flush mount fixture is the semi-flush, which includes a small-to-moderate gap between the shade and the ceiling. A pleasant lamp shade design is then hung near to the ceiling and can support typically up to 3 light bulbs.

Bathroom Vanity Lights

In the bathroom there can be yet more discoveries of interesting lamp shades. A bath vanity light features up to several light bulbs in a strip, typically mounted above a large bathroom mirror. Each of the bulbs needs to be ideally shielded so that glare is reduced, especially when the bulbs are positioned in front of the face.

Lamp shades can be used on each of the bulbs to shade the bulbs and alter the appearance of the vanity light. There are also now specialized vanity light cover kits which feature a kind of "scoop"-like shade which is positioned in front of exposed bulbs to convert the light fixture into a more modern and soothing design.

The final word on lamp shades in lighting

As you can see, lamp shades are not just for lamps but have a wide range of applications. You can use lamp shades with pendant lights, chandeliers wall lights, bathroom lights and more.

You can also coordinate your light fixtures with your lamps to create a more cohesive theme for the room, where for example a drum pendant might use the same shade as a pair of table lamps. Look to match colors and materials as well as the shape of the shade.