Rawhide Lamp Shades For Rustic Lighting - How To Measure And
Choose The Right Size Lampshade
The right rawhide lamp shade can make a perfect lamp. But the
wrong size shade can make a beautiful lamp look out of balance.
And ordering the wrong size lampshade is inconvenient and
expensive. Make the right choice the first time.
Our specialty is rustic lighting and southwestern rawhide lamp
shades but the technique we use will work with any lamp shade,
rawhide or otherwise. Give it a try to help choose the right
shade for your lamp even before you order. Follow this simple
procedure to help make the right choice the first time.
First, we need to understand how lampshades are measured. You
will need three measurements, bottom diameter, top diameter and
height. The height of a shade should be measured straight up and
down vertically...not along the slant.
Measuring Tip #1: The reason we measure height up and down,
"vertically" is that the height measurement of you lamp from
bulb socket base to top of harp is probably the minimum vertical
height you will want to cover with your shade.
Measuring Tip #2: The height of your lamp can be adjusted with a
shorter or taller harp to be able to use a standard shade rather
than ordering a custom lampshade in many cases.
Now, here is the trick to ordering the right shade. You probably
have an idea of the approximate size, so simply consult a list
of rawhide lamp shades and select the one you are considering.
Each shade's measurements should be listed as described above.
Next, make a simple two-dimensional "flat" pattern the size of
the shade out of paper or cardboard. For example, use the lower
edge of the cardboard for the base line. Measure up the height
of the shade and draw a horizontal line parallel to the base
line which will represent the top edge of the shade. Now draw a
vertical line straight up and down from base line or to the top
edge line. If you imagine the base line, vertical line and top
edge line as the capital letter "I" you are on the right track.
The next step is to mark the top and bottom dimensions of the
shade on your pattern so that you get the correct slant for the
edge of the shade. From the center line measure and mark the top
diameter of the shade. If the top diameter is 5" then measure to
the left and right of the center line along the top edge line
2.5" on both sides and make a mark. Those points are the top
corners of your pattern. Repeat along the baseline using the
shade's bottom diameter. If it seems confusing, it's really not,
but very simple and quick. See our full color shade measuring
graphic for a visual aid.
Finally, cut out the pattern and have someone hold it in place
over the lamp, while you step back and look. Even though it is
flat, you will be able to get a feel for how the shade will look
on your lamp and order with confidence. It's not full proof but
it is a quick and easy way to make sure that you are on the
right track in your shade size selection. This simple idea has
helped our clients save a lot of aggravation and money over the
years and we trust it will benefit you too.