Light Shades

Fitting a light shade to a ceiling pendant

Every light shade on this page is made for a ceiling pendant. The shade is the part you see. It fits onto a pendant set or a lamp holder, which does the electrical work, so choosing a shade comes down to looks and fit.

If a pendant already hangs from your ceiling, check that its lamp holder takes the bulb fitting named on the product page, and that its cord can carry the shade's weight. A ceiling with bare wires needs a pendant set as well, fitted by a qualified electrician. Unless the product page says otherwise, plan to supply your own cord set, lamp holder and bulb. Always switch off at the mains before you fit anything.

Choosing a pendant shade by material

Material decides where the light goes. A solid aluminium or steel shade sends a pool of light downwards, which suits a dining table, a kitchen island or a desk. Glass lets light pass through, so the shade glows and more of the room gets a share. With aluminium, steel, glass, polycarbonate and wood to choose from, you can match the material to the job.

Wood adds natural warmth to a room full of hard, shiny surfaces. Some shades are fabric, which softens the light and suits a bedroom or living room. A few shades carry crystal detail that catches the light when the bulb is on.

Scandinavian and modern light shades

Most of the light shades we stock have a Scandinavian look. The style favours simple shapes and a pared-back feel, which is why it sits as comfortably in a bedroom as in a busy kitchen. We stock modern shades too, with clean lines that suit a contemporary home. Several shades have an industrial edge that works with exposed brick and concrete floors.

In an open-plan space, repeat a material or finish from shade to shade, and the room will feel planned even if the shapes differ.

Colours and finishes for pendant shades

Colour and finish decide how a shade looks in daylight, with the bulb off. We stock light shades with white, black, brass and steel finishes. White keeps a room bright and fresh, black gives a crisp outline against a pale ceiling, brass brings a golden tone and steel a cooler, cleaner look.

Some shades come in copper, which warms up a cool-toned room. Several shades are grey, a soft and easy neutral. Several shades have a brushed finish, which tones down reflections and shows fewer fingerprints. A few shades come in pink, for a gentle touch of colour.

Sizing a pendant shade for the room

Measure before you order, because size decides how a shade lights the room as well as how it looks. The diameter on the product page tells you how much space the shade fills and how wide its light spreads. Over a dining table, aim for a shade clearly narrower than the tabletop, so the light gathers over the food. Over a long table or island, a row of matching shades lights more evenly than a single large one, and in a hallway a compact shade keeps the space open.

The height of the shade, added to the length of the cord, settles how low it hangs: leave a clear view across the table and comfortable headroom wherever people walk beneath it. A heavier shade needs a pendant set and ceiling fixing rated to carry it, so check the weight and any fitting notes on the product page.

The right bulb for your light shade

The bulb shapes the light as much as the shade does. Check the bulb fitting and maximum rating on the product page, buy a bulb that matches both, and never go over the rating. We suggest an LED bulb, which stays cooler than an old-style bulb inside a close-fitting shade.

Warm white feels relaxed in a living room or bedroom, while a cooler white suits a kitchen worktop or a desk. If the bulb will show below or through the shade, choose one that looks good lit, such as a globe or a decorative filament bulb. Over a table, a frosted bulb cuts glare for the people sitting beneath it. If you want to dim the light, make sure the bulb and switch are both dimmable.

Cleaning a pendant shade

Switch off at the mains and let the bulb cool before you clean a shade. A soft, dry cloth keeps aluminium, steel and wood free of dust; skip sprays and abrasive cleaners, which can dull or scratch a metal finish. Wipe glass with a barely damp cloth, dry it straight away to avoid streaks, and never let water reach the lamp holder.

If your shade is fabric, go over it with a lint roller or a soft brush. For the few shades with crystal detail, wipe the crystals gently and dry them by hand. If you take a shade down to clean it, refit it firmly so it hangs straight.