We spend a great deal of time getting the décor in our homes just the way we want it and chandeliers have come to play an important role in that home décor. But it's the chandelier lampshades that add the finishing touches to the fixture so choose well.
Just as there are thousands of different styles of chandeliers there are thousands of different lamp shades for those chandeliers. Whether you choose from an era that's long gone or from a modern trendy style your options are endless.
The first thing you need to decide is what the statement is you want to make and what type of atmosphere your room is to portray. Are you looking for a formal sophisticated look? A fun, relaxing room? A trendy chic feel? Once you know what you want to accomplish you'll be in a much better position to choose the right fixture.
Your lamp shades can be made of metal, fabric, or glass. Art glass has become very popular for shades. Bohemian, Murano, and Venetian glass provide a true work of art. Metal shades are usually brass or pewter but can be nickel or aluminum as well. Fabric shades come in all kinds of colors and patterns and can easily be changed.
There are many different companies that manufacturer lamp shades. Kalco, Maxim, Forte, Old World Designs, and Metropolitan, are 5 of the major manufacturers.
Kalco has a reputation for their design and quality iron craftsmanship and are considered a leader in the decorative lighting industry. They have thousands of lighting fixtures to choose from and they specialize in forged wrought iron available fixtures that are hand painted.
Kalco has a full line of chandelier shades as well as shades for other type of lighting and lamps. Their four best sellers are:
1. Grey Silk Chandelier Shade
This elongated shade is covered with an elegant grey silk and then trimmed with an accent grey. Inside liner is a cream color which accents the exterior color nicely. Very classy and perfect for that formal room.
2. Small Satin Taupe Shade
This is a dream shade! Delicate, finely detailed, small, and highly refined made from satin taupe and adorned with a beautiful amber bead fringe. Very Art Deco! Perfect for that romantic room.
3. Small Silk Bell Shade
This is an elegant silk shade that's dainty and feminine and would be perfect to add a little romance. Consider this shade for your bedroom or bath.
4. Large Purple Shade
Graceful, stylish, sophisticate, and all around perfect especially if you have the room to pull this one off. Purple with a beautiful beaded purple fringe and cone shape. It's a must see!
Maxim has been providing a diverse line of quality lighting fixtures for the past 35 years. They cater to the upper and middle class markets providing a product that's a step above the rest.
Maxim was founded by Jacob Sperling who began his company in his garage where he manufactured a unique but limited selection of light fixtures. Today they are still on the cutting edge providing a terrific selection of fixtures.
Maxim has a full line of chandeliers and their three best sellers are:
1. Vanilla Shade
This braded chandelier shade is beautifully detailed and not for the ordinary shade. Unique and classy.
2. Bamboo Slat Shade
Slatted bamboo this shade is designed for a medium to large fixture. It's the perfect choice for that country or rustic feel.
3. Java Swirl Shade
Ooh la la! These are gorgeous. Satin swirled glass in rich array of chocolate shades and bell shaped shades. The style of these shades make them flexible enough a variety of fixture styles and for many decors. They'll add a rich, warmth to the room!
Forte is a California company that's been in business since 1990. They are a wholesale distributor that creates their own designs and is quick to pick up on market trends offering over 1200 lighting products.
Forte has a full line of chandeliers and a limited line of shades. Their best seller is the:
1. White Chandelier Shade
This bell shaped shade with its opaque glass is the perfect choice for a Victorian chandelier or an olde world fixture. If you want to add a touch of elegance to a room just replace your current shades with these!
Metropolitan Lighting is all about design. It's about making a small room look large and a large room look cozy. It's about setting the atmosphere. Their professional designers will design and build lighting fixtures to meet your personal needs. Their best selling shade is:
1. Green Silk Shade
This exquisite miniature shade is made of green silk and accented with black beading. When backlit it glows a beautiful rich shade of gold. It clips onto the small candelabra bulbs. The perfect choice for a formal room.
If you don't find something you like from this group of makers, there are many other shade manufacturers to have a look at. Just a quick search will provide you with ample chandelier lampshades to choose from. So why not get busy shopping?
