Adding a lamp shade to your lighting outside won't just reduce unwanted glare from the bare light bulb, but also enhance your garden's overall appeal. Much like indoor shades, outdoor lamp shades can bring character to the setting and serve as an attractive accent. That being said, their main purpose is to direct and filter the light from the bulb so that your eyes are protected from the bright glare. So, whether you're looking for a stylish patio addition or a functional backyard accessory, you can have them both with a weatherproof lamp shade.
Lamp shades can be found in a multitude of materials such as fabric, plastic, glass parchment, and paper. However, if you plan on putting up your lamp shade out in your patio or yard, it's better to pick a material that's designed to withstand direct sunlight, rain, snow, and other weather conditions.
Whether you have a floor lamp, a hanging lamp, a wall-mounted fixture, or a table lamp, you can choose between a wide variety of lamp shade designs for your type of outdoor lighting. Likewise, there are plenty of styles and shapes available for different home aesthetics. Bell shades are commonly found in traditional homes whereas drum shades complement contemporary, transitional, and modern decors best. Empire, rectangle, cylinder, and tapered drum shades are also ideal choices for outdoor spaces with contemporary and modern designs. If you're looking for a timeless shade that suits all kinds of home styles, a square shade is your best bet. Plus, square shades can be placed against a wall which is useful for those with limited space.
In addition to selecting the right lamp shade material and style, you'll need to consider the type of fitter your lighting uses to secure the shade. The most common attachment types are spider fittings, which sit on top of the harp. A finial is used to attach the spider fitter to the lamp. Uno fittings are mainly for smaller lamps and don't require any harps since they fasten to the lamp socket instead. Lastly, clip-on attachment types simply clip onto the light bulb. These are commonly used on smaller lamps as well.
