What size lampshade for your lamp, and which bedside table lamp?

No standard dictates the proportions of a lamp. The rules below are practical guidelines from decorators and lampshade makers, named as such. Here, we call base the part without the lampshade, measured from the table to the socket. The dimensions of the lamps mentioned come from their title in the catalogue.

Lampshade size in relation to base

Two guidelines suffice in most cases. The diameter of the bottom of the lampshade is roughly equal to the height of the base: a 30 cm base calls for a 25 to 30 cm lampshade. The height of the lampshade is about two-thirds that of the base: 20 cm for a 30 cm base. Once fitted, the lampshade occupies roughly the upper third of the lamp and conceals the socket, whether you are standing or sitting.

Calculating lampshade dimensions

Measure three dimensions on the base: its height to the socket, its widest part, and the cap type (E27 or E14, shown on the product sheet or on the socket). Bottom diameter of the lampshade = height of the base, to within 10%. Height of the lampshade = two-thirds of the base. Finally, check that the lampshade extends beyond the widest part of the base by at least 2.5 cm on each side. Example: 40 cm base, 15 cm wide, lampshade 32 to 40 cm in diameter and 25 to 28 cm high.

Lampshade dimensions

A lampshade is described by three dimensions: top diameter, bottom diameter, height. A drum has two equal diameters; a conical lampshade has a smaller top than bottom. Catalogue titles often give only two dimensions, width then height: the Ebb & Flow Marl lampshade measures 35 x 30 cm, the HKliving silk fibre lampshade 32 cm in diameter. For a conical shade, it is the bottom diameter that matters in the proportion rule.

Lampshade size

Beyond a 45 cm base, keep a diameter slightly smaller than the height of the base, otherwise the lampshade overhangs the console table and obstructs movement. Conversely, a very slim and tall base accepts a narrow lampshade for a slender silhouette: the It's about RoMi Boston lamp combines an 18 x 15 cm lampshade with a total height of 44 cm, a reading lamp ratio rather than an ambient lamp one. Of seven lamps from the catalogue mentioned in this guide, the width, which is generally that of the lampshade, represents 40 to 80% of the total height, most often around 60% (HAY Canelé 24 x 37 cm, noo.ma Zam 23 x 39 cm, Cosin Paris Charlotte 18 x 30 cm).

How to choose a lampshade in relation to the base

Shapes echo one another: a bulbous or vase-shaped base calls for a drum or wide conical shade, a square base a square lampshade or straight drum, a slim base a narrow lampshade. The material creates contrast: shiny ceramic and matt linen, light wood and white cotton, brass and dark fabric. Place the lampshade on the base before choosing, or compare the dimensions on both product sheets. The models are in our lampshade collection.

Drum, conical, square, pleated

The drum, a straight cylinder, sends as much light upwards as downwards: it's the most contemporary shape and the easiest to match. The conical, wider at the bottom, concentrates light on the table and suits reading. The square and the rectangular complement a base with sharp angles and sit well against a wall. The pleated, in paper or fabric, softens the light and adds relief to the lampshade when off, like the pleated paper of Le Klint's Model 375.

The fixing

Most lamp lampshades are fixed by a ring that screws under the bulb holder: a ring for an E27 cap won't fit an E14 holder, and vice versa. Others rest on a spider or clip onto the bulb. Some lampshades are designed for a pendant light and not for a lamp: check the product sheet for the intended use and fixing before matching a base and a lampshade sold separately.

How to choose a lampshade

In order: size (according to the base), fixing (according to the bulb holder), shape (according to the base and use), material (according to the desired light), colour (according to the room). A lampshade chosen on colour alone ends up too small or impossible to fit. Bases sold separately are in the lamp base collection.

Which fabric for lampshades

linen filters the light and warms it; its texture remains visible, whether lit or unlit. It's the material used for the lampshades of the Yucca by Serax, the Boston by It's about RoMi and the Hashira by Audo. cotton gives a more uniform and brighter light (noo.ma Zam). silk and silk fibre add a slight sheen (HKliving). bouclé wool (Cosin Paris) makes a thick, soft lampshade that lets less light through. velvet lets almost nothing through: the light comes out from the top and bottom, for subdued ambience.

Paper, glass, metal, natural fibres

paper, rice paper or pleated paper, diffuses widely and stays lightweight (HAY Ava, Le Klint). opal glass and acrylic replace the lampshade with a rigid diffuser, easy to clean. metal is opaque: it directs all the light downwards, which suits desks and reading. rattan, raffia and bamboo let through dappled light, more decorative than functional.

The colour of the lampshade

A white or off-white lampshade lights the room; a dark lampshade, anthracite, black or brown, only lights the table and ceiling, and appears as a splash of colour when the lamp is off. For reading, stick to a light shade. The Danish publisher's lampshades are brought together in the Ferm Living lampshade collection.

Bedside lamp height

The standard practice is to position the bedside table level with the top of the mattress, give or take 5 cm, then choose the lamp according to use. For ambient lighting, a lamp of 30 to 40 cm is sufficient: you won't read by its light, it simply shouldn't show its bulb when you're lying down. For reading, aim for a lamp of 40 to 60 cm or an articulated lamp: sitting up against the headboard, the bottom of the lampshade should reach roughly shoulder height, and the light should fall on the page without glare.

The bedside lamp for reading

Three conditions: a light-coloured lampshade or an adjustable head, a 400 to 500 lumen bulb in warm light, and a source positioned slightly behind the shoulder, on the opposite side to the hand turning the pages. An articulated lamp such as Anglepoise's Original 1227 Mini (52 cm) directs the light precisely onto the page; a lamp with a light-coloured, fairly tall lampshade, such as Audo's Hashira RAW (49.5 cm, natural linen), diffuses sufficient light. An opaque or dark lampshade, attractive when off, provides poor lighting for reading.

Wall-mounted bedside lamp height

A wall-mounted bedside lamp, whether a wall light or reading light, should be fixed at 60 to 70 cm above the mattress, that is 110 to 130 cm from the floor for a bed height of 50 to 60 cm, directly above the bedside table. It frees up the table and suits narrow bedrooms. Installation requires an electrician, except for plug-in models. Bedside tables are in the bedside table collection.

Which bulb for a bedside lamp

A LED bulb in warm white, 2,700 K, gentle on the eyes before sleep. For ambience, 200 to 400 lumens; for reading, 400 to 500 lumens, roughly equivalent to an old 40 W incandescent bulb. If the lamp has a dimmer, choose a compatible bulb marked 'dimmable'. Always respect the maximum wattage and cap indicated on the lamp.

Bedside lamp bulb size

Size is read first by the cap: E27 and E14 are screw caps of 27 and 14 mm diameter, the latter fitting small lamps. Then comes the globe shape: a standard bulb or small sphere under a lampshade of 25 cm and above, a candle or mini-globe bulb under a small lampshade. The bulb must neither protrude below the bottom of the lampshade nor touch the fabric.

Opal or clear bulb

Under a fabric lampshade, an opal bulb avoids the hot spot that shows through linen or cotton. A clear filament bulb is kept for glass diffusers or lamps without a lampshade. Replacement bulbs are in the LED bulb collection.

A cordless lamp recharges and can be placed anywhere: on a bedside table with no nearby socket, on a shelf, on the terrace in summer. It is smaller than a mains-powered lamp, 20 to 25 cm for the catalogue models mentioned here (Louis Poulsen Panthella Portable V2 23 cm, Audo Hashira 23.5 cm, &tradition Setago 22 x 18 cm, Muuto Ease 21 x 13 cm), and provides ambient lighting rather than reading light. Check the product sheet for battery life, charging method and the presence of a dimmer: these are what determine everyday use. Our cordless lamp guide compares the models in detail.

At the bedside, a cordless lamp suits those who read little or already use an e-reader; for reading at length every evening, a mains-powered lamp of 40 cm and above remains more comfortable. All models are in the cordless lamp collection.

In the living room, the table lamp creates low pools of light that complement the pendant light. On a console table or a sideboard, choose a large lamp, 50 to 65 cm, such as the Serax Yucca 2 (61 cm) or the Louis Poulsen Panthella 250 (60 cm): it must remain visible from the sofa. Placed in pairs at both ends of a sideboard, two identical lamps structure the wall. On a side table at the end of the sofa, the bottom of the lampshade should be roughly at shoulder height of a seated person, for reading without seeing the bulb.

On a shelf or bookcase, a small lamp of 25 to 35 cm is sufficient; leave at least 10 cm between the top of the lampshade and the shelf above. Ceramic lamps, which also serve as decorative objects when switched off, are brought together in the ceramic lamp collection.

HAY (Denmark) covers the bedside with the Canelé with fabric lampshade (24 x 37 cm), the Matin (small version 30 x 38 cm) and the Ava in paper. See HAY lamps.

Louis Poulsen (Denmark) publishes the Panthella by Verner Panton, as a 60 cm table lamp and in a 23 cm cordless version. See the brand Louis Poulsen.

&tradition (Denmark) reissues the Flowerpot VP3 (50 x 23 cm) and offers the Setago portable lamp. See the brand &tradition.

Le Klint (Denmark) is known for its pleated lampshades: Model 375 in pleated paper, Bee Hive in oak. See the brand Le Klint.

Serax (Belgium) combines ceramic and linen lampshades in the Yucca series, in 61 and 82 cm. See the brand Serax.

Ferm Living (Denmark) sells its bases separately, such as the Hebe in ceramic, and its lampshades, to compose your lamp. See the brand Ferm Living.

A 44 cm ceramic base to dress up

The Hebe by Ferm Living measures 14 × 44.3 cm. Guideline: a lampshade 35 to 42 cm in diameter and about 30 cm high, which extends well beyond the 14 cm base. The Marl lampshade by Ebb & Flow, 35 × 30 cm, fits this range; in anthracite, it will direct light towards the console and ceiling. Check on both product pages that the lampshade fitting matches the base socket.

Two bedside lamps for a couple who read

Bedside tables at 55 cm, level with the mattress. Two lamps 44 to 50 cm tall with clear lampshades, such as the Boston by It's about RoMi (44 cm) or the Hashira RAW by Audo (49.5 cm), with LED bulbs of 400 to 500 lumens at 2,700 K. If one reads later than the other, an adjustable lamp on their side limits light on the neighbouring pillow. All lamps are in the table lamp collection.

When the lamp is off and cold, dust the lampshade weekly with a soft brush or the vacuum cleaner fitted with its brush attachment, on low power, from top to bottom. A stain on linen or cotton can be dabbed with a slightly damp cloth, without rubbing or wetting the backing. Paper cannot withstand water or rubbing: a feather duster is sufficient. Glass and acrylic can be cleaned with a soft cloth and soapy water. A lampshade yellowed by the heat of an old bulb should be replaced: it's an opportunity to switch to LED, which heats the fabric much less. Replacement lampshades are in the lampshade collection.

What The Cool Republic's orders show between January and September 2026 in the Table lamps collection. Shares are counted by number of orders, not quantities, so that a large purchase does not weigh more than another.

What is ordered most in 2026

• Colours: white (23%), orange (13%), black (12%).
• Materials: plastic - Innovative materials (29%), steel (19%), ceramic (17%).

The most requested brands

Share of orders: HAY (15%), The Cool Republic (11%), Artemide (11%), Seletti (10%).

The most ordered models since January

• Chocolate ceramic lamp with hemp trim lampshade Luzia, The Cool Republic
• Black design lamp 16.5x13x178cm Bic, Seletti
• Orange plastic bedside table lamp 22.3cm Nessino, Artemide
• Emerald green desk lamp Apex, HAY
• Orange plastic bedside table lamp 23cm KD28, Kartell

• Choosing the lampshade for its colour without measuring the base: a 20 cm lampshade on a 40 cm base looks tiny; aim for a diameter close to the height of the base.
• Taking a lampshade that's too short: the socket and bulb are visible as soon as you sit down; its height should approach two thirds of the base.
• Pairing a base and lampshade sold separately without checking the fitting: an E27 ring won't fit on an E14 socket.
• Reading in bed under a small 30 cm lamp: the light falls on the pillow, not on the page; aim for 40 to 60 cm or an adjustable lamp.
• Putting a dark or velvet lampshade on a reader's bedside table: it lights the table and ceiling, not the page.
• Putting a clear filament bulb under a fabric lampshade: the hot spot shows through; take an opal bulb.