Metal lampshades
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Frequently asked questions
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Carefully selected pieces, shipped from our warehouses. Our team advises you before you buy, so you choose with confidence.
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- Advice & showroom in Lyon, France
A metal lampshade directs light downward: it lights the table, the book or the worktop, and leaves the upper part of the room darker. Go for a wide, low model above a table, a compact format on a bedside lamp, and check the socket before anything else.
Opaque metal lets nothing through at the sides: that is what gives the crisp light, with no lateral glare, that you want above a dining table. To place these models among our full range of lighting, keep in mind the two common uses: the dining room pendant and the table lamp.
What light does a metal lampshade give?
Metal does not let light through: it sends it downward and out through the open sides of the shade. The room stays darker up high, while the table, worktop or book receive direct light. Perforated metal, by contrast, lets small points of light filter through.
Solid, openwork or perforated metal
An openwork metal lampshade opens up wide passages: the light fans out and draws patterns on the walls. Perforated metal lets through a shower of small points, more discreet. In both cases, the light directed downward stays weaker than under a solid metal shade, which keeps the output concentrated.
Conversely, a spherical steel diffuser, as on the Nomi white table lamp with spherical diffuser, softens the diffusion without scattering the output. For even more enveloping light, fabric lampshades let the material be crossed by the light.
Colour finishes: black, white, gold, silver
The finish changes the effect without changing the physics. A black metal lampshade absorbs light and marks the silhouette; a white or cream metal lampshade reflects more and fades into a pale wall; a gold or silver metal lampshade casts a warm or cool reflection inside the cone. On an enamelled finish, the colour is solid and the reflection of the metal disappears.
Which metal lampshade to choose for a dining room?
Above a table, a wide, low metal lampshade avoids dazzling the guests and concentrates the light on the plates. A conical shape suits a long table, a ball shape a round table. The Bremen conical woven rope shade, with its large diameter, illustrates this type of volume.
Round or ball shape above a table
A wide cone spreads the light in a pool and follows the axis of a rectangular table. A ball concentrates the output at the centre: it works well on a round table, where people sit all around. The choice comes down to the shape of the table more than the style of the fitting.
Proportions: the shade should cover the table
The Bremen diameter (50 cm) gives a concrete reference: the shade takes up a visible part of the table without overwhelming it. A shade narrower than half the table width leaves the edges in shadow. Also allow for the distance between the bottom of the shade and the tabletop, so as not to obstruct the guests' line of sight.
How do you fit a metal lampshade on a lamp or on the ceiling?
On a table lamp, you unscrew the socket, slide the shade onto the socket holder and tighten the retaining ring. On the ceiling, you cut the power, fix the socket on its bracket, place the shade and tighten the screw before restoring the power.
On a table lamp
Unplug the lamp, remove the bulb, unscrew the ring under the socket, fit the shade, screw back without forcing. The shade should stay stable when the lamp is tilted. If the fitting wobbles, the diameter of the socket and that of the ring do not match.
Hanging from the ceiling
Switch off the circuit breaker. Detach the socket from its bracket, slide the shade onto the rod, refit the socket and tighten. The weight must be carried by the bracket, never by the electrical cable. Check that the metal does not touch the bulb, and check the tightness before switching the power back on. For other fittings, see pendants, table lamps and floor lamps.
Which metal lampshade for a bedside lamp or a floor lamp?
For a bedside lamp, a compact metal lampshade frames the light toward the book without lighting the whole pillow. On a floor lamp, the opening of the shade should sit below the eye line of a seated person, so as not to dazzle. The diameter stays consistent with that of the base.
Bedside lamp: small format, framed light
A small round format, in E14, directs the output onto the pages. The Nomi, 50 cm high and 20 cm wide, takes up little space on a bedside table. If you are looking for ambient light instead, compare with a lampshade for the bedroom, and avoid children's rooms with the baby room, where diffuse light is preferred.
Floor lamp: height and consistency with the base
Sit down, look straight ahead: the bottom of the shade should stay below that line. A shade that is too high sends light into the eyes. A diameter close to that of the base keeps the whole visually stable, and the socket size must match the socket of the floor lamp.
How do you care for a metal lampshade and change its fabric?
A metal lampshade is dusted with a soft cloth or a soft-bristled brush, with no abrasive product on an enamelled finish. The fabric is glued or sewn onto its frame: on a metal lampshade there is nothing to reweave, you replace it or have it recovered.
Dusting metal and woven rope
Cut the power, let the bulb cool. Wipe the enamelled metal with a dry cloth; on the woven rope of the Bremen, brush gently in the direction of the weave. No water on the steel or the rope, no scraper on painted metal.
Changing the fabric: what is possible, what is not
On a fabric lampshade, you have to peel off cleanly, stretch a new cloth and glue it back onto the frame: a patient job. On a metal model, the question does not arise. If you are set on this material, see linen lampshades.
E14 or E27 socket: how do you choose a compatible metal lampshade?
The socket size is read on the lamp socket: E14 for small sockets, E27 for larger ones. A shade made for one will not screw onto the other. Before buying, also check the fixing method on the lamp, because a poorly held shade moves.
| Socket | Socket type | Common use | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| E14 | Small socket | Bedside lamp, compact table lamp | The diameter of the shade opening |
| E27 | Large socket | Dining room pendant, floor lamp | The fixing on the socket or on a bracket |
Check the socket before buying
Turn the lamp over, read the socket: E14 or E27. The Bremen is E27, the Nomi is E14. Also check whether the shade is fixed by a ring on the socket or by a screw bracket: that determines stability.
Which bulb under a metal lampshade
Closed metal retains heat: prefer an LED, like the 10 W of the Nomi, and respect the maximum wattage indicated on the socket. A bulb that is too powerful heats the metal and ages the finish. The models in this collection are IP20, so for dry indoor use only.
Metal, steel or woven rope: which materials for a lampshade?
Metal alone gives a clean line and directed light; steel brings a glossy finish that reflects light; woven rope, combined with metal, warms the effect and breaks the industrial look. All remain opaque lampshades, to be reserved for rooms where you want to direct the light.
Enamelled or raw metal
Enamel is baked onto the metal: smooth surface, solid colour, easy care. Raw metal keeps its nuances and needs a more careful touch when cleaning. Both direct the light in the same way.
Pairing with a metal cabinet
Two metals coexist when they do not compete: pick up the tone of the furniture on the shade, or go for a clear contrast between dark and light. Light directed downward avoids lighting up the reflections of the cabinet. On the colour side, black finishes match raw steel, white versions lighten a dark piece of furniture.
Which style to pair with a metal lampshade?
A metal lampshade goes well with a modern or contemporary interior, where its simple line plays the main role. In a Nordic style, a light colour and a round shape soften the whole. The pairing comes down to the tone of the metal and the neighbouring furniture, wood or metal.
| Room or use | Suitable shape | Socket to check | What matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining room, above the table | Round, conical or ball | E27 on the original pendant | A large diameter to cover the table |
| Living room table lamp | Ball or round | E14 or E27 depending on the socket | The height of the shade relative to the seated eye line |
| Bedside lamp | Small round shape | E14 | Light directed downward for reading |
| Floor lamp | Large-diameter round | Depending on the socket of the base | Consistency with the diameter of the base |
Modern, contemporary or Nordic
Modern style plays with clean lines and crisp volumes; contemporary mixes materials, like the metal and steel of the Nomi; Nordic prefers light tones and soft shapes. To go further in the comparison, see lampshades in a modern style and models designed for the living room.
What the collection actually offers
Two models make up this selection, both in metal, IP20 and guaranteed for two years. The Bremen, conical in cream woven rope, is made for the dining room. The Nomi, white with a spherical diffuser, suits a living room or bedside table lamp.
Frequently asked questions
How do you hang a lampshade from the ceiling?
Cut the power, detach the socket from its bracket, slide the shade onto the rod, then refit the socket and tighten the retaining ring. Check that the shade does not touch the bulb and that its weight is carried by the bracket, never by the cable.
How do you fit a lampshade?
Unplug the lamp. Unscrew the ring located under the socket, place the shade on the socket, then screw back until it holds without play. A properly fitted lampshade stays stable when the lamp is tilted or moved.
How do you change the fabric of a lampshade?
A fabric lampshade is glued or sewn onto its frame: reweaving it means peeling off cleanly, stretching a new cloth and gluing it back. On a metal lampshade there is no fabric to change: you replace the shade or have it recovered.
Glass or metal lampshade for a bedside lamp, which to choose?
Glass lets light through at the sides, which lights the room more widely; metal directs it downward, which is better for reading without lighting the side of the bed. The choice therefore depends on the use: ambient light or reading light.
Lampshade for a floor lamp: how do you choose it?
Start from the height of the base: the opening of the shade should sit below the eye line when you are seated, so as not to dazzle. The diameter should stay consistent with that of the base, and the socket size must match the socket of the floor lamp.
How do you pair a metal lampshade with a metal cabinet?
Two metals in the same room work when they do not compete: pick up the tone of the cabinet on the shade, or play a clear contrast between a dark metal and a light metal. Light directed downward avoids lighting up the reflections of the cabinet.
Openwork or perforated metal lampshade: what is the difference?
An openwork lampshade lets light through wide openings, a perforated lampshade through small regular holes. In both cases the light is projected in patterns on the walls, but the light directed downward stays weaker than under a solid metal shade.
Enamelled metal lampshade: what does that change?
Enamel is a finishing layer baked onto the metal: it gives a smooth surface, easier to wipe than raw metal, and a solid colour that masks the reflection of the metal. It changes nothing about the way the shade directs the light.
One last point before you decide: measure the socket, check the diameter available above the furniture, and look at the height of the shade relative to your seated eye line. That threefold check is what avoids returns. Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service: you can take your time comparing our selection of lighting for the home and the lampshade guide before deciding between the Bremen and the Nomi.
