A little bit of research or a session with an interior decorator might surprise you with what role lighting can play in designing a room. And you’ll be enlightened about many things which one usually ignores while doing up a house or office premises. Besides brightening up the interiors, there are lights which will make your tiny room look large, help you save cost, match your upholstery, change your mood, highlight the interiors or become showpieces themselves. And of all the lighting accessories available in the market, lampshades make for an ideal pick.
While there are several creative, artistic and exclusive lampshades available in the market, one can choose a wall, ceiling or simply place it in a corner of the room.
The most popular lampshades are the ones in ceramic and stained glass. Other than that, we have wooden, crochet, coconut wood, glass, leather, paper, cloth and even appliqué lampshades.
“Most popular and innovative lampshades today are the glass lampshades, which are made out of stained glass. Many designs and shapes are available in these. Other than that the latest range is of ceramic lamps that come in various shapes and sizes such as bell, swirl pleated, scalloped fringe etc,” says Jagdip, a salesperson with Amit, one of the largest lifestyle stores in Cuttack.
Move around this shop and you find life-size chandelier lampshades, classy yet stylish. About chandeliers, he says, “Usually materials for chandelier lampshades include jacquard, chenille, velvet, paper, gingham etc. Very much in demand he says, these too come in every size.
Well, today lampshades are more than mere covers for lamps. They add to the decor of the room and are available not only in different shapes but in a variety of colours and sizes as well.
A sales person at Popular Interiors in Cuttack says “From wood to steel to glass we have lampshades in conventional and traditional designs. Besides that we have a variety of shades available in varied hues.” From bottle green to mauve to orange you can pick any colour and the latest with them is jute and leather shades, silk shades and wonderful paper shades.
While fabrics like linen, damasks, canvas, cotton can also be used in the making of shades, but what makes them alluring is, they come with adornments like pleating, rope trims and embroidery.
Says Preeti Kumar, a Bhubaneswar-based interior decorator, “Lights can make or mar a room. With people becoming more and more conscious about their home décor there are a variety of light accessories available in the market. But what are selling this season are the long lamps in contemporary designs.”