Beaded lamp shades are not for everyone but if you are into beads then they will be certainly something that you will be interested in. Beads can look fantastic as they dangle from the shade and catch the light – about the quality of light shimmering through a fringe of translucent beads. You will find that there are all sorts of different styles including those with chain beads scattered from the rim and multicoloured beads for a bright and colourful look.
Below you will find some advice on how to choose a beaded lamp shade and what issues you need to consider.
Beaded lamp shades can be art. When scrutinizing a lamp shade, it is important that all the beads are the same size and of high quality. They should also be colorfast and lightfast to avoid the beads fading overtime. The best way to test whether a bead will fade is to place one in direct sunlight for a day or two then compare it to one you have stored away. If the bead has faded in comparison to the stored one then you should return the lamp shade.
The best beads for lamps are glass or crystal, and should be transparent or at least, translucent. While plastic is cheaper, they are of a lesser quality then glass or crystal. The beads should also be able to handle the heat that radiates from the lamp’s bulb without melting or splitting.
The look of a beaded lamp really comes down to personal choice. Don’t forget to have the lamp match the décor of the room in which it will be situated. The most common styles of beaded lamp shades include cemented, tiger tail, woven, peyote stitch, art deco, butterfly and Turkish.
Where to Buy
You will find beaded lamp shades at your local lighting store or online. Antique lamp shades can be found at an antique store or from the many larger websites online which specialise in hard to find or second-hand items. If you don’t know much about these types of shades then it may be worthwhile for you to purchase a book that is specially about the topic. Such book at not always easy to find but you can usually find a copy at your local library or on a second-hand book website.