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How to Change a Lampshade

December 30, 2013 2 Comments

Have a new lampshade but are unsure of how to actually fit it onto your lamp? Here are two popular and easy ways to install your lampshade.

Traditional harp & finial

This popular way of fitting a lampshade to a lamp base involves a flexible 'harp' which slots into a 'saddle' installed at the base of the socket. The lampshade sits atop the harp and is secured by a decorative finial.

For the lampshade to sit properly on the lamp base, you must have the right sized harp. In general, use a harp that is 1"-2" shorter than the height of the lampshade - e.g. a lampshade 12" high should have a harp 10" or 11" high.

If your lamp already has a saddle:

Unplug your lamp at the electrical outlet
Remove the current shade and harp by unscrewing the finial, removing the shade, and squeezing the harp out of the saddle
Squeeze the new harp into the saddle
Add your new shade and screw on the finial to secure it.

If your lamp does not have a saddle, there are a few more steps involved:

Unplug your lamp at the electrical outlet
Remove the current shade and harp by unscrewing the finial, removing the shade, and squeezing the harp out of the saddle
Take apart the electrical socket to a point where the socket is detached from the cord
Thread the cord through the saddle
Put the socket back together
Squeeze the new harp into the saddle
Add your new shade and screw on the finial to secure it.

The I like that lamp shop has brass and nickel harp kits in various sizes.

BULB ADAPTER CLIP

This adapter clips on to your lamp's bulb, and allows you to then install your lampshade on top of the clip. Since it fits your lampshade to your lamp by base relative to the height of the bulb, so it suits most shade and lamp combinations.

These clips work with almost any 'spider' or 'washer' style lampshade. Clip the adapter over your light bulb, fit the shade over the top, and screw on the finial to secure it.

I Like That Lamp stocks regular lampshade clip adapters with cute unfinished wooden ball finials, which work with energy-efficient (CFL) bulbs and heavier shades.

A bulb clip may not be suitable if you have a relatively tall lampshade (i.e. more than 14" high). The lampshade will potentially fall too low on your lamp base.