Placement

• Your shade should always cover the socket of the lamp when looking at the lamp at eye level.
  
  

Size

• Measuring the lamp from the base to the bottom of the socket will give you approximate dimensions for the lampshade's overall height.
  
  

Harp

• Adjusting where the lampshade sits on the base is easy to do by changing the height of the harp. The harp is the u-shaped metal piece that attaches the shade to the base. These can be purchased at most lighting or hardware stores.
  
  

Tip

• Bring your lamp base with you when shopping for a shade. Trying on different sizes and shapes of shades is the best way to find the right height and proportion for your table lamp.
  
  

Warning

• Some lamp styles require shades that are much shorter than the base to socket ratio described above. One example of this is buffet lamps, which usually have a much taller base than shade.