There are two broad categories of lampshades – hardback lampshade and silk lampshades. For a discussion on Hardback lampshades, see our blog post, Hardback Lampshades, Where & When to Use Them. So, what is a silk or soft lampshade?

The name “silk shade” is a little bit of a misnomer because these shades are not necessarily made from a silk fabric.  Generally the term “silk shade” is used to refer to a shade whose liner is made from a fabric (often a silk fabric), while the outer fabric can be silk, satin, linen, even burlap (!), or a variety of other fabrics.

Each of these fabrics may be stretched or pleated.

A silk shade has top and bottom rings that are connected by side wires, or struts.  The placement and contour of the struts give the shade its shape and allow the material on the outside to follow the shape of the frame.  Because a silk shade is built on a frame, it is possible to achieve a wide variety of shapes including bells, scallops, rounded corners, v-notches, gallery bottoms – rectangles and diamond!

Silk lampshades can be washed by immersing them in warm, soapy water, then washing with a cloth or very soft brush, drying immediately and evenly.  While silk shades generally enjoy a fairly long life, in time, the constant heat generated by the bulb will begin to darken the shade and the lining may deteriorate.  These shades may be re-lined.  Because the manufacture of a silk shade is labor intensive, these shades tend to be more expensive than the hardback shades – though generally, they also enjoy a longer life.

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