Black Lamp Shades at KES

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Black Lamp Shades

Black shades in fabric and metal

A black shade gives a strong outline and sends light up and down rather than through the sides. This page holds Astro's black shades, in polycotton and in matt black steel. See all our lamp shades for white, putty, oyster and glass options.

Shapes and sizes

The range covers cones, tapered drums, rectangles and a semi drum, from the small 105mm Cone to the 320mm Semi Drum. The smaller shades suit wall lights and small lamp bases, and the larger ones suit table lamps.

Before you order

These are shades only, with no bulb or lamp base. Check the size against your base, and check that the fitting on the shade suits your light before you buy. If you are unsure, send us the details of your lamp and we can help.

Black Lamp Shades Recommendations & Buying Advice

Yes, less passes through the sides, so more of the light goes up and down. A black shade makes a pool of light on a table or wall and leaves the rest of the room softer. That is often the appeal. If you need general light from the lamp, choose a brighter bulb within the lamp's listed maximum, or a white shade instead.

The polycotton shades here have a softer look and suit traditional as well as modern lamps. The matt black steel versions, such as the Astro Cone 105 and Tapered Drum 155, have a sharper outline and suit modern and industrial rooms. Neither lets much light out through the side. Check the shape as well, as a cone and a drum throw light quite differently.

As a starting point, choose a shade roughly twice as wide as the base and tall enough to hide the bulb and fitting. The shades here run from 105mm to 320mm across, so the small sizes suit wall lights and small bases, and larger ones suit table lamps. Measure your base and hold a tape up where the shade would sit before you buy.

Check the fitting as well as the size, because a shade must suit the lampholder on your base or wall light. These are Astro shades, so check the product page for the fitting details, and for any fittings it names. Shades often do not fit every lamp. If you are unsure, send us the make and model of your lamp, or a photograph of the fitting.

Yes, especially on bedside lamps, because less light escapes sideways and the room stays calm. Use a warm white 2700K bulb and keep the output moderate for evening use. If you read in bed, make sure enough light falls onto the page, as a black shade directs it up and down. A tapered or cone shape gives you a wider pool of light below.

A warm white 2700K LED is the usual choice in a home. Black shades make the colour of the light stand out where it falls, so a cool white can look harsh on a wall or ceiling. Choose a bulb that stays within the lamp's maximum wattage and suits the lampholder. An LED is also a sensible choice because it runs cooler inside a smaller shade.

When the lamp is the main source of light in the room, or the room is already dark. A black shade directs light up and down and can make a dim corner feel darker. It also shows dust more than a pale fabric. Choose white or putty if you want an even glow through the shade, or a glass shade for wider light.