The right rustic lamp shade could be the perfect addition to your favorite lamp, but, when ordering online, be sure it's the right size.  There are some pointers that are useful in measuring for lamp shades.  If you'd like to get the right lamp shade the for your decorating needs, here's how.  (Continue reading below...)

 

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The first thing you need to know is how shades for lamps are measured.  There are three basic measurements you'll need to use.  You need to know the height of the shade (measured vertically, not along a slant), the top diameter and the bottom diameter.  If your lamp already has a shade that fits well, you can simply measure it and buy one that matches or is close to those measurements.

 

The reason height should be measured vertically is to make sure you can cover the parts of your lamp you don't want exposed.  The vertical height of your shade should be enough to cover the bottom of the socket to the top of the harp (or shade mounting hardware).  This is the minimum height for any shade.  However, if you want to use a standard shade on a lamp that usually needs a custom one, shorter or taller harps are available for most lamps.

 

Once you have a rough idea of the correct size for your rustic lamp shade, take a look at a the list of shades your store is offering.  Get the one that's closest to your preferred size, and remember to take down its measurements.  Now there's a trick you should use to "try before you buy" and see if that's really the size you want.

 

Get some stiff paper or light cardboard, and create a flat version of the shade.  The lower edge of your cardboard will act as the bottom of the shade.  Measure up from it a distance equal to the height of the shade.  Mark that point, and draw a line parallel to the base for the shade's top edge.  Next you'll want to mark the top and bottom dimensions of the shade onto your pattern.  That'll give you the same slant as the rustic lamp shade you're thinking about buying.

 

Create a vertical center line between your two horizontals, like a capital letter I, and measure half the shade's top diameter to both the left and the right of this line.  Mark those points - they're going to be the top corners of the pattern.  Now do the same on the bottom edge, using the bottom diameter of your prospective lamp shade.  In most cases, you'll have something that looks like a trapezoid.  Some rustic shades are also cylindrical.

 

Just cut this pattern out and hold it in front of the lamp to see how the lamp shade you're thinking about ordering will look.  This is just a flat version of your lamp shade, but it'll tell you right away whether your shade is way too big or way too small.  that way you'll know you've picked the right rustic shade for your lamp.