Questions to ask yourself when designing a lampshade with fringe

Since the Victorian era, lampshades have been essential for softening and diffusing indoor lighting, and like many Victorian homewares, they also became an artform in themselves. The Victorians were known for their ornate designs, favouring rich colours, opulent textures and ornate designs, and lampshades were no exception. 

Alongside ornate braids, fringe was the quintessential trim for giving a lampshade that extra pizazz. From beaded or tassel fringe to fine twisted silk strands, fringe has become the go-to for showstopping shades for over 100 years. 

Before moving onto the exact fringe type you want, you'll want to think about various elements you want your fringe to have, such as: 

Length: Do you want a dramatic waterfall of fringe, or just a short flutter to trim and highlight the edge of the shade? 

Density: Do you want the fringe to be thick, almost like a solid extension of the lampshade, or do you want to be able to see through the strands? If you want it to be very dense, you could think about layering up one or two different styles of fringe. The density will also affect the amount of light that comes through. 

Colour: Do you want very specific colour match or potentially wanting to dye the fringe? Or are you willing to be flexible depending on what's available? Certain styles of fringe are available in a huge shade range, whereas others are more specialist and less readily available. The colour choice, combined with the material and density will also affect if any light that is diffused through the fringe takes on a colour tone. 

Durability: Do you need the lampshade to be hard-wearing or withstand a lot of dust or moisture? Most lampshades aren't likely to be handled heavily on a daily basis, but it's important to be aware of how certain types of fringe react to certain environmental factors like humidity, friction, light exposure and cleaning. 

Cost: Are you on a budget? The cost of fringes can vary wildly, from basic low-cost, machine made, polyester cut fringes at one end, to one-of-a-kind hand-crafted glass beaded fringes at the other. 

Sheen/Finish: How do you want the light to interact with the fringe? Do you want a luxurious silk-like shine, or a heavier, more rustic feeling cotton? Do you want glass beads to reflect the light or fluffy pom poms to soften it?  

Era: Are you hoping to emulate the look of a certain era? How accurate are you hoping to be with your design choices?

Once you've established a rough idea of what you'd like, the fun really begins. Over the coming weeks, we’re launching our Ultimate Lampshade Fringing Series - a complete masterclass covering everything from the rich Victorian history of these designs, to the science of how fringe density alters the light in your room. We'll even dive into practical guides on topics like how to choose between materials like acetate, polyester, and rayon, and if it's possible to dye your fringe.

Bookmark this page, as we’ll be linking each deep-dive guide here as soon as they go live!