Outdoor Lamp Shades

Vanessa Weber Interior Design Expert

Vanessa is a New York-based designer specializing in architectural lighting. Whether you are planning an event, want to illuminate your backyard retreat or simply need advice on what lamp to purchase for your bedroom, Vanessa will be more than happy to share her knowledge and expertise.

Updated 02/05/2021

If you have an outdoor lamp, it is important to protect that bulb with a shade. And this collection of outdoor lampshades leaves all its cards on the table. Nothing is left out of this extensive group. So many colors and styles, and they fit almost all lamps. For your outdoor lamp, it deserves the perfect shade. So find your shade in this collection and accent that lamp.

Buying Guide

Nothing is more natural than moving a lot of your activities, including cooking and relaxation outside for summer. However, even with the long summer evenings, sometimes added illumination is needed, and that is where outdoor lamp shades come in. Just as you might not appreciate a glaring, bare bulb indoors, it’s neither pleasant or beautiful outdoors. By adding a shade, you cut down on unpleasant glare and create an attractive feature for your porch, lawn or patio.

What are the most attractive types of outdoor lighting?

Stand Lamps for Your Patio

There is nothing quite like reading a book or enjoying a little music as the sun goes down. However, no one loves stumbling over garden equipment or children’s toys that have been left out. A standing pole lamp is easy to place where needed and can create an island of light in the night’s darkness when the sun goes down a little faster than you anticipate. A beautiful fabric or bamboo shade adds to the attraction, especially when the design goes along with your patio décor theme.

Coach Lights

Coach lights with their little black roofs and metal frames bring back memories of lanterns swung on the corners of ponderous conveyances drawn by horses, or of lanterns that can be hand carried. They are reasonably attractive when they house an ordinary bulb, but you can dress up your coach light lantern with a flickering flame LED bulb. You can have all of the beauty and mystique of a candle or gas light without the danger or the dim lighting.

Hanging Lamp Shades

Hanging lamps can be suspended on your patio or porch, and enhanced with a variety of lamp shade types. Woven, wicker balls make wonderful outdoor shades, as do frosted tulip covers for ordinary light bulbs. But perhaps one of the most attractive hanging shades is the puzzle lamp. Designed to be used with an LED light, the puzzle lamp shade can be assembled into 15 different possible shapes – you get to choose which one suits your mood. Made of lightweight polycarbonate plastic, it is weather resistant and can be used indoor or out.

How to move beyond the blue glow of bug zappers?

While some porches and patios are primarily lit by the blue glow of bug zappers, shades for outdoor lamps can help you move beyond decoration by necessity into unique attractiveness. When lamp lighting time rolls around, your porch, walk or drive can be stylishly well lit for guests or even for those who pass by your home. If you like that blue glow emitted by bug zappers, you can even get shades that will imitate the color.

What kind of lights go well with landscaping?

Outdoor lighting isn’t a new concept. Castles and fortresses often had torches or lanterns affixed to their entrance walls, and lighthouses predate electric or even gas lighting. Outdoor lighting can often imitate historical light designs, especially lights mounted along a drive or walk. LED lights are often a good choice for these because they are bright without requiring large energy consumption. Indeed, many can be powered with solar collectors. Creative shades and covers can enhance the design of your outdoor lighting.