Lighting Questions

Very likely, you need a new socket on your lamp. That is usually the problem, if you have replaced the light bulb, and the flickering is still occurring. There are basically only two things that can be electrically wrong, the cord or the socket. This is a relatively inexpensive repair. Take your lamp to a reputable repair service, like Lamp & Shade Outlet!

The first thing you will want to do is make sure the light bulb is screwed into the socket tightly. Sometimes the bulb loosens a little, and the three way contact is lost. If this does not solve the problem, and you have tried a new three way bulb, you may need a new socket.

Believe it or not, the size of your room has little to do with what size chandelier you purchase. Since it will be hanging above the dining room table, the table size is very important. That is where your balance needs to be. Measure across the width of your table, and subtract 12" from that. This will leave you the approximate size of the chandelier. For example, if your table is 45" wide, subtracting 12" leaves you with 33" to work with. Aesthetically, it is better for the chandelier to be a little too big than a little too small. As for the height of your chandelier, whether you use a single or double tier is a matter of taste. If your ceiling is higher than the average 8 feet, you may want to fill in some of that space, with a longer chandelier.

Have you seen the chain covers that are now available? They are made of fabric, in various colors to match your decor, and in two lengths. They are made with tiny zippers that allow you to wrap the chain cover around the chain, and then bunch it. This is a great look! Click on the picture to see pricing and colors and sizes available.

The reason your new lampshade doesn't fit properly is that you need a new harp. When you need to replace a shade, the best thing to do is to take your lamp with you. There are many different drops into the lampshade, and your new shade's drop, does not match the old shade's drop. This is a common problem, and can be corrected by changing the size of your harp. The harp is the piece that connects your lampshade to your lamp. Harps are available in many sizes, and will adapt your new lampshade to your lamp. To see how to figure out what size harp you will need, see How To Measure. When you cannot take your lamp with you to purchase a shade, or when ordering online, you might want to print out the How to Measure page, and take it with you while shade shopping, or use it to help you order. Sometimes your new lampshade may appear to be too long. In that case you might use a taller harp, or purchase shade risers, that are available in 1", 1 1/2" and 2". These can be used alone or coupled with another riser, to raise your lampshade.

Most lamps will look beautiful with a change in style. When using a flared shade, the bottom of the lampshade becomes wider, so this is compensated for, in most cases, by using a shorter length lamp shade. For example, if you now have a drum shade that is 14" at the top, 15" at the bottom and 17" long, you may need only an 8"x18"x14". Click here to see one lamp with various shades!

Using a colored lampshade does cause a little lose of light, the darker the color, the less light. However, choosing a color over the basic white, off white and eggshell, creates ambience and a decorator touch!