How to Cover a Bare Light Bulb

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Things You'll Need

  • Lamp harp or bulb clip

  • Plain or embellished lamp shade

  • Paint or decals (optional)

A lamp shade softens the glare caused by a bare lightbulb.
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

A bare lightbulb adds a harsh, bright light to your room, but it offers plenty of opportunities for decor. Whether you purchase a decorative lamp shade or create your own handmade covering, you'll turn a bright, bare bulb into a decorative focal point, and shade some of the bulb's harsh light. Shading a bare lightbulb also cuts down on glares caused by the direct light.

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Step 1

Purchase a lamp harp or bulb clip at a hardware store if your bulb does not already have a harp to use for attaching a lamp shade.

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Step 2

Buy a lamp shade from a home decor or hardware store. Find a lampshade that fits the color or decor scheme in your room or pick a plain white shade and decorate the shade to your liking with paint or decals purchased from a craft supply store.

Step 3

Seek out a unique bulb covering that doesn't require a traditional lamp harp. Visit modern home decor stores and look for special clip-on lamp shades that clip directly to a bulb and come in modern and unusual shapes and designs, including shades that fit on ceiling fixtures with bare bulbs.

Warning

Never use a lamp shade or bulb covering that comes within 1 inch of the lightbulb to prevent fire hazard.

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