T he problem with lampshades is that they are often made to blend in. Gladly, this is no longer the case. Dressing a bare bulb has moved from buying a perfunctory white shade at Ikea to talk of box pleats and architectural curves.

These souped-up shades are an aesthete’s dream. Just ask Matilda Goad (matildagoad.com), whose scallop-trim lampshades have become shorthand for an eclectic look that has global appeal. In the same vein, a coveted lampshade scrunchie (a detachable lampshade cover) by Alice Palmer & Co (alicepalmer.co) transports a space to the English countryside, even if you’re in the suburbs.

According to Goad, a lampshade is the most low-risk type of home experiment. “You can be braver with a light than you

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