Comparison of two lamps, the left lamp has a white, textured, swirl-patterned shade, and the right lamp has a classic pleated beige shade, both turned on against a plain wall.

Lamps Are Boring

2025

Spring

So I made one that isn’t

A display of nine table lamps with various shades, some turned on and emitting warm light, arranged on a wall with a light background.

The Idea

Beige lampshades felt dull. I wanted something sculptural and bold, so I designed my own.

Workstation with 3 white, abstract, layered lamp shades of increasing size, labeled VI through V4, and tools hanging on a pegboard, including screwdrivers, pliers, a utility knife, and tape, with a roll of masking tape and a desk lamp.

The Creation

Overhangs collapsed, prints failed, and ideas looked better in sketches than in plastic. Each test pushed the design closer to the final shade.

A 3D printer printing a circular object with a geometric pattern on its surface.

The Tools

Fusion360 handled the design. A 3D printer brought it into the world, with plenty of trial and error in between.

The Final Product

The new shade turned a plain IKEA lamp into a statement piece. Still functional, but now textured and distinct.

A bedside table with a modern white lamp with a swirling design, a small green figurine, and various small objects. Part of a bed with white bedding is visible in the foreground. Sunlight creates shadows on the wall.
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