how to choose the right enamel lampshade colour for your home

Q: Does enamel colour affect the quality or brightness of light?

All Original Coolicon lampshades have a highly reflective white vitreous enamel interior that helps bounce light down and out evenly - giving a bright, efficient result regardless of external colour. However, darker exterior colours can make a room feel slightly cosier or more intimate, because our eyes contrast the shade with its surroundings, not because the shade emits less light. Short answer: Exterior enamel colour doesn’t lower lumen output - but colour perception and ambiance can shift how bright a space feels.

Enamel lampshade colour guide

Vitreous enamel Coolicon lampshades for your home

Words by The Coolicon Team

Six steel vitreous enamel colour swatches in bright finishes on a dark background

Photo by Coolicon Lighting

Title

Cream vitreous enamel Coolicon pendant lampshade hanging above a living room sofa and side table

Photo by Coolicon Lighting

Step 1:

Warm vs cool enamel colours

Coolicon Lampshades are designed to last a lifetime, so we feel picking the right colour is just as important as you do!
Firstly, consider the feel you want to achieve from your interior. Is the lampshade a bold accent colour which elevates the room or a quite complement to the rest of the space?

Coolicon colours can be categorised tonally; for bright and airy rooms consider lampshades with warm undertones to bring a sense of liveliness. Adding touches of cool colours will add comfort and subdue the overall feel of the room.

For darker rooms, cool enamel colours tend to emphasise its darkness and can make the room feel smaller and cosier which can add a relaxed atmosphere. However, accents of warm tones and metals such as brass, throughout the space will ensure that the interior does not feel too cold.

Title

Step 2:

use the 60-30-10 colour rule

Using the 60-30-10 colour rule is a great way to make sure your interior feels balanced:

60% base colour
30% secondary colour
10% the accent colour.

For example, a living room with terracotta brick walls, and latte brown furniture can be grounded with jet black enamel lampshades, adding contrast without overpowering the space.

Make your lampshade the accent

You don’t have to stick rigidly to the rule. Adjusting colour ratios with thoughtfully chosen enamel pendant lighting is an easy way to personalise living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. An enamel lampshade can blend into your base palette for a cohesive look, or stand out as the only bold accent colour in the room..

For interior lighting inspiration and to see the 60-30-10 design rule in practice, head over to our interior lighting inspiration page.

Original and Large black vitreous enamel Coolicon pendant lampshades hanging over a living room couch.

Photo by stellwerkost for Edisson

Title

VITREOUS ENAMEL COLOUR SWATCHES

The best way to see how your lampshade will look is our Vitreous Enamel Colour Swatches. Made from the same steel we use to create our lampshades, and finished with the same Vitreous Enamelling process for that striking high gloss finish.

Purchase Enamel Swatches

Title

Large blue vitreous enamel Coolicon pendant lampshades hanging over a counter in a bakery.

Photo by La Robecquoise

Step 3:

See Vitreous Enamel in Natural Light

Vitreous enamel has a deep glass-like finish which reflects and refracts light. Over the course of a day sunlight will change in both colour and intensity, having an equal effect on the enamel. To properly understand the depth and richness of colour on the surface of a lampshade, we recommend spending some time with your sample swatches. Observing as the enamel colour changes across different times of the day.

For a neutral, accurate and consistent environment to inspect the enamel's tone and sheen without the effects of artificial lighting, it is best to view the vitreous enamel swatch under indirect, north-facing light.

Title

Step 4:

Interior Pairings, Colours & Finishes

Our lampshades are available over sixteen Original Coolicon colours and curated into three distinct palettes; The Classic, Contemporary and Select. Each taking inspiration from historical & cultural British references and designed to look great alongside all of your favourite household paint, wallpaper and furniture brands.

We recommend spending time comparing each enamel swatch against your ceiling, painted walls or wallpaper patterns. Consider different finishes and colours against interior elements and furniture to create pairings that work well or contrast nicely. You might just be surprised!

Three steel vitreous enamel brightly coloured swatches on a stone surface surrounded by industrial materials

Photo by Coolicon Lighting

Timeless Enamel
colours

Despite our enamel pendant lampshades being defined by three colour palettes, their enduring design makes them effortlessly versatile. Equally at home in everything from minimalist kitchens to cosy, lived-in bedrooms and modern living spaces, these pendant lights adapt seamlessly to a wide range of interiors and styles. Each shade pairs beautifully with today’s most on-trend interior colours, striking a refined balance between timeless craftsmanship and contemporary design.

Title

Once ready to purchase a lampshade(s), simply enter the discount code found on your enamel swatch packaging label - at checkout to receive £12 off your total order.

Purchase Enamel Lampshades

Title

Frequently asked questions

How do I pick the best enamel lampshade colour for my room?

The best way to decide which colour Coolicon lampshade works well in your room is to choose an enamel lampshade colour that complements your room’s palette, enhances natural light, and reflects your desired mood. Coolicon’s classic heritage tones work beautifully as subtle accents or bold focal points, adding character while harmonising with modern or traditional interiors. Or by picking your favourite colour! After all, its your room, your rules!..

Short answer:
Pick a Coolicon lampshades that complements or contrasts your room's existing colour palette.

Can enamel lampshade colours look different in natural vs artificial light?

Yes. Vitreous enamel has a glossy, reflective finish, so its colour can appear slightly different depending on the lighting. Natural daylight and artificial light interact differently with the enamel surface, which may change how the colour is perceived. If the lampshade will hang in a room that is dark and lit only by artificial light, opt for a lighter enamel colour for a more clearly visible lampshade.

Short answer:
Yes, Enamel colours can look different in natural and artificial light.

Does enamel colour affect the quality or brightness of light?

All Original Coolicon lampshades have a highly reflective white vitreous enamel interior that helps bounce light down and out evenly - giving a bright, efficient result regardless of external colour. However, darker exterior colours can make a room feel slightly cosier or more intimate, because our eyes contrast the shade with its surroundings, not because the shade emits less light.

Short answer:

Exterior enamel colour doesn’t lower lumen output - but colour perception and ambiance can shift how bright a space feels.

Do you offer vitreous enamel colour swatches before purchase?

Vitreous enamel Coolicon Colour swatches are available to purchase here. Each colour swatch is made out of the same steel we use to create our lampshades, and goes through the same Vitreous Enamelling process to get that striking high gloss finish. To follow up on your colour swatch purchase, when placing your next order, you will receive a one-time-use discount code for £12 off any Vitreous Enamel lampshade!

Short answer:

Coolicon Colour swatches are available to purchase here.