The lamp is just straight on pretty aqua with a ombre effect of green towards the top. The inside dimpled design makes the metal housing rod for the cord that runs through the middle diffuse and unobtrusive, which was important to me. The cord needed to be untwisted at the base as you pull it through to allow the light bulb collar above to be firmly screwed on. It's a perfect size on my new Seabrook 3 drawer nightstands from Birch Lane.