Lampshades aren’t just for decorative purposes, they’re meant to direct light and guard your eyes against the direct light of the bulb. Shades also eliminate glare on reflective surfaces, which can fatigue your eyes and bother those with retina problems. Shades that are white or off-white allow more light dispersal, but colored shades may better accent your décor or soften brighter light from more modern, efficient bulbs. You can even find modern-looking lamps with sleek metal, plastic, or fabric shades, so don’t let a contemporary room design stop you.