Handmade French drum lampshades used as a pendant, table lamp and floor lamp in a bright modern living room.

French Drum Lampshades

French Drum Lampshades

Our French Drum lampshades are handmade in Devon in a wide range of fabrics, colours and finishes. They combine the clean lines of a drum shade with a gentle taper. As a result, they offer a softer look that suits both classic and modern interiors. Whether you’re choosing a shade for a table lamp, floor lamp or ceiling pendant, each design is made to order for your home.

60+ YEARS OF CRAFT

Handmade French drum lampshades used as a pendant, table lamp and floor lamp in a bright modern living room.
Handmade in the UK
HANDMADE IN THE UK Every French Drum lampshade is made to order in our Devon workshop
illustration showing that we have a wide range of fabrics available for our lampshades
100+ FABRICS & COLOURS Choose from Brushed Cotton, Faux Silk, Velvet or supply your own.
illustration showing we can make our lampshades to customers specifications
MADE TO YOUR SPECIFICATION Choose your preferred size, fabric and lining to create a  perfect finish.

― French Drum Lampshades ―

Explore our collection of French Drum lampshades, available in a range of sizes for table lamps, standard lamps, floor lamps and pendant lights. Their gently tapered shape offers a softer alternative to a traditional drum lampshade, creating an elegant, versatile look that complements both classic and contemporary interiors.

French Drum lampshades on table and floor lamps in an elegant interior

― Handmade in Devon for 60 years ―

Handmade French Drum Lampshades

At Imperial Lighting, every French Drum lampshade is handmade to order in our Devon workshop. First, choose the size and fabric to suit your room. Then explore the colours and lining options available for your chosen design to create your preferred finish.

French Drum lampshades work well on table lamps, standard lamps, floor lamps and ceiling pendants with the appropriate fitting. Their gently tapered sides help balance larger lamp bases while keeping the overall look simple. Therefore, they suit both modern living rooms and more traditional settings.

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Why Choose a French Drum Lampshade?

French Drum lampshades bring together classic styling and clean, modern lines. Unlike a straight-sided drum, the top is slightly narrower than the base. This gentle taper gives the shade a softer look without adding too much detail.

For example, a French Drum can balance a large table lamp or add a softer shape to a floor lamp. Meanwhile, its simple outline works well in bedrooms, living rooms and hallways. You can also coordinate fabrics and colours across several rooms for a consistent finish.

French Drum Fabrics

Your choice of fabric can transform the finished look. For example, cotton and brushed cotton create a relaxed appearance, while velvet adds richness and texture. Alternatively, faux silk offers a more refined finish. If you would like to use your own fabric or discuss additional finishing details, contact us before ordering.

Lining Options

White PVC gives the brightest output, while natural cotton creates a softer glow. Alternatively, metallic linings in gold, silver, copper or champagne add a reflective interior.
Metallic linings are opaque, so light passes through the top and bottom openings rather than through the sides. Available options vary by product.

If you’re unsure which size or fabric is right for your space, our experienced team is always happy to offer advice and provide fabric samples.

Key Benefits

  • Handmade in the UK
  • Elegant tapered French Drum shape
  • Suitable for table lamps, floor lamps, standard lamps and pendant lights
  • Wide range of fabrics and colours
  • Made to order for every customer

HANDMADE · BESPOKE · BRITISH

Design Your Perfect French Drum Lampshade

Create a handmade French Drum lampshade that’s tailored to your home.

✓ Choose your size
✓ Select your fabric
✓ Choose your lining
✓ Handmade to order in Devon

― 1 ―

FRENCH DRUM SELECTED

French Drum Lampshade

― 2 ―

CHOOSE SIZE

Choose the size of your lampshade

― 3 ―

PICK FABRIC

pick your fabric for your lampshade

― 4 ―

ADD LINING

image showing that you can customise your lining

French Drum Lampshade FAQ

What is a French Drum lampshade?

A French Drum lampshade combines the clean, cylindrical appearance of a traditional drum shade with a gentle taper towards the top. This subtle shaping creates a softer, more elegant silhouette while maintaining a contemporary feel.

What fittings are available?

Suitable for BC and ES fittings

Our French Drum lampshades are available with either a dual-purpose fitting for table lamps, standard lamps and floor lamps or a pendant fitting for ceiling lights. Simply select your preferred fitting when ordering.

What lining options do you offer?

Choose from standard white PVC, natural cotton or metallic linings in gold, silver, copper or champagne to achieve your preferred lighting effect.

What is the difference between a Drum and a French Drum?

Tapered Sides

A standard Drum lampshade has straight sides, creating a true cylinder. A French Drum lampshade features a slight taper, with the top diameter being smaller than the bottom. This gives the shade a softer, more refined appearance.

What fabrics are available?

Brushed Cotton, Velvet, Faux Silk, Cotton

Choose from brushed cotton, plain cotton, velvet and faux silk, depending on the design. Alternatively, contact us about using your own fabric so we can check its suitability.
Before ordering, request free fabric samples to compare colours and textures at home.

Are French Drum lampshades suitable for pendant lights?

Yes.

French Drum lampshades can be made with a pendant fitting, making them an elegant choice for ceiling lighting in kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms and living spaces.

― Discover More Lampshade Shapes ―

Not sure if a French Drum lampshade is the right choice for your space? Browse our collection of handmade drum lampshades, including classic Drum, Tall Drum, Retro Drum and Extra Large Drum styles, or explore our full range of lampshade shapes to find the perfect fit for your home.

Empire

Empire lampshade shape

Coolie

Coolie lampshade for custom Shade Builder

Square

Square lampshade shape

Cone

View Cone Lampshades

Drum

Drum lampshade shape
Image showing the Workshop, which is holding Drum lampshades

Trade Enquiry

Supplying handmade lampshades to interior designers, specifiers, hotels, restaurants, retailers and commercial interiors across the UK.

― Shop by Collection ―

Beautifully crafted lampshades for every space

Table & Floor
Lampshades

Pendant
Lampshades

Candle
Lampshades

Extra Large Drum
Shades

Statement
Lampshades

Pleated
Lampshades

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Loved by homes, hotels & designers

“Absolutely beautiful quality. The lampshade transformed the room completely — I couldn’t believe the difference. Imperial Lighting were incredibly helpful and delivered exactly what I described.”

— VERIFIED CUSTOMER • GOOGLE REVIEWS

― GET IN TOUCH

Need Help Choosing Your Lampshade?

Whether you’re choosing the right size, selecting a fabric or deciding between lining options, our experienced team is here to help. Call us, email us or complete the enquiry form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

CALL US 01803 324732

Send us an enquiry