The boob light: the familiar – yet often unwelcome – lighting fixture adorning countless rented homes and apartments. The name refers to the common ceiling light covers with round shapes and a pointed center that resemble, well, a boob. And while I had truthfully never given much thought to them in many years of apartment renting, when I heard about the existence of Tulip Shades, they were suddenly something to reconsider.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” I thought while seeing a TikTok of someone installing their Tulip light shade.
Tulip was founded by interior designer Lori Smyth in 2021 as a renter-friendly solution to traditional (read: boring) ceiling lights. The shades fit around existing light fixtures so there’s no need for a complicated deinstall-to-reinstall process. (In most cases, hardware isn’t even needed at all, but more on that later.) What’s more, the shades’ soft, linen-like textiles help warm up the typically harsh glow of overhead lighting.
As a renter, I often feel like I have little agency over an apartment’s aesthetic: gray floors, popcorn ceilings, and boob lights are all preselected for me. And while it can be nice not having to make all those design decisions, I appreciate the ability to make my home feel more me without jeopardizing my security deposit.
With all that in mind, I ordered the Tulip Drum Shade ($135) and hoped it would give me the modicum of creative control I sought. Here’s my review.
What’s the Criteria For a Good Ceiling Light Shade?
I’ll admit that ceiling light shades are a rather specific home decor item. That aside, there are a few factors that separate the good from the bad.
A good ceiling light shade should help adjust, or bring down, lighting without entirely darkening the room. In an ideal world, it should add aesthetic value to the space and perhaps convey a preferred style. Better yet, a good light shade should be so easy to install, it doesn’t inspire a panicked search for help via Taskrabbit.
What I Like About the Tulip Shade
First off, I love the look of my Tulip shade. I chose the Drum Shade in Leaf, which adds a nice pop of green above my dining table. The natural textile also fits in nicely with the rest of my space, which features a lot of neutral tones to resemble a spa.
I will say, this exact color is unfortunately out of stock: the shade is available for purchase individually for returning customers, but the complete set with the mounting materials is sold out. That said, the drum shade is available in various other colors, including a natural beige, sky blue, and red.
I also appreciate how easy it was to install the shade. Though I was excited to receive my Tulip shade and have one less boob light in the apartment, I admittedly took my time unboxing once it did arrive. In other words, it sat in the box in a closet for a couple weeks until I realized it was time to tackle its installation. I would come to find that my procrastination was unnecessary and, quite frankly, dumb.
Each kit comes with a ceiling mount, three screws, and removable tape that won’t ruin your ceiling and consequently get you in trouble with your landlord. If, like me, you’re affixing the mount to a smooth surface, the screws are not needed. Simply stick the tape onto the designated indents all around the mount, center the mount around your existing light fixture, and press and hold for 30 seconds. If you have a textured ceiling, place the provided screws into the three grooves around the mount, and screw into the ceiling.
Though the shade will sometimes catch me off guard when I’m walking by – since I’m so used to seeing a boob light there – I’m really enjoying this addition to my kitchen. Better yet, my mind is at ease knowing I can always remove (or swap out) the shade if my preferences change or when I inevitably move out.
What to Consider Before Trying Tulip Shades
Most importantly, you’ll want to make sure your Tulip shade fits around your lighting fixture. Dimensions are listed for each product online, so make sure to cross-reference before ordering.
Though I have few complaints about my lovely shade, it is important to note that it arrived rather wrinkly. It’s nothing a good steamer can’t fix, but being that I don’t currently own a steamer, which now feels like an oversight, I’m just having to accept some of the ripples in the shade. I’m not so much of a perfectionist that it bothers me, but it may be a nuisance to some shoppers.
Who a Tulip Shade Is Best For
Tulip shades are best for renters seeking to customize their space without doing too much. The shades are also ideal for any folks weary of any home improvement involving drills or elaborate instructions. Trust me: as someone who’s uncertain hanging picture frames, if I can do it, so can you.
Additional Details About Tulip Shades
- Tulip has three distinct shade shapes: Gem, Drum, and Lamp. Each shape is available in a few colors, including a golden yellow and sky blue.
- The brand recently released its first-ever collaboration, a collection with The brand’s latest special collection, for example, is a collaboration with designer Xavier Donnelly.
- Mounting kits come with 12 pieces of removable tape and three screws.
- Prices range from $110 to $150.
Where Is the Tulip Shade Available?
Tulip shades are available exclusively on the brand’s website.
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Kelsey Garcia is the associate content director of PS Balance, where she oversees lifestyle coverage, from dating to parenting and financial wellness. Kelsey is passionate about travel, skin-care trends, and changes in the social media landscape. Before joining the PS team more than eight years ago as an editorial assistant, she interned at Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, among other publications.
