A lamp shade or cover that can be readily switched from a translucent-opaque mode to a transparent mode if the shade or cover from a material with transparency properties that can be modulated. A layer of liquid crystals encapsulated between transparent electrodes is included in the shade. Normally, the liquid crystals are randomly oriented and diffuse light so as to create a translucent state. When a direct current voltage is applied across the transparent electrodes, the liquid crystals become oriented and essentially transparent. Application of a pulsed or alternating current voltage can be used to modulate the degree of transparency.