Antique Light Fixtures for Home

Antique light fixtures are an excellent way of enhancing your home. When we speak about antique lighting we usually mean lighting fixtures dating back just a few centuries and up until the beginning of the 20th century. These lamps can still be found but they have little use as forms of lighting, although they can be used as beautiful antique ornaments.

Antique Light Fixtures for Home

Over that period of time the lighting in the rich houses and castles evolved from wooden and gilded chandeliers to wrought iron or brass and bronze, crystal and later on to gas lamps and electric lights. Over this same period of time, sconces and table lamps also became fashionable and these vary in style from period to period. The important thing to consider when choosing an antique light fixtures is that it should not only be in a style that you like, but also that the lighting itself should be complete, as, if there is an element that is missing then it will often be difficult to find it. A missing glass shade, for instance, may prove extremely difficult to find. Another determining factor is where the light will be used and what purpose it is expected to serve.

Ambient fill-in lighting is one of the most important elements to consider. They also explain that to obtain this effect you should use a soft white light which washes the ceiling into the corners of the room and bouncing off the walls. For example, antique lighting sconces are great to create this effect

When lighting your dining room for instance what do you want? A drop or a chandelier? If you choose a chandelier, you should use low-voltage electric bulbs. And to provide fill-in lighting, you should add sconces. You'll also have to take into account the height of the ceiling and the width of the table when choosing the height and the diameter of the light fixture. On the other hand, a drop bowl, will give your room a marvellous source of light which is not direct and washes the whole room.

To light the kitchen antique lighting pendants are perfect over islands, open counters or sinks as they are a good source of light under which to perform kitchen tasks. These can be supplemented by lights over cabinets that don't light the ceiling.

In the bedroom at least one kind of sconce has to be used to give a fill-in lighting effect, otherwise the lighting fixtures should reflect the taste and needs of the people who use the room. Lighting fixtures near the bed will be needed.

Some dealers offer advice on the best way to light a room and on which antique light fixturer or fixtures to choose. It is often a combination of a central lighting feature plus sconces and table lamps. The fill-in light effect is also important. This effect can be obtained using low-voltage lamp bulbs to which you add sconces.

The budget available which naturally greatly influence your choice of antique lighting fixture. Genuine antiques can be very expensive, and in fact over the last ten years, antique lighting fixtures have more than quadrupled in price. This does, however, have a positive side, as a genuine antique light fixturer may also represent a good investment.