Antique Light Fixtures

Whether you’re going for a rustic country look for your bedroom, or want to finally put up those ancient wall pendants you inherited from grandmother, properly using and installing antique light fixtures can be a real pain.

In this brief article, we’ll go over the various types of antique light fixtures you might run into, and how to use and install them correctly, as well as some handy designing tips you’ll sure to make use of.

There are lots of different types of antique light fixtures, but most will be in the form of wall pendants, recessed lighting, chandelier, or standing light fixtures. Each has its own use and each has its own risk, and it’s important to know these before just setting up antique light fixtures on your own.

Many can be extremely valuable and beautiful, and give a room a sense of timelessness that can be entirely unique. Many can also be incredibly dangerous, due to loose parts or unsteadiness.

Wall pendants tend to be a relatively safe bet, as they are easy to install and many antique wall pendants feature intricate carvings or designs that can really enhance a room. They can generally

just be mounted on screws or wall plates, and wired fairly easily. Although it is very rare to find recessed antique light fixtures, recessed lighting can be somewhat more difficult, and should be checked for an IC rating before installing it near any insulation. If it does not have an IC rating, it should be installed away from insulation, as they can conflict with electrical wiring and cause fires.

Chandeliers are the quintessential antique light fixtures, and can be both very costly and very fragile. Since chandeliers work by reflecting light off of tiny pieces of glass, they must be handled with extreme care, as even shaking them can crack or shatter certain parts.

They should be installed as centrally in a room as possible, as this allows them to most effectively direct light, and can be installed with a dimmer switch to correctly control the amount of light they give off.

Standing lights can be very unsteady and fall, especially when they are very old. Making sure the support base is secure and stable is important, and installing them away from mantles or low tables (such as coffee tables) with fragile objects will prevent them from destroying anything if they are knocked over.

There are many sources of discount antique light fixtures on this page.