Experts weigh in on finding and identifying vintage lights that are install-ready and ideal for your space.
Tessa Cooper
Light fixtures play a pivotal role in defining your home’s style.
Here’s the knowledge you should probably purchase vintage lighting with confidence.
Credit:Tessa Cooper
Stacey Brandford
1.
For Etsy, in particular, it’s important to add the word “vintage” to your search.
Otherwise, you may get reproduction pieces in your results.
Credit:Stacey Brandford
For eBay, it’s also helpful to run your search words through the Antiques and Collectibles category filters.
Sharon Taylor Gullett, owner and designer atPickwick House, specializes in sourcing vintage light fixtures for historic homes.
She works closely with a professional vintage light dealer but also finds fixtures from flea markets andFacebook Marketplacefor restoration.
Credit:Dustin Dorr
You should also know when to walk away from a piece you love.
“The main thing is to study your listings and ask questions,” she says.
Dustin Dorr
3.
Credit:Adam Albright
“There are other ways to make your home’s lighting feel cohesive.
Pay Attention to the Size
As with any important home purchase, don’t forget to measure.
To calculate theideal width of a chandelier, add the length plus the width of the room together.
This total in feet should be close to the ideal diameter of the chandelier in inches.
For example, if you have a 7x8-foot room, your fixture should be about 15 inches in diameter.
“As far as drops go, I usually ask for pieces to be wired extra long.
Prestwood always tells her customers to work with a qualified, licensed electrician who can secure the light properly.
“Really heavy fixtures could need additional types of support.”
She also says this is especially true if you’re replacing a small flush-mount fixture with a heavier fixture.
Adam Albright
6.
“Clean your light fixtures on an as-needed basis,” says Prestwood.
“The reason I’m saying as needed is because it depends on location.
Use a cloth with a tight weave to avoid snags from the crystal’s wire.
Certain vintage light fixtures contain paint on the metal surfaces or the glass globes.
Prestwood recommends dampening a soft white cloth with water and gently blotting the painted surface.
Taylor Gullett loves drawing attention to lights with ceiling medallions.
Many ceiling medallions require installation prior to the light fixture going up.
“I have people constantly contacting me looking for replacements,” she says.
