I am not particularly in favor of crystal and silver or crystal and gold chandeliers in the home. Unless you have a mansion with a tall entry hall, the chandelier is likely to be too much for the room it is in. Even a brass chandelier without any crystals can be too much, depending on how many arms and how many levels are involved. A wrought Iron chandelier, however, because it is usually black, crystal-less and with plain slim arms, can be used in some decorative schemes in normally sized rooms without creating that overwhelmed feeling. The simplicity of the form and style of a wrought iron chandelier can provide light without becoming the focal point of the room. Add matching wall sconces and you can provide a whole room full of light with simple, elegant style.
If you like a little color, you can get candle-like inserts for the sockets and add colored shades. This candle wrought iron chandelier will add some weight to the upper half of the room it is in, counterbalancing heavy furniture in the room. Massive furniture in dark colors can create a heavy feeling in the room that makes the usual ceiling fixtures seem flimsy or disappear altogether. Adding wrought iron lighting fixtures to such a room will help balance the top and bottom halves of the room and provide a focal point above the furniture.
If you style is western or south western colonial, you will have to have wrought iron chandeliers and wall sconces. With chandelier bulbs or faux candles and shades, the chandeliers and wall sconces will, again, balance the weight of the furnishings with the lighting fixtures. If you have high ceilings, you can even go with a chandelier with more and longer arms, and with two or even three levels of lights. It will depend on the size of your room, both the height of the room and the floor dimensions. Make sure you can return the chandelier if it turns out to be too much.
Most wrought iron is painted black: painted to keep the iron from rusting, black because … Well, because it is painted black. You can paint your wrought iron chandelier some other color, or steel wool it and expose it to the weather to get that rusted look if you want, although you may damage the electrical parts of the chandelier during the exposure. You may be able to buy the chandelier rusted from furniture stores that specialize in the really rustic, old ranch house look or on the Internet. If you buy one pre-rusted, I do not think you can plan on painting it later. However the maker got the rust all over, it is going to be hard to remove the rust before the paint is applied, and painting over the rust will probably make the paint flake off easily.
If you have a wrought iron chandelier and paint it, do not get the color too close to the color of the room. You will want some contrast between the room and/or ceiling color so the chandelier will show up. Then, when you change the color of the room, you can paint the chandelier again to so with the new color scheme. Repaint the well scones, change out the fabric parts of the decor, and you have a new room.
I hope you will consider a wrought iron chandelier the next time you redecorate, even if you style is not western or south-western. A simple and elegant black wrought iron chandelier can complement many decorating styles.
* * * Another metallic collectible is door knockers. * * *
* * * Read about wire racks to organize your home. * * *
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