There's no other light fixture that makes quite the statement that a chandelier does. And there are so many different styles to choose from you're certain to find one that will look fabulous in your room. You can easily change the look of any chandelier by choosing to replace the chandelier shades.
If you're really talented you might consider recovering the old shades yourself with a new fabric that matches or compliments the other fabric in your room. You can even add some bead work or trim to accent the shades.
All you need is a hot glue gun, the new fabric, and the old shade frames. Remove the current paper lining or material and you should be left with the core of the shade. Cut your fabric to fit, then place a line of hot glue at the start and across the top and bottom of the shade. Now roll the fabric around the shade pressing firmly so that the glue adheres to the fabric. Add any additional trip such as beads by adhering with hot glue from your glue gun.
Now if you're thinking that's great but I'm not crafty and have no inclination to build my own shades. Not to worry. There are hundreds of different replacement shades on the market to choose from. And there are some great buys to be found online! Just let your fingers do the walking and you'll discover a world of shades ready to explore.
You can purchase fabric shades that will accent or compliment your current décor. You might choose a different shape or size than your current shade or you can stay with what you already know. But why not live a little and try something a little different? Your chandelier is the perfect way to bring a rooms décor together, create a focal point, or set the ambiance. So why not use it to its full advantage?
You might even consider forgetting the fabric shades and trying something really different. How about cowboy boot shades or doll shades? Or perhaps pinecones or pineapples are the shade for you. Depending on the room your chandelier is in you could have a lot of fun!
If your home has a southwestern or country theme cowboy boots or cowboy hats look great! Perhaps you're doing a young girls room or a craft room try the dolls. If you're chandelier adorns the music room how about piano shades or note shades. Pineapples work great in a trendy dining room. Your options are really only limited by your creativity so let the juices flow!
There are also a nice selection of metal shades to choose from including brass, nickel, and stainless. They are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. You'll just need to watch the weight factor with these.
You can go on the hunt to find vintage or antique shades to replace your existing shades or you can shop around from the great selection of modern shades that are made for chandeliers from all eras.
The Pottery Barn offers a nice contemporary selection of shades. Kalco offers shades from Americana to Victorian to trendy. Saratoga provides a nice selection of fabric shades and Bellacor offers traditional, rustic, country, transitional, and Victorian shades. Nextag and Bizrate are the perfect place to compare shades from a variety of websites. Of course there are plenty of other online websites to visit.
If you're what the look is you want to achieve, spend some time visiting home décor and sites that specialize in decorating your home. Your sure to come up with some great ideas that will help you make the right choice.
Remember your chandelier shades are a great way to help set the atmosphere in your room - sexy, romantic, fun, relaxing, sophisticated - what will it be?
