Top Tips for Customizing Iron Lighting

By Fernando Lopez

Customizing your wrought iron lighting fixtures can add a truly unique and personalized touch to any project.  Consider the following options when customizing a lighting fixture as it will greatly affect the overall look and feel of your project. 

1) Scrollwork: wrought iron lighting can easily be adapted to suit your personal tastes and preferences by simply modifying scrollwork.  In addition to adding, removing or changing the size of the scrolls, consider changing the gauge of materials.   For example, a wrought iron lantern that incorporates heavy gauge metal stock will tend to give you a look that is more “Mexican Lighting” in nature.  Contrast this to using lower gauge materials which allow for more delicate scrollwork and are often used in a “French Style Lighting” look. 

2) Lamping: most wrought iron light fixtures are usually fitted with clear flame-tipped bulbs.  These bulbs are very common because they are widely available in different wattage and base options.  Next time, instead of simply choosing between a 25 watt or 40 watt bulb consider using a colored bulb.  Yellow and orange bulbs can help a wrought iron sconce achieve a true “old world lighting” look.  Silicon-dipped and flickering bulbs can also achieve a more natural flame look but be careful as they can also sacrifice overall light output. 

3) Glass: clear seedy glass is a popular choice in wrought iron lanterns and wrought iron chandeliers.  Customers should be aware however that their choice in glass is nearly limitless.  Seedy glass, clear glass, water glass and colored glass are just a few of the choices that are available to our clients.  For example, consider using amber glass on any of our exterior wrought iron lanterns or replace seedy glass with water glass on any of our wrought iron chandeliers for an interesting lighting effect on adjacent walls and ceilings.

4) Chain & Canopy: chain and canopy options are some of the most overlooked factors when customizing a wrought iron chandelier.  The chain and canopy will either give the chandelier a modern vs. old word look.  In addition, the gauge of materials that are used in the chain will greatly affect the overall look and feel of the iron chandelier.  When choosing a chain consider how low the chandelier will hang from the ceiling and the openness of the room.  Heavy gauge chains in a small room or on a chandelier that hangs close to the ceiling will cause the fixture to look and feel bulky.