Illuminate Your Home Using Arts and Crafts Lighting
Lighting is an important part of any home. Everyone needs lighting, however the lighting you choose is a matter of personal preference. Lamps have served as not only functional items but also artistic creations for many years. Arts and crafts lighting is one of the most popular styles for homes, especially if the interior or exterior of the home is also designed in this style. Also called Mission and/or Craftsman style, Arts and Crafts is a design movement created in the early 1900s at the tail end of the Victorian era.
The characteristics of this style include clean, straight lines and geometric designs. Ornamentation is kept to a minimum and the focus is on function rather than form, although you will find the pieces made in this style are still quite eye-catching. Natural materials, especially wood and wrought iron, are used abundantly in Mission style homes. Woods are kept dark and paint colors are often dark and warm in tone as well. Therefore, it is extremely important to utilize good lighting to brighten up your home. Without the proper light, your home may look dark and depressing. Lighting rooms properly is important when it comes to making the most of your interior decor.
When shopping for light fixtures you will find lots of square shapes and art glass being used. Wood is a common material for light fixtures which attach to the wall, and wrought iron is commonly used in chandelier style light fixtures. Experiment with different bulb wattage to find what looks best in your home. There are all kinds of bulbs available these days that come in different brightness levels for every preference. Many people go for soft white bulbs for the most natural look. There are also bulbs designed to mimic natural light for the most attractive look.
Arts and Crafts lighting is the perfect accompaniment for your Mission style home. You can find this style of lighting fixture sold in many home improvement and lighting specialty stores. Some of the leading names in the industry such as Stuart and Hathaway offer gorgeous lighting choices done in this popular style. Even though the Arts and Crafts movement spanned from around 1900 to 1925, it is still a common and beloved style of decor and design today.
