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How to Make the Most of Victorian Lamp Shades |
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Sunday, 02 September 2007 |
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The word Victorian brings to mind beauty, quiet elegance, a soft atmosphere, composure, and romance. What makes a Victorian lamp shade special? The pretty flowers, old garden roses, miniature roses, cameo pictures, tassels, colors, shape, and the trim. Many Victorian lamp shades are created with beautiful, soft tassels that hang down to grace the bottoms of the shades. They seem to draw one back to historical times when women wore hats with long plumes and dresses with huge petticoats and lace or ribbons. Horse drawn carriages, thick velvet curtains, and gentlemen with long coat tails all come to mind.
Back in those long ago days, old mansions graced the countryside. Inside those old mansions were beautiful Victorian lamp shades. Although it is rare to find the old mansions that are actually lived in today, Victorian lamp shades still grace homes. You can make the most of these beautiful lamp shades in your home as well.Victorian shades that are safest are made with a fire-retardant spray to protect against a light bulb that’s over the recommended wattage. If you want to make the most of your lamp shades, it’s best to use light bulbs that are compatible. Besides the fire hazard, watt bulbs with high wattage can ruin some shades. Besides the heat caused from inside the shade area, direct sunlight can also fade the fabrics or papers used to create the shades. You can find elegant Victorian shades made with beautiful fabrics at prices around $100. Victorian seems to go hand-in-hand with antique; antique usually equals expensive. But many people in this modern age have discovered the joy of making Victorian shades of their own. Hobby craft shops have enabled many things to be created that were once almost impossible.
You can make the most of your Victorian lamp shades by designing your own to complete the furnishings in your home. While lamp shades were actually discovered as a way to protect us from the bright light of lamp bulbs, they were also designed to help us bring out our own personal styles. The attention to details, gorgeous fabrics, designs, and trim adds a special touch unique to the Victorian shade. Whether you have them custom-made or make them yourself, you can’t go wrong. |
