Refurbishing Crystal Chandeliers

If your budget doesn’t have room in it for a brand new crystal chandelier, or if you’re looking for an antique piece to add to your home, you can save a significant amount of money by purchasing an older distressed chandelier and refurbishing it yourself.  If the bones of the chandelier are good, you can easily update the light fixture into a beautiful addition to your home.

The first step in finding bargain crystal chandeliers is locating potential dealers.  Antique stores may seem like a good place to find a cheap project light, but usually antique dealers only sell broken or distressed items if they are high end.  Despite their condition, these types of crystal chandeliers can still be quite expensive.  Try looking on craigslist, in your local newspaper classifieds, or at thrift stores for inexpensive chandeliers.

Once you have acquired your new light fixture, look it over to see if any of the crystals are missing.  Take note of the condition of the base, and try to assess the type of metal used.  Check to see if your light works.  A lighting repair specialist can easily fix any broken wires or rewire the entire fixture.  Very old crystal chandeliers may have been made before electricity was available, and in that case you will have to retrofit the fixture to work in your home.

When you have an idea of the repairs that need to be made, you can start your project.  If you need to have the wiring replaced or repaired, do that first.  Make sure you use a reputable repair shop that has experience working with crystal chandeliers.

After any necessary repairs are made, you’re left with aesthetics.  Start by removing all of the crystals from the chandelier and thoroughly cleaning each one.  Next, either polish the base with a cleaner made especially for the type of metal used on the base, or use paint to give it a new finish.  Reattach all the newly cleaned crystals and replace any missing or broken ones.  Now your chandelier should be as good as new!

Refurbishingcrystal chandeliers can be a fun project and will result in a unique, personalized light fixture for your home.  Choosing to update an old chandelier instead of buying a new one will save you a lot of money and will be a beautiful, lasting addition to your home.