Anything that is vintage and rustic holds a special place in the minds of interior decorators and home owners. Rustic décor items give out a unique vibe that takes us down the memory lane to remember and cherish the grand old times. Though architecture and interior design keeps changing every decade or so, love for vintage styles never grows old. Bulky lighting fixtures of the old times are no exception to this and onion lights is one such lighting fixture that is of great demand in recent times.
Onion lights have a grand history of their own and their usage dates back to as early as the 19th century. They were extensively used in England during those times and over time, their fame and applications have spread far and wide all over the world. Onion lights are typically characterized by a bulky, onion shaped glass container which encloses the illuminating bulb and a metal shield that holds the unit together. Back in those days, oil lamps were used for light and the light fixtures available these days are all electric. Bulbs of all kinds can be used depending on the usage and the budget; for outdoor lighting bright lights such as halogen and LED lights are used. A lot of things need to be considered while buying onion lights and here’s a list of things you need to look for while buying onion lights for outdoor lighting.
1. Size
Onion lights are undoubtedly heavy and bulky when compared to other modern light fixtures like wall sconces. However, one needs to make sure that the dimensions of these fixtures are in scale with the interior design. A rule of 1/5th is preferably employed to finalize on the size of the fixture, which says that the size of the light should be 1/5th the size of the door it is placed next to.
2. Durability
Since these lights will be used as outdoor lights, it is naturally expected that these lights are capable of withstanding the harsh weather conditions like rain, sunlight and wind. The metal shield should be fade and water resistant, and the glass must be of high quality to withstand strong conditions and prevent cracking.
3. Metallic Finish
Onion lights are specially known for their worn out, metallic finish and hence the quality and durability of the metallic finish on the metal shield is one of the most important factors you need to look for while buying these fixtures. Steel, aluminum, bronze and especially brass are few of the most popular metallic finishes available.
4. Mount Type
The mount type of the light fixtures you buy is more important than you think. Onion lights are available in various mount types, including wall mount, ceiling mount, post mount and hanging types. Before you decide to buy the fixtures, have a clear idea about where these fixtures will be mounted and how you want them to be mounted.
Apart from the above mentioned, also do your research on the pricing of these fixtures in both online and offline stores. Also, make a list of the most trusted vendors who provide superior quality and excellent customer service.
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