One of the most elegant, stylish additions that you can make to any home, assuming a large enough space, is a vintage iron chandelier. The great thing about a vintage iron chandelier is that chandeliers never seem to go out of style. People use them to literally transform their homes into an elegant Mediterranean villa or European castle. They are strong, very resistant to corrosion and will last forever if cared for.
You can find a vintage iron chandelier in many different sizes to accommodate many different locations in your home from your living or family room to a narrow hallway or even enclosed porch. Iron is one of the most flexible and malleable metals around, making it very easy to shape and mold into many different shapes and styles. Before you purchase however you should know where you plan to place the chandelier and take measurements. There should be at least several inches between the edge of the chandelier and the nearest walls. The lights from the chandelier can fade or even char paint, if too close, and, in some cases even start a fire. You should also check the available supports where you plan to hang your chandelier. Even the lightest chandelier is pretty heavy and you should only use main supports to anchor it. A strut made of a 2 x 4 probably will not give you the best spot and can be dangerous.
Iron chandeliers are very easy to clean also. A simple solution of mild detergent and baking soda will take care of most of the problems you might have. The cleaning rag should be only damp and you should wipe the chandelier dry when you are done cleaning, especially if you live in a humid climate. If you have problem areas you can add either a very light coating of oil, which will also add a luster to the metal, or a light coating of wax, which will seal the metal very well.
