The Rare Crystal Light Feature We Want In Our Homes

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Minimalist interiors have been on their way out of style for a few years now. Instead, renters and homeowners alike are injecting their homes with personality through unique, eye-catching furniture pieces and decor. There's no shortage of vintage and hand-crafted accessories to totally transform a room. One easy and relatively quick way to revamp a room is by changing the lighting fixtures. For example, replacing a boring domed flush mount with a rare Swarovski crystal chandelier from the 1960s will instantly add a decent dose of retro luxury to a space.

The famous crystal company produced a number of different chandeliers throughout the decade, and any of them would make a worthy addition to your home decor. While the exact design differs depending on the model in question, all of these iconic '60s chandeliers feature a series of bright brass tiers thoroughly adorned with engraved patterns and authentic Swarovski crystals. Some models are draped in strands of crystals from the base of the chandelier to the ceiling fixture, while others have a simpler, Art Deco-inspired vibe with fewer or chunkier crystals.

It's a vintage lighting trend that will have your home sparkling like the 1920s, even though it was manufactured decades later. Given that vintage Swarovski crystal anything is highly sought after by collectors, you're unlikely to come across a chandelier while thrifting. However, it's not impossible. The issue is more about knowing how to authenticate your potential find. If you have your heart set on one, reputable online reseller sites like eBay, Etsy, Chairish, or 1stDibs are a better bet.

As you can probably imagine, these glorious vintage chandeliers are expensive. You can expect to pay well into the thousands of dollars for smaller mid-20th century fixtures and tens of thousands of dollars for larger, more dramatic lights. Before you hand over such a big chunk of change for one of these undeniably beautiful room accents, check that it's the real deal. The company runs the Swarovski Crystal Society Archive, but it wasn't established until the 1980s. You need to employ other means to ensure you're purchasing a genuine '60s piece.

Real Swarovski crystal chandeliers made in the 1960s will have a maker's mark that looks like a flower somewhere on the brass work — though keep in mind this mark may fade over the years. Additionally, you should inspect the crystals themselves. Swarovski is known for its precise craftsmanship, so imperfections such as bubbles or uneven edges may indicate you have a knock-off in your hands. Other authenticity tests to try before buying an item at the thrift store include listening for a ding from the crystal, checking for made-in stickers, and doing a reverse image search.

Once you get your vintage chandelier home, the simplest and most effective way to clean thrifted vintage crystal is with warm water, some dish soap, and a soft cloth. Once spruced up, an impressive chandelier will add sparkle to any room in your house — literally. Whether you install it in your formal dining room or mount it in the foyer to impress guests, it's hard to go wrong with the placement. Or, for something a bit unusual, why not hang your impressive find in a reading nook?