It is no secret that my love for vintage crystal chandeliers runs deep. So deep, in fact, that when my husband recently took me to the movie theater to see “The Greatest Showman,” I barely noticed Zac Efron dancing on top of the bar because I was so distracted by the stunning crystal chandelier behind him. What can I say, I’m obsessed with vintage chandeliers!
I’m a firm believer in adding pieces to your home that thrill your soul, no matter what year your house was built. If you LOVE vintage crystal chandeliers but perhaps you don’t live in an older home, no worries. This style is classic, and you shouldn’t be concerned about what other people might think of your home décor choices if crystal chandeliers truly make you happy! If you are worried about resale value for your house, you can always swap them out with a different light when you plan to put your house on the market. That way you can take your chandeliers with you! These lights are gorgeous, and I have found them to be surprisingly affordable, especially given the fact that they are made from such high-quality material.
I’m on a personal mission to add a crystal chandelier to every room in our little castle (including the bathrooms and pantry), and I’ve found quite a few treasures over the last several years! So today I’m sharing some of my favorite sources for finding gorgeous vintage chandeliers.
- Craigslist
Craigslist is one of my go-to sources for tons of vintage items. I found this stunning round antique chandelier on Craigslist, and it is one of my all-time favorites! I’ve never seen another vintage light like this one, and I’m so happy I stumbled across it! You can read the story of how I found it here. Don’t be afraid of a little dust or crystals that need to be restrung. This style of brass and crystal cleans up beautifully! You can read more about my Craigslist tips here.
My vintage crystal and brass Craigslist chandelier!
- Antique Stores, Architectural Salvage Shops, and Flea Markets
The majority of our chandeliers have come from local antique stores. Over the last few years I have shopped at many antique stores in our area, and I’ve learned which dealers like to collect my favorite style of crystal chandeliers. Those are the shops I visit most often! I love shopping at antique stores because I’m supporting local small businesses. It is smart to get to know the local store owners and dealers. They have been such a valuable resource as my husband and I work to restore our historical home! My favorite local antique dealer from whom I’ve purchased several of my chandeliers can be found here. My favorite architectural salvage shop can be found here.
- Yard Sales
If you are truly after the best deals, yard sales are a fun way to shop! I love spending a Saturday morning hunting for fantastic finds. You never know what you will discover! I have found that when shopping for vintage treasures, the sales that are in older historic neighborhoods have the best selection. You can read all about my yard sale chandeliers here and here. You won’t believe the prices!
- eBay
My husband and I love looking on eBay for lighting. It’s funny, we’ve actually only bought one light from there (and technically it was just a glass globe), but we have our eye on a certain style that we are considering for our stairway. It’s nice to be able to read reviews and ratings on there, and the selection is impressive. Plus it’s a fun way to shop while sitting on your couch in your pajamas!
- Facebook Marketplace
Friends, Facebook Marketplace is my newest discovery, and it’s amazing! I wish it had been around when I first started adding chandeliers to our home. There are so many antique lights being sold in my area! I really like how Facebook Marketplace narrows down my style as I search for things (so, it doesn’t show me random stuff I’m not interested in), and it shows me new items that have been added and when there has been a price drop on an item I’ve viewed. I’m currently messaging a seller about several antique lights and waiting to get more information about the condition and sizes. While I haven’t purchased a chandelier on the site yet, I have successfully purchased some beautiful vintage furniture that I am excited to share with you soon!
Do you have any other recommendations for places to search for vintage treasures? I don’t know what I’m going to do once we run out of rooms in our house to hang crystal chandeliers. Maybe start a support group as I go through searching and shopping withdraw? Maybe set up an antique booth and sell my fabulous finds there? Maybe buy and restore historic homes just so I can keep searching for chandeliers? Maybe share all my fabulous finds with you so you can buy them and I can live vicariously through you? We’ll work on a plan.
Have a beautiful day!
Sandy
For more inspiration and the latest updates on my fabulous vintage finds, be sure to follow Whimsical Blue Living on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. And sign up for our newsletter to receive an email every Sunday morning with the posts from the week. That way you never miss a post!
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