that's right, it's Etsy: Light fixtures and how to find them
An Etsy guide to finding cool light fixtures (plus links!)
Ah, the dopamine hit of a hot Etsy find.
And SO efficient. To shop on Etsy is to sift through a dozen thrift stores without ever leaving the comfort of your sofa. A world wide search as well with sellers spanning across the globe.
But you DO have to dig.
That’s an Etsy con I’ve come across - the algorithm. No matter how many searches or items purchased, my home page persists with monogrammed cutting boards and home signage telling one how to behave in cursive.
Etsy’s home page is the high school boyfriend who never listened to you and kept buying infinity shaped jewelry you’d never wear.
And it’s the reason most have written off the app entirely. But if you know how to hunt for the gems — the vintage pieces rather than mass produced — you’ll gain access to a source that is global and usually affordable.
Feel free to comment a specific topic you’d be interested to hear more on. It could be a particular Esty search, design piece, or tip from the trade. I’m both selective and experimental when it comes to interior design, but it comes in handy with my career choice and I hope you find it helpful here.
How to find light fixtures on Etsy
What to consider
Wiring: Many Etsy sellers are based in Europe, thus, European wiring. Double check that either the wiring and plug is for the US, or ask if they’re able to rewire. 9/10 times they say yes! If not, you can have a local electrician rewire for you. Costs about $40-$65 in my area.
Does it turn on: Sounds silly, but I learned this lesson the hard way when I received a vintage lamp from Denmark that was totally shot. I’m not sure what happened because they’d posted an image with the light on, but they agreed to cover rewiring costs. Woo! For extra precaution, you could ask for a video of the lamp being turned on and off before purchasing.
Size: Of course, you know to check dimensions, but I’ll go overboard and actually mock up the light fixture. It only takes a few sheets of paper + masking tape.
Don’t kill yourself trying to perfect it - you only need the overall scale and shape in your space for this to be effective.
Detail images and reviews: This goes ties back to “does it turn on?” but you also want to be sure you’ve seen the metal finish and shade under multiple light sources to check for any damage. And ALWAYS always read the seller reviews. They’ll let you know how reliable and responsive an Etsy seller will be.
Shipping: Account for import taxes when shipped overseas.
“Similar to”: If a piece you love is now sold, scroll to the bottom of the page or click the magnifying glass on the image’s bottom right corner for Etsy’s recommendations. I’ll use this tool even if the item is available so I can compare options.
Key words I search for:
Stilnovo / Murano glass / Danish / Vintage / 1970s Italian / Antique French / Swedish sconces / Vintage Ikea / plug-in / Dutch ceramic…
One last tip
As you peruse the links below, make sure to ❤️ any you like so they’re saved. More importantly, click into the shop selling the lamp to see what else they have, and if it’s any good you can favorite the shop. Over time you’ll have collected shops with your style in mind (allowing you to avoid that home page algorithm all together).
Now scroll for links galore! I couldn’t help myself. Please purchase everything - not because of affiliate links (they don’t exist), but because the illogical side of my brain will inevitably reason that we need each lamp, which will lead us to financial ruin.
Then again we could open a cute lamp shop… SEE! Already.
Table Lamps:
Sconces:
Candle Sconces:
Ceiling Lamps:
For the Kiddos
Or you! These are just so quintessential for a kids’ room.
I mean, c’mon. The stars! The not so overly done scallops?? With a yellow beeswax candlestick. Adore.