What You Should Know About Bronze Lighting

The first thing you should know about bronze lighting collections is that they are all different. Each manufacturer makes their collection a little different than the next, and there are many different shades of bronze and styles. When making your selections you need to be aware of this fact. It can become very frustrating trying to mix and match bronze lighting fixtures from different manufactures.  Not only are there color differences but also texture differences.  Brushed bronze lighting is not the same as antique bronze lighting or oil rubbed bronze lighting.

Oil rubbed bronze lighting fixtures have a smooth texture and give the impression that someone had taken a rag dipped it in oil and rubbed the metal to give the fixture its color and smooth look and feel.  Brushed bronze lighting may have a rough texture or appear to the eye that it does. It looks like someone took a brush and brushed on the bronze color. There is one style, sedona oil rubbed bronze lighting, that has its own character. One can only assume this style takes its inspiration from its name sake.

What type of fixtures are you looking for, outdoor lighting or indoor lighting?  Some manufacturers make better outdoor lights and others make better indoor lights.  With outdoor lights weather resistance should be one of your main concerns. I live near the ocean. You would be amazed at how fast the salty sea air rusts everything.  When choosing outdoors lights pay attention to how well the lights are sealed, also check the screws, many quality lights come with cheap screws that rust quickly. This is especially annoying when your trying to change a light bulb and the screws holding the globe on are so rusted you can’t unscrew them. You should also consider purchasing solid brass  bronze lighting.  Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc. It is very corrosion resistant and will hold up well in harsh climates. There are so many manufactures that it would be impossible to research all of their warranties. I suggest familiarize yourself with the warranty on your new lights and you keep it in a file. Often times it is easier to replace the whole light than try to fix failed parts.

Indoors lighting is more about your style and what you are trying to achieve with your interior design. You don’t have to worry about how well your lights will hold up to the elements inside your house.  There is one thing you should look for with any fixture and that is a “ul” listing. Ul comes from under writers laboratory and is an independent testing and certification organization.  You want to make sure that Ul has certified the fixtures you buy this means they are safe.

Here is a list of two manufactures that have nice bronze lighting collections.  For outdoor lighting Bronzelite®, a Philips Group company, is a leader in the commercial landscape lighting market. They also have a nice selection of solar lights and solar lights for garden. For indoors lights Hinkley Lighting has a nice bronze collection.

To find the best selection in your local area I would call an electrician and ask what local supply house he likes best. If you have a relationship with an electrician he may be able to get you better prices. Consumers always pay more than the pros do.