Seeded Glass Chandeliers

Why We Love Seeded Glass Chandeliers

Seeded glass is an old-fashioned look that dates back to Colonial times, but it's still a perennial favorite for decorators working with traditional or vintage decor. Seeded glass chandeliers are a special case, since they also work really well with more modern designs. Clear seeded glass chandeliers go through a unique manufacturing process that leaves bubbles in the glass matrix, giving them a granular look that lends itself to smooth sides and wavy surfaces alike. Modern chandeliers can also blend seeded and clear glass components for even more variety and compatibility with different decorating styles. Especially for entryway chandeliers, this creates a warm and welcoming effect.

Where Seeded Glass Chandeliers Work Best

Decorative ceiling lighting used to be common in every room of the house, especially before electricity was standard, but in the 20th century, homes shifted more toward putting modern chandeliers in common areas like the dining room and front hallways. Seeded glass chandeliers are still popular in hallways and mudrooms near front doors, while some homes have tasteful overhead lighting that can be adjusted from high luminosity for meal prep to mood lighting for intimate dinners. Pendant lighting is also a popular choice for dining rooms, and the clear seeded glass chandeliers often used here can get very elaborate and ornate.

Seeded Glass Chandelier Designers We Love

It's rare that a designer hasn't developed a line of seeded glass chandeliers. Feiss, for example, has an understated line of downward-facing sconces in its Hobson collection, while Visual Comfort literally goes in the opposite direction with upward-pointing electric candles, often mounted on aged iron frames for a solid, rustic look that's ideal for Colonial decor. Pieces from Kichler's Braelyn Collection are very modern and use clean lines to go with just about any accents you already have, which makes it a fine choice for minor remodels and subtle upgrades to interiors. George Kovacs appeals to customers at every level with calming mid-century designs, while Savoy House has clear seeded glass chandeliers that run the gamut from Renaissance classic to ultramodern seeded glass pendant lighting designs.

How to Choose the Best Seeded Glass Chandelier

Seeded glass chandeliers have the power to pull together the look of an entire room, so it's important to choose a design that you're happy with. Start by thinking about how much size and weight your ceiling can support. Decide how low you want the chandelier to hang; vaulted ceilings can support much bigger and more elaborate modern chandeliers than lower ceilings, where heavy designs can feel oppressive. Bright kitchen chandeliers can be found with small bubbles, which creates a frosted effect that diffuses the light, or larger bubbles, which generally have a watery effect that's beautiful with low-wattage bulbs.

Other Considerations

Many decorators design the look of a room with modern chandeliers, and then choose accent furniture that goes well with the lighting they started with. Seeded glass chandeliers are versatile enough to reverse that process, so you can design a dining room or front entryway the way you like, then find the clear seeded glass chandeliers that match your preferred look. The flexibility of choosing high or low-powered lighting, smooth or textured sconces, and plain lines or ornate flourishes make these chandeliers a very forgiving choice for new decorators, while putting a lot of tools in the kit of experienced professionals.