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Crystal Lamps for All Decorating Tastes

There are many ways to decorate a home, and some touches have more dramatic impact than others.  It can hardly be argued, however, that lighting is both necessary, and able to transform a room.  One great way to incorporate style into your home, is to include crystal lamps.

There are various varieties of crystal lamps, from traditional, Victorian era lighting to more contemporary crystal lamps, and even healing crystals have been used in fashioning lamps.

One great and unique option for a crystal lamp is a salt lamp, which is created from natural salt crystals.  These crystals are typically mined in the Himalayan mountain region, and the largest producers of these unique lamps are located in Pakistan.  Many United States importers sell these wonderful healing crystal lamps, and they may be perfect for your home.

A salt crystal lamp is created by chipping and carving the salt crystal chunks that are removed from the salt mines and crafting them into various natural and geometric shapes for the consumer market. The lamps can be carved into almost any form or design, but the most common are cylander styles or other geometric themed designs.

After the shape of the salt crystal lamp has been determined, the initial chipping is done to reduce the weight and size of the raw salt chunk and a hole is machine drilled partway through the salt to allow for the insertion of either an incandescent bulb, or in the case of a salt tea light, a votive style candle.

Salt crystal lamps are very popular in Europe and are just now gaining popularity in the United States.  These special crystal lamps were first marketed as a health aid, designed to create negative ions for conditions such as asthma or other respiratory disorders. Current claims have expanded about the powers of these salt crystal lamps, including that they reduce pollen, smoke, and radiation from computer monitors, though these claims are not completely verified.

Whether or not a salt crystal lamp can actually improve health, it is certain that these crystal lamps are beautiful, giving off a lovely sparkling light when illuminated, and displaying an array of colors.  In addition, no two salt crystal lamps are ever exactly the same, giving any space an added bit of unique beauty.

Salt crystal lamps are easy to find in the United States, by visiting a health food store or wellness center, or by ordering from one of the many online retailers.

Though it seems quite dissimilar, there are also crystal lamp versions available made from traditional crystal in a Victorian style.  These lamps are like salt crystal lamps in that they are gaining popularity, and they are also similar in general appearance.  Victorian crystal lamps rely on the natural beauty of cut crystals, although with some added Victorian detailing like lampshades that are ornately trimmed.

Some people now look back on the Victorian era with wistful nostalgia, and for them these crystal lamps are a perfect compliment to their decor.  They imagine a dream world of lacy dresses, lavish balls, country house parties, and charming cottages surrounded by old-fashioned flowers.  This makes the paintings of Thomas Kinkade, for example, very popular, and a traditional crystal lamp will work beautifully in a home decorated in the Victorian style.

The intersection of the more mystical salt crystal lamps and traditioal Victorian crystal lamps comes from a counterculture movement called steampunk or neo-Victorianism which is the amalgamation of Victorian aesthetic principles with modern sensibilities and technologies.  Subscribers to this aesthetic would embrace both the traditional crystal lamps and salt crystal lamps into their décor.

If neither a Victorian crystal lamp nor a salt crystal lamp fits into your overall design scheme, there are other optinons for more modern styled crystal lamps.  Many design firms are appreciating the beauty of crystal, especially in crystal lamps that have wonderful light reflecting properties.  These lamps can be given a more modern flair by being cut into simple, geometric designs.  Popular crystal lamp styles include the “crystal ball” where different sized crystal spheres are stacked as the base of a lamp.  Square or rectangular crystals are also increasingly used in modern design to form the base of a crystal lamp.  Both styles are available at a variety of price points from many retailers, due to the demand in the market for up to date crystal lamp styles.

No matter your outlook, there is a crystal lamp available to make your home sparkle.  Crystal lamps can range from the very traditional as in a Victorian era lamp, to the mystical and possibly healing, like a salt crystal lamp imported from Pakistan or elsewhere.  If you are looking for a more chic and sensible crystal lamp, you can find that too in a more modern style that is showing up in homes across America.