Add A Soft Glow To Your Room With Southwest Rawhide Lamp Shades
Craig Chambers
When you think of evenings in the bunkhouse, it is easy to picture friends sitting around talking and drinking coffee in the light of rustic ranch lamps. Topping those lamps will be a southwest rawhide lamp shade, providing not only a soft light, but a true touch of the old west. The western style of these rawhide shades will bring the southwest to life in whatever room they are used. Combine these shades with antler or aspen log lamps for the perfect southwestern look.
When deciding on the decor for your southwest themed home, it is important to pay attention to the design details. No one is finished with their decorating once they have chosen the furniture and rugs. The lighting that you choose to carry through your southwest style should match and accentuate each room. One of the most important design elements of any lighting fixture is the shade. Nothing will go better with a rustic lamp than a rawhide lamp shade. A rawhide shade will give any room what might be considered the finishing touch by adding a feeling of artistry and rusticity.
Southwest rawhide shades are handmade, one at a time, by skilled and dedicated artisans. These rawhide shades are laced with leather, making sure that the rustic look of the ranch will be carried through to every detail. Rawhide shades are available for a wide range of lamp types. You can find these shades to fit floor lamps, table lamps, sconces and chandeliers. A wide range of colors are available, many echoing the vibrant shades of the southwest. Natural rawhide will bring to mind the sand stretching from mesa to butte. Custom made rawhide shades can also be purchased to fit any southwest lamp you may have.
Even creating the southwest rawhide lampshade is an organic experience. It takes a skilled artisan to prepare the hide. After the hide has been cleaned, it is bleached to make sure that the natural beauty of the hide will show through when used on a lamp. Hand stitching assures you that the rustic character of the ranch will not be lost.
Rawhide shades are a natural product and must be respected as such. Simply by using caution, your rawhide shade will last many years. Any natural product can be affected by heat and cold, and your shade is no different. The heat from the light bulb in the lamp and even air-conditioning can cause some deterioration in the shade. However, by taking a certain amount of care of your rawhide shade, you can be assured that it will last for years. You will enjoy it as it sheds a warm western glow over your home. Your rawhide shades will last longer than they would otherwise by conditioning them with oil. Most people find that by using neat's foot oil, their shade is conditioned and protected. Also, you might use one of the newer, cooler fluorescent light bulbs in your lamp instead of an incandescent one.
About the Author
Author, Craig Chambers, offers more about Southwest Rawhide Lamp Shades on his website. You should also get his monthly newsletter, online discounts and download his popular free ebook from http://www.missiondelrey.com
Craig Chambers may be contacted at http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Craig-Chambers-5592/lamp-shade-117045.php.
Click here to view more articles by Craig Chambers.
Reprinted with Permission from IdeaMarketers.com, your source for free content.