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Help! Hideous Lighting!

5 years ago

Hi, All! In a rental for only about a year and the landlord asks that we do not change the lighting; plus, since we‘re not going to be here all that long, we don’t want to spend a lot of money on replacing them anyway. Would love to hear your ideas for relatively inexpensive ways to camoflague. Hope someome more creative than I am can help.




Comments (11)

  • 5 years ago

    I am sorry you dont like it, but no there is nothing to be done here, in fact this style of lighting is classic and brass is in style. that bell jar hanging fixture probably sells for 1000$ lol. the only thing you could do is buy a new shade for the candle sconce.

    HU-824353031 thanked RL Relocation LLC
  • 5 years ago

    They are not hideous at all- very classic infact.

  • 5 years ago

    Ignore it. It's only a year. We're in a rental for a 16-mos, but it'll be shorter, while building a home. Everything in here is hideous but I don't care; it's simply a place to lay my head for a year. Don't expend energy on something you can't control; it's not that big of a deal.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I guess it really is true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder; I absolutely love that lighting.

    And yes, brass/gold is definitely en vogue these days.





    I would also agree that those fixtures in your rental are classic.

    Well... you know the old adage, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” You could really have a lot of fun with it; you could mix it up. Find a floor lamp that has black and or gold detail and maybe a table lamp or two; some pieces that you like and can possibly also use in your next place.







    https://www.crateandbarrel.com/hyde-brass-and-bronze-metal-tripod-floor-lamp/s614916

    Or as also suggested, change the fixtures out and make sure to put them back carefully when you are leaving. Those fixtures have some age on them, though, so not sure I would personally want to mess with that. Wouldn’t want to risk damaging them, and who knows what’s going on with the electrical connections. But if you have a very good electrician, you can try. I think I would probably either complement them, or just ignore them. As Jen K notes, directly above - you are only there for a year; so it shouldn’t be a big deal, in any case. In my case, I’d be in heaven - and would be trying to figure out how to sneak them out when I leave. 😂

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks, everyone. I probably should have put a qualifier that it’s just not my taste. Apologies to those of you who love it! I think I can work with trying to buy a few new lamps I could take to the new place that complement the existing fixtures. Thanks for the suggestion. For the big sconce on the wall with the two bulbs, I was thinking maybe I could put complementary picture frames and mirrors around it, so that it sort of disappears into the display and is no longer a focal point.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    HU-824353031 - Love the lighting...so classic.

    I like your idea of dressing around the wall fixture. Change the shade on the other. I wish I had that ceiling fixture...we are building a new home.

    May I ask your age bracket? My daughter and husband are in a rental. The first thing they did was change out some lighting (albeit the lighting was newer, but not that attractive.) However, I could not understand why they would want to spend money to do that. They will put the previous fixtures back up when they move out in another year (two years in the rental.) Being in Charleston, SC, they also added ceiling fans, with the blessing of the landlord, and will leave those when they move.

    My husband and I have been in a rental for 14 months. At least 2 more to go. Talk about some hideous light fixtures!!! I'd love to have yours in this place. We changed no lighting, but did change some light bulbs. Also purchased new toilet seats and painted a couple of bedrooms. All with the landlords approval. Looking forward to the new house with fixtures that match our taste.

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    ADDING STUFF.......around it, will only make it more a focal point. Honestly..........it's a year. Either call the electrician, and remove or live with it. Go grab an Elle Decor mag......see how these juxtapositions can be both very cool and less off- the- shelf CANNED: )) and expected.

    They certainly know how to do this in Paris!







  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Wow, looks like gorgeous 18th Century-style lighting to me! Actually the only one that I personally dislike is the second one, with the shiny brass. Agree with everyone who says it's a short term rental, so just ignore it.

  • 5 years ago

    We've done this twice now: in a rental as we build a new home. I have no time or money to improve somebody else's home. We barely unpack: living with the essentials. I have two uncrated pieces of furniture and the TV room while in the front LR/DR it's storage. I guess it's part and parcel of our lives.

    These lights are the stories you'll to remind yourself when in your new home. We have many stories because we've moved seven times in 16 years with the last one being at the end of this year.

  • 5 years ago

    Thanks! i can relate :)