Achieve a Vintage Look with Hurricane Oil Lamps

You can achieve a beautiful vintage look for your home or apartment using hurricane oil lamps placed in various positions and with different lighting types used.

Set the Mood

There is something about the soft gentle flame of a hurricane lamp that makes the room feel warm and inviting. For the living room, consider sitting it in front of a large window so your home says 'welcome' to passersby and sets a feeling of friendship and warmth. In the colonial era a light in the window was a sign of welcome. Picture ruffled curtains softly pulled back on either side of the window with a beautiful sparkling lamp on a lovely old pine table, the flame reflecting in the mellow wood.

Another good spot for a hurricane oil lamp is on your mantel. This was the traditional place for an oil lamp in olden days as the height of the mantel allowed the light to flow down upon the room. The flickering flame will produce dancing shadows on the walls of your home and lend an air of quiet and peace.

Brighten a Corner

Place a hurricane oil lamp on a table in the end of a long hallway. You will find the light will fill the entire area and give it a golden glow. Place a mirror behind it, or place the lamp on a shelf with a mirror behind it for twice the reflection. Set a few vintage family photos around the shelf or table to give the area an heirloom look.

Dining by Lamplight

When you think of a flickering flame it's hard to not think of dining by lamplight. A couple of lamps lit and set on the dining room table with perhaps a silver bowl of fruit or flowers will give your dining room an elegant yet warm feel. During the holidays, fill bowls with greenery and pine cones for a festive vintage look. Your best china or your everyday dishes will look beautiful by candlelight.

Romantic Oil Lamp

Picture a lodge in a movie with snow coming down outside the window, thick warm quilts on the bed and the room is lit by an oil lamp. What better way to set the stage for a romantic evening in your vintage home or decor? The flickering flame says romance. Try using a scented oil, such as rose or lavender, instead of plain for more ambiance.

Outdoors

Use hurricane oil lamps in your garden and patio during the warm weather months to take the vintage feel into the outdoors. Use citronella oil instead of regular oil to repel bugs and they will do double duty. Space the lamps apart and at different heights to give the area a feel of Victorian gas lights. Put one near your brick path or on a stack of bricks next to your deck steps for a country, vintage feel. Use checked tablecloths on your tables for a bistro feel or mismatched linens for a cottage decorating scheme.

Put an oil lamp on a small table next to your front door the next time you have a gathering at your home. Leave the porch light off and use a hand lettered sign that says 'Welcome' to your guests.