Give an old, uninteresting chandelier a fresh new look by dressing it up with beads. Translucent glass beads enable the light to shine through for extra sparkle. If using clear or translucent beads, pair them with UV-resistant monofilament fishing line to create permanent beaded chandelier strands. Peruse the jewelry department at your local craft shop to find an abundance of beads and jewelry findings, perfect for creating your own chandelier adornments. Some shops sell pre-made strands of beads and baubles; just add rings or hooks to secure them to your chandelier.
Arcs of Elegance
To emulate the elegance of a crystal chandelier without the crystals, hang arcing strands clear glass beads from the arms of this chandelier on around the surface, using jump rings and jewelry hooks to secure the strands to the chandelier string or part of their steel beneath the individual light sockets. Alternate the bead size on every strand, using large beads close to the bottom, smaller ones at the top, for extra dimension. Insert a wine- or champagne-inspired appeal to a chandelier utilizing translucent glass beads in shades of crimson, ginger or a pale pink. Mix in some synthetic grape leaves, connected to the chandelier arms with floral wire, for extra effect. For another take on elegance, opt for pearl-style opalescent beads in shades of white or silver, pink or blue onto a chandelier of an identical color. Keep all beads and embellishments away in the light bulbs, sockets and electric connections for security.
Colors of Design
For a candelabra-style chandelier with a small shade over every light, jazz up the shades with their particular strands of beads. Use several bracelet-length strands of clear glass-sphere beads on each shade, attaching one end of every strand several inches in the other end all along the underside rim of a shade so the strands create gentle, limp arcs. Attach small earring hooks or jump rings to the conclusion of every strand to poke it through a cloth or paper shade, or drill tiny holes across the bottom rims of metal shades after first removing the shades in the chandelier. Produce ombre-style arcs using light and dark translucent beads at the same strands, like wine through pale pink or clear. For a fringe effect, attach a few glass beads to a mind pin at one end, a French earring hook at the other, hooking up the dangling adornments each inch or so, equally spaced around every shade.
The Rainbow Room
Turn a chandelier — even a non-functioning one — to your vibrant ceiling accessory for a child’s or teen’s room utilizing metallic Mardi-Gras-style beaded necklaces. Snip each loop once to flip a necklace to a strand; subsequently apply a dab of hot glue to the arm of a chandelier, just below the light socket area. Wrap the strand of beads tightly around the chandelier arm, then working your way up the chandelier. Add more hot glue every few inches and again at the conclusion of every strand. Create a rainbow effect by working your way up every chandelier arm with a string of red, then orange, then yellow, on through the spectrum, or create stripes using two of the very same colors repeatedly up every arm of this chandelier. Wrap the broader area, where the chandelier arms meet, with beads too. For an ocean- or sky-inspired room, then wrap on the chandelier with varying shades of blue, like a sea-green strand for water.
Natural Charm
Supply a chandelier a nature-inspired makeover using beads made of wood, seed pods or nuts. Beads made of coconut shell, betel nut or kukui nut reveal patterns reminiscent of animal prints to get an exotic touch. Wrap the chandelier arms tightly with strands of small, round beads to hide the metal frame. Use strands of wooden or shell beads to make arcs between the arms and the top of the chandelier, then selecting a few bigger coordinating beads to make earring-style dangling decorations for every strand.