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Southwest Rawhide Lamp Shades For That Finishing Touch

By Craig Chambers

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 01Oct2010 Word count: 471 Viewed: 239 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

That welcoming light of the ranch or bunkhouse promises a safe haven for the traveler or for anyone entering a room where a southwest rawhide shade graces a lamp. The soft glow showing through the shade automatically relaxes you and lets you know that you have come home. Rustic lighting is never better when combined with one of these rawhide lamp shades.

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 combination of artistry and rusticity, a rawhide shade will give any room what might be considered the finishing touch.

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. Being careful with your rawhide shade will help it last longer. 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. You will find that by conditioning the shades with oil, they will last longer than they would otherwise. Many people find that neat's foot oil works well for them. Also, you might use one of the newer, cooler fluorescent light bulbs in your lamp instead of an incandescent one.

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