The problem, of course, is that word "affordable". Lighting fixtures can be among the most expensive items in your decorating budget. My preference, as an antiques collector, would be to find a vintage light fixture from the 1920's, in the Mission or Arts & Crafts style. The popularity of this style means that most vintage lights are terribly costly. Even a table lamp may well cost as much as $1000! In addition, there are a large number of companies that produce reproduction Arts & Crafts lighting, which are beautiful and every bit as expensive. The market for these is hot and doesn't look likely to cool down any time soon!
The Web provides a great many resources for anyone looking for vintage lighting. I've collected a number of them from various parts of the United States, as well as non-U.S. sources, in hopes of finding the perfect lighting fixture for my own home. You'll find a variety of decorating styles available, from Victorian gas/electric conversions to elaborate 1950's Murano glass chandeliers.
Before venturing off to purchase your lighting fixture (online or elsewhere), you'll need some specific information about your lighting requirements. First, determine whether a hanging fixture will work better than properly spaced wall sconces, or a table lamp/floor lamp combination. Next, decide whether you want light to shine down upon a surface such as a dining table, or to shine up toward the ceiling to diffuse the light and lessen shadows. Sockets which face up usually are meant to look like gas lights, while sockets which point down originated as electric lights. Some sockets which point up may resemble candles and utilize flame-shaped bulbs.
The third step is to measure the height or length of the hanging fixture from the ceiling to the place where you want the bottom of the fixture to appear. You'll need to avoid hitting people on the head as they sit at a table or walk beneath it! Conversely, you want the light to provide as much illumination as possible, be accessible to clean and to change bulbs, and be seen as part of your décor.
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