Vintage Swag Lamps

Our Picks

Single Bulb Vintage Swag Lamp

17 Stories

This contemporary-style vintage swag lamp features a brass accent on its understated and shadeless design. Fifteen feet of cord allow you to plug the cord into a wall outlet and swag the light over to any place in your room. Requires a 60-watt dimmable light bulb, not included.

$58.99

Designer Advice:

Think Scandinavian design with clean, geometric lines. The black woven fabric cord and beautiful brass finish give the hanging swag lamp a vintage vibe. Run the cord up the wall to attach one of the hooks (included), swag the cord over to the spot you want the light to hang down and install the second hook. Adjust the amount of swag to your taste.

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Industrial Vintage Swag Lamp

A matte bronze metal shade ends in a copper pillar which is attached to 14.75' of black cord in this vintage swag lamp. The lamp requires an incandescent 100-watt E26/E27 light bulb, and the shade measures 8.66" in length.

Designer Advice:

The Industrial design of this vintage swag lamp suits a modern farmhouse decor style down to a T. Although the shade color is listed as bronze, the color is so dark it's almost indistinguishable from the black cord. Perfect for swagging over a dining table, you'll need to provide the ceiling hooks. Alternatively, you can use this as a bedside lamp and create a wall bracket to make a lower swag.

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Tiffany Style Pendent Ceiling Light With 16.4 Ft Plug In Cord And On/Off Dimmer Switch, Vintage Dome Shaped Swag Hanging Lamp For Kitchen Island, Dining Room Or Living Room

Vintage Tiffany Swag Lamp

Bloomsbury Market

The translucent rain glass petals on this 70s hanging lamp are joined together with black leading and accented with subtle ruby jewels. Uses a single dimmable LED 60-watt light bulb in a standard base. The 15' of cord gives you lots of options of where to hang this lamp. Comes with three wall and ceiling hooks.

Designer Advice:

Tiffany lamps suit many decor styles, from farmhouse to country to traditional. The swag feature gives this lamp a more casual look. It allows you to hang a light above an end table that's part of a floating conversational grouping. This option prevents you from running table lamp cords across the floor, where they can become a tripping hazard.

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Distressed Vintage Single Pendant Swag Lamp

1 Light Swag Wood Plug-In Distressed White Pendant Lighting With Cord, Hanging Light Fixture For Bedroom, Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Table

Distressed Vintage Single Pendant Swag Lamp

One Allium Way®

A true throwback to the vintage swag lamps of the mid-50s, this single pendant swag lamp looks like it could have come right out of someone's attic. The hanging light is made from premium birch wood and features a durable rope for safety.

Designer Advice:

We like the clever cord stay feature that comes with this lamp. Choose where to swag the 11.5' of cord length and then attach the cord stay button where it strikes the wall. This allows you to fix the stay to the wall with the self-tapping screw provided in the packaging. Your cord will now stay firmly against the wall and not sag in place.

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Hanging Lamps Swag Lights Plug In Pendant Light 16.4 FT Cord And Chain/Hanging Pendant Light Cage In-Line On/Off Dimmer Switch For Kitchen Island, Dining Room, Entryway

Vintage Pierced Pattern Swag Lamp

Rosdorf Park

Pretty patterned piercings allow the light to shine through the natural colored lampshade on this vintage swag lamp. At the heart of each piercing is a small crystal bauble that adds even more sparkle to the lamp. The shade measures 11" tall and spans 5.9" wide.

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Hanging Lamps Swag Lights Plug In Pendant Light 16.4 FT Cord Hanging Pendant Light Cage In-Line On/Off Dimmer Switch For Kitchen Island, Dining Room, Entryway Bedroom

Lantern Style Vintage Swag Lamp

One Allium Way®

Reminiscent of antique lanterns, this vintage swag lamp with a 16' white cord contains a dimmer switch located 36" from the wall plug. The pretty lantern has a beveled glass cage with decorative crystal beads on its antique base.

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Hanging Lamps Swag Lights Plug In Pendant Light,Retro Style,Vintage Loft Design,Black Basket Cage Hanging Ceiling Lamp,Industrial Lighting Fixture And Decoration For Living Room Bedroom

Vintage Iron Swag Lamp

Bungalow Rose

Crafted in a pendant light style, this Moroccan iron swag lamp features an exquisite handpainted finish. The black shade is delicately pierced with scroll work that allows the warm light to shine through. Complemented by 16' of black cord, this versatile swag lamp can be hung anywhere.

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Set of Three Vintage Swag Lamps

17 Stories

These three plug-in swag pendant lamps are the best of the original swag lamp style with exposed sockets and woven fabric cords. Each light has its own 15' cord and needs an individual plug. You can easily change the lamp's look by changing the light bulb shape. Add a vintage-type bulb, or go for an oversized designer bulb.

$26.66 ~~$79.99~~

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Buying Guide

Swag hanging lamps were the mainstay of interior lighting in the mid-20th century. After a dip in popularity, as contemporary lighting fixtures took over, these lamps are experiencing a resurgence of sorts as interior designers and homeowners are looking for innovative ways to include it in their plans.

And for good reason too. Swag lights don’t gobble up on valuable space like floor lamps do. They aren’t as bulky as chandeliers either which make them perfect for rooms of all sizes. From a functional point of view, they make great task lights in limited-space settings, like the kitchen island or a work desk.

With seemingly infinite designs to pick from, it can also be the focal point in your room. Here’s how to narrow down on the right one for your home or office.

What purpose will your swag hanging lamp light serve?

Consider the design of the room and the number of existing lighting fixtures before you narrow down on a lamp. Are you looking for a swag lamp to help you with your everyday tasks? Or are you looking for a fixture that’s purely decorative?

A room with lots of natural light, for example, can do without an additional ambient lighting fixture. You can opt for a conventional swag lamp with the light directed downwards.

On the other hand, if a room already has pendant or pot lights, then an aesthetic ambient swag lamp that points upwards to the ceiling will fill the void.

Where do you intend to hang the swag lamp?

A large single lamp works well in the living room, the entryway or above the dining table. It can be used both, as a task lamp as well as a focal point.

But if you are looking for an alternative for track lighting, then multiple, smaller lamps hung above eye level can provide the required luminescence without causing glare.

Always consider the height during installation. In an entryway, the lamp must be at least seven to eight feet above the ground. For kitchen tables, islands and work desks, it is recommended that the lamp must be at least 3 to 3 ½ feet above the surface.

What are swag lamps crafted from?

Vintage swag lamps feature ornate metallic frames and glass lampshades. These blend well with rustic or vintage inspired décor themes.

Chains were typically made of brass or bronze in the mid-century. If you are considering buying an antique, check the condition of the chain. Is it worn out? Does it need restoration? Can it bear the load of the heavy glass and metal lampshade?

The glass on the lampshade can be plain, textured or stained and casts a soft, diffused glow that’s well suited for aesthetic lighting in the kitchen or the bedroom.

Slag glass lamps with its mosaic of shades make for an excellent accent piece. Modern swag lamps, on the other hand, can be made of plastic, paper, fabric, glass or wicker making them better suited for living rooms or as task lighting.

What kind of fixture should you choose?

Are you looking for a permanent lighting fixture? Then, by all means, opt for a hardwired swag hanging lamp. If you are retrofitting, then the task might be more labor-intensive than what you expected. But there won’t be any garish, dangling cords to deal with.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a temporary lighting fixture, then go for a plug-in cord. You might need an extension if the cord isn’t long enough to reach the nearest outlet.