You don't have to live in the Wild West to have a "home on the range." Western home decorating is a trend that's catching on from coast to coast. Specialty designers have jumped on board with the trend. They've created a bevy of western home decorating items to suit many themes, right down to rustic light fixture chandeliers.

"Western home decorating" can refer to a number of different decorating schemes. Some of these include Southwestern (or Adobe or Arizona style), Native American, Old West (think cowboys, horses and covered wagons) or western outdoors (nature, wild game and the open range). Western home decorating can be casual and cabin-like or classy and formal.

Western home decorating shies away from man-made materials. Instead, it embraces natural elements that reflect nature and wildlife. Stone, wood, leather and even wild animal skins and antlers are featured prominently. Color schemes tend to revolve around tones that mimic the outdoors. Warm red and yellow-based colors are common and evoke the sense of a Western sunset. Earthen tones like browns and grays are also common.

Rustic light fixture chandeliers that embrace these same elements and tones are the perfect finish to a western room or home. Remember some of these tips when choosing rustic light fixture chandeliers for your western-themed room:

* Look for elements that fit with the overall theme. If your room is more formal, look for chandeliers composed mainly of glass and/or metal. Wrought iron or brushed bronze with frosted glass convey an air of formality. Tiffany-style rustic chandeliers also look spectacular in a formal setting. An outdoorsy room could be adorned with rustic chandeliers featuring laser cut scenes of nature or wild game. Chandeliers made of animal antlers or natural fibers also evoke a casual, nature-based feel. A billiard-style chandelier featuring amber-colored glass and metal may be well-suited for a Southwestern-style room.

* Size matters. This rule applies when choosing any type of chandelier. Be sure to consider how low the chandelier will hang. Some chandeliers have

adjustable-length chains; others don't. A chandelier that hangs too low can be intrusive and get in the way of traffic. One that's too large may dominate a room and detract from the type of activity that will take place. A small chandelier on the other hand may get "swallowed up" in a very large room. Choose the size of your rustic light fixture chandelier based on the size of your room and the space needed to maneuver around it.

* Light level is important. Chandeliers are by-and-large more decorative than functional. However, they do need to offer some level of light. Determine how much light you'll need from your chandelier before buying. Will your chandelier be the main or only source of light in the room? You'll need one that can accommodate the amount of wattage required. It may be desirable to find a chandelier with adjustable light levels. This allows you to control how much light it emits. Turn it up for more light (i.e., at night) or less for daytime use or for mood lighting.

Rustic light fixture chandeliers are like the icing on the cake when it comes to topping off a western-themed room. A great chandelier will enhance and complement your western home decorating efforts without being gaudy or distracting. Rustic light fixture chandeliers are more than just utilitarian appliances. They are works of fine art, and the right one will become a great conversation piece at your next dinner party.