The quintessential chandelier light has been around for centuries as a lighting fixture, but that doesn’t mean it’s outdated. People hand traditional chandeliers in spacious rooms for their grandeur and elegance. A chandelier hanging in your home is a royal decorative statement, drawing attention while adding glamor to plain ceilings. Modern chandeliers have different styles […]
The quintessential chandelier light has been around for centuries as a lighting fixture, but that doesn’t mean it’s outdated. People hand traditional chandeliers in spacious rooms for their grandeur and elegance. A chandelier hanging in your home is a royal decorative statement, drawing attention while adding glamor to plain ceilings. Modern chandeliers have different styles and materials for any interior design; you can find one that fits your room perfectly. Here we’ll talk about the factors you should consider when choosing a chandelier for your home.
There are a few practical considerations before buying a chandelier light. It is essential to consider its dimensions play a crucial role in the light intensity and illumination of the area. So take note of the width and height of the chandelier and check if it is suitable for your room.
Before choosing a chandelier for your home, you must measure the diameter of the lighting fixture. Here is one easy way to measure the chandelier diameter:
Another method is to add the length of the chandelier from the two closest walls. Next, double this measurement to get the chandelier diameter in inches. It’s as simple as that.
If you are hanging the chandelier directly above a dining table, add the table’s width to your considerations. The chandelier should be one-third to two-thirds of the dining table length. It should only extend to the table dimensions to prevent guests from accidentally bumping their heads against it.
Remember to calculate the vertical dimension or height of the chandelier too. The easiest way is to measure the room height in feet and multiply it by 2.5 or 3. Your result is the chandelier height in inches.
We recommend suspending the chandelier at a level that prevents light glare and does not obstruct vision. It shouldn’t be too high for the direct light beam to be visible. But it also shouldn’t be too low to blow movement. A chandelier light should ideally hang around 30 to 36 inches from the top of the table. Adjust this height to accommodate your actual ceiling or table height.
Consider a more compact chandelier style if your ceiling is low or if you have a false ceiling. Combine two or three miniature chandeliers for sufficient light. Or, install a small chandelier and surround it with pendant lights for enhanced illumination.
You can get a big chandelier for at least 11 to 12 feet tall ceilings. A large chandelier impresses viewers and elevates the depth and grandeur of your high ceiling.
Consider the intensity of your light source and decide if it’s appropriate for the room. Remember that the higher you hang the chandelier, the larger and dimmer the light pool. Conversely, a lower-hung chandelier casts a smaller and brighter light pool. An average dining room of 100 square feet requires about 300-400 lumens. So, consider the lumen output when you choose bulbs.
Decide if you want uplight or downlight lighting. Uplight lighting focuses the lighting upwards and casts it on the ceiling to reflect downwards. Interestingly, it’s the most common lighting design for chandeliers. Uplight chandeliers have diffused and scattered ambient lighting that bounces off the ceiling, establishing the intended room ambiance. To ensure evenly spread-out ambient lighting, position the uplight chandelier in the center of the room.
Downlight lighting is more common in traditional-style chandeliers. It’s excellent for direct task lighting because it provides brighter and more focused illumination. It casts intense, and concentrated light pools on the ground. When used in a dark place, downlight chandeliers have interesting compositional contrast with the shadows in the room. Vary the number of chandelier lightbulbs to increase or decrease the intensity and evenness of the light pool below.
You will need different chandelier lighting styles for various rooms in the house. Every room serves a different purpose and should have its unique lighting style. We recommend having downlight chandeliers in the kitchen where you prepare food. You can choose uplight chandeliers for the living room or dining room for a relaxed and comfortable mood.
Most chandeliers are decorative light fixtures, they can only partially illuminate the room. It would be best if you used them as a supplementary light source instead. You must combine chandelier lights with other functional lights for adequate indoor lighting. Assemble layered lighting effects by adding floor, wall, and table lamps to complement your primary chandelier light.
Contemporary chandeliers are also usually outfitted with LED bulbs that provide highly versatile lighting options. LED bulbs are more energy-efficient and eco-friendly and cut down your electricity consumption. They outlast most other lightbulbs, withstanding around 50,000 hours of use. If you have an old chandelier that uses traditional halogen bulbs, consider retrofitting it with LED bulbs. You can also pair LED bulbs with a dimmer to control the light intensity of your chandelier.
Most people install chandeliers in entrance foyers, living rooms, or above the dining table. But you can choose other creative areas to install hanging light fixtures too! Hang smaller chandeliers in bathrooms, bedrooms, and powder rooms for attractive ambient lighting.
A chandelier light is usually the focal point of the space where you hang it. Suspend the chandelier in the room’s center to emphasize visual balance and symmetry. It also provides an all-rounded view of the chandelier; you can admire its beautiful elements from all angles.
Different materials and designs have a range of moods and aesthetics. Your chandelier is meant to be looked at, so select materials that are easy on the eyes. Choose a material texture and chandelier bulb placement to match your room’s atmosphere and theme.
Most chandeliers use metallic-textured frames in different colors. Metallic structures are reflective and enhance the chandelier lighting, making it eye-catching and attractive. You can pick from popular gold, silver, or bronze materials.
Gold and bronze chandeliers are warm-toned and have a rich, elegant look. However, bright gold tends to be flashy or gaudy because it has a bolder yellow gleam than bronze. Glowing gold accents were trendy in the 1960s but look outdated now. It’s not the wisest material to pick because the color can make the chandelier look tacky. Some homeowners choose muted gold instead because it’s softer and more subdued, creating a delicate, timeless look.
Deep-colored bronze is suitable for creating a rustic ambiance. It also has a burnished antique look and goes well with traditional candelabra chandelier designs.
Silver has a modern, colorless design and reflects light cleanly without tinting it. This material is highly inconspicuous and blends easily with the rest of the room. It’s a popular chandelier material because it goes well with almost every interior design.
There are many chandelier shapes and designs. You can choose from a traditional, rectangular, round, cluster, sputnik, caged, globe, or beaded design.
Traditional chandeliers have a classic frame that resembles candelabra. They remind you of royal ballrooms and medieval castles with their typical historical features. The most common example is a refined crystal chandelier. Classic crystal chandeliers suit most contemporary and traditional interior design themes. They are sparkly and scatter light all over the room, making them look gorgeous.
Rectangular and round chandeliers fit most contemporary interior designs. Choose LED variants for an urban look. You can customize LED chandelier designs in many shapes due to the versatility of LED bulbs. These bulbs can be curved or irregular-shaped, allowing you to experiment with various exciting chandelier styles. You can find minimalist chandeliers with continuous curves or clustered bars for different geometric styles.
For a clean and contemporary interior design, hang a minimalist wide-diameter chandelier in the center or corner. Less is more, so leave enough negative space for a breezy and open vibe. This arrangement looks best in rooms with expansive windows and plenty of natural light.
Clustered chandelier lights contain several grouped bulbs or units. This kind of light creates interesting visual asymmetry and is an excellent mid-modern century design.
Another grand mid-modern century chandelier is the Sputnik design. The individual bulbs resemble planets orbiting each other, hence the reason for the name. They add a captivating modern touch to the room. They’re also great for stimulating the imagination; this light installation is celestial-inspired; it can make you wonder for hours!
Caged chandelier lights have a geometric frame fitted over the central light fixture. They resemble pendant lights; you can hang them in a single unit or cluster. If you like something unexpected, choose a frame that resembles a traditional birdcage.
Globe chandeliers are simple, minimalist, and perfect for soft ambient lighting because the globe completely conceals the bulb. You can install a globe chandelier as a single large unit for a cleaner and simpler look. Most globe chandeliers consist of several smaller globe units clustered together or arranged in a Sputnik design.
Beaded chandeliers are highly elaborated light fixtures; strands of ornamental beads make up the frames and dangling elements. You can choose different bead materials and colors for different aesthetics. Pale brown or white wooden beads add pearlescent elegance, while dark-colored or black beads have a striking gothic aura.
You’ve learned about the various design considerations for choosing chandeliers, so why not install them in your home? They are decorative and functional, brightening up any room with a suitable atmosphere. There’s a chandelier light for every mood, whether you are lounging and relaxing or dining and chatting. Chandelier lights are the focal point of the space. They gather people together and encourage warm conversations while impressing everyone with their glitz. They are a worthy investment for enhancing the beauty of your home.
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