A Guide to Buying a Chandelier

Buying a chandelier should be based on size of the room and intended use, not just the price of the fixture. When selecting a chandelier, the correct size is of the upmost importance in creating the desired lighting ambiance.

Of all lighting fixtures available today, nothing adds more elegance to a home than a graceful chandelier. With an impressive selection of chandeliers available, choosing the correct chandelier to accent main focal points on the interior of home can be an overwhelming task. As lighting fixtures go, c handeliers are among the more expensive, so it’s important to get the style, configuration and sizing right.

Measuring

This bedroom chandelier adds a significant touch of elegance to the room

The correct size of chandelier required for a particular room is determined by the square footage of the room in which the chandelier is to be hung. As a rule of thumb, a room smaller than 10 feet by 10 feet will go best with a chandelier with diameters ranging from 17-20 inches for maximum lighting effect. In other scenarios, such as a larger room measuring 12 feet by 12 feet, consideration of a chandelier with a diameter of not less than 26 inches or greater than 27 inches is appropriate. For even larger rooms in excess of 14 feet by 14 feet a chandelier with a diameter not less than 24 inches or greater than 36 inches will provide lighting that is pleasing, attractive and alluring.

Design Styles

As chandelier styles differentiate the overall lighting projected follows. Styles of chandeliers include:

• Art Deco
• Art Nouveau
• Colonial
• Empire
• Mission
• Neoclassical
• Victorian
• Tiffany

Of all available styles, Victorian, Mission and Wagon wheel are the most commonly selected.

An elegant foyer chandelier makes a great first impression on guests

Victorian styled chandeliers feature stacked, glass blown globes arranged in tiers. Casting a soft, open-aired warm light, a Victorian style chandelier works well in rooms with heavy wood accents . In retrospect, a M ission styled chandelier typically has squared shades with opaque, pearlized glass casting dimmer lights of intimate nature. For centuries, W agon W heel chandeliers have graced elegant, rustic log homes and majestic farmhouses projecting a yellow light suitable for a dining room. Each style of chandelier is designed to project different patterns and spectrums of lighting. Consideration of present interior décor will dictate the style of chandelier that meets individual tastes.

Chandelier Frames

Chandelier frames made today consist of many different materials. Wood, metals, plastics, ceramics and glass are only a few of the selection of materials that comprise chandelier frames. Today, the most common chandelier frame is made of metal, plated with a gold or chrome as a final finish. With traditional trends changing, contemporary chandelier frames are now seen in bolder colors including reds, blacks and greens. The final coating of the chandelier frame is worth considering, as this can influence resistance to chipping or scratching.

Uses

Traditionally, chandeliers are hung in foyers of homes or rooms with high, grand ceilings . In lieu of recent popular trends, chandeliers have begun to replace conventional lighting fixtures in bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, sitting rooms, dens, hallways and most recently, in bathrooms. Due to overall high cost per fixture, chandeliers used in non-traditional rooms are often seen in up-scale homes.

Chandelier Costs

An inexpensive Victorian chandelier

High quality chandeliers are competitively priced starting at $200 and running anywhere up to $3,000 or more. Chandeliers are the most expensive lighting fixture in the home . Where individuals often select chandeliers based on pricing, others choose alternative methods in selecting chandeliers based on name brands. Neither is the preferred method of choice. Shop around before arriving at a final decision. Comparing prices on a chosen chandelier may result in substantial overall savings.

Installation

Chandelier installation plays a crucial role in overall performance. . If the chosen chandelier is to hang over a dining room table, the selected table should be at least twelve-inches (12 inches) wider than the elected chandelier. The selected chandelier should hang no lower than thirty-inches (30inches) above any surface or lower than seven-feet (7-feet) from the ceiling, with total bulb wattage between 200-400 watts.

Chandeliers are heavy and often installed from great heights by specialized equipment. Due to the overall weight of chandeliers, specialized boxes in the ceiling are needed to support the additional weight of the chandelier, which at times can exceed two hundred and fifty pounds (250 lbs). Chandeliers are best installed by a qualified electrician with access to supporting hardware . To prevent injuries from falls while attempting to hang a chandelier, always seek out qualified individuals to complete the installation process.

Chandeliers provide warmth, elegance and sophistication to any room in the home or place of business. Where quality lighting is needed, chandeliers radiate to perfection.