Modern Lighting: How to Incorporate Chandeliers in Every Room

Chandeliers have been around for centuries and originally were multiple armed fixtures that held candles. Today, these light fixtureshave evolved greatly and don’t necessarily have multiple arms, though they do almost always have multiple sources of light. Despite their antiquity in age, these particular ceiling fixtures are set to be one of the most trendiest light fixtures in recent years, being used in every room from the bathroom to the bedroom and into the living room.

Despite popular misconception, chandeliers were more about wealth than about actual function. In fact, although their design was quite clever, it was difficult to keep the candles lit and these light fixtures could prove to be quite dangerous if anything around them (including the fixture itself) were to catch fire.

Today’s chandeliers are significantly safer, with many options using LEDs and other energy efficient light bulbs that produce less heat, as well as other factors that make these light fixtures safe all-around.

Scale

Modern Lighting: How to Incorporate Chandeliers in Every Room

When using a chandelier in any room, including the traditional dining room setting, it is important to take note of the room’s overall scale. You do not want to choose a chandelier, or any light fixture for that matter, that is too large to fit the space.

What Size Chandelier Do I Need?

With scale, comes wondering what size chandelier you actually need. These light fixtures are surprisingly easy to work with, especially when trying to determine the overall size needed for any given space.

To determine the proper size for a chandelier, you’ll need to add the length and the width of the room. The number you get after adding these two figures is the diameter of your chandelier.

For example, let’s say the bedroom is twelve by twelve feet in size. Twelve plus twelve equals twenty-four and therefore, the light fixture should be twenty-four inches in diameter. Another example, the bathroom is six by eight, which is a total of fourteen. Therefore, a bathroom of that size could handle a chandelier up to fourteen inches.

When buying chandeliers after you’ve determined what size you need, you’ll need to keep in mind a few key factors: the difference between chandeliers and chandelettes. For comparison’s sake, chandelettes may also go by the name of pendalette, in which the pendant light features multiple articles similar to the chandelier. These light fixtures are generally the same, despite the different names.

That being said, a chandelier is any multiple armed or multiple light source hanging ceiling fixture that is at least twelve inches in diameter. Chandelettes are smaller in size at anywhere from nine to twelve inches. Light fixtures that are smaller than nine inches arependant lights. So always take note of the dimensions on the box before you purchase!

Style

Finally, don’t forget to choose a chandelier that suits the overall style of the room that it resides in. While the term ‘chandelier’ often brings to mind a grand, glittering crystal-accented piece, this particular style isn’t suited for every room.

Fortunately, there are a number of different styles for this light fixture from modern to contemporary, traditional to elegant, chandeliers that feature European details and everything in between. There is a chandelier to suit every style of decor, so don’t give up just because you don’t find something on the first try at your local home improvement store! Images 1| 2| 3

Did we grab your attention and interest you into incorporating chandeliers into your living space?  Don’t forget about our extraordinarypendant lights that are waiting for you!

Chandeliers - Size Does Matter

When many of us think of the chandelier, we imagine “The Sound of Music” or some similar Hollywood picture featuring grand ballrooms illuminated by some elaborate and massive chandelier. You know the type—crystal for days and so many bulbs that you find yourself wondering how much it might cost to power that monstrosity for a month. But, when you remember the size of the room these ‘Hollywood’ chandeliers must illuminate, the light fixture actually seems appropriate. This is precisely as it should be because the size of a chandelier is relative to the room in which they are used.

Chandeliers - Size Does Matter

Chandeliers are natural focal points of any décor so there is no need to buy a massive one that requires additional ceiling supports in order to hang. When you purchase an over-sized chandelier, the effect may actually cheapen the décor and make it seem gaudy or contrived. Remember, chandeliers convey a subtle grace and elegance. This effect is lost when you have a massive chandelier illuminating a small room. The idea is for the chandelier to naturally draw attention without becoming that mole on your aunt’s face that you just can’t seem to stop staring at.

Similarly, you certainly don’t want to buy a tiny chandelier for a grand dining room. Undersized chandeliers send the message that you ran a little short on your lighting budget and will forever look awkward and out-of-place. However, it is quite common to see tiny chandeliers in homes for the simple reason that they are some of the most expensive lighting fixtures available for homeowners to choose. But if you do have your heart set on a chandelier, how do you choose one that is sized correctly?

Many people choose to mount their chandelier above the dining room table. The dining room is a more formal area and is well-suited for chandeliers. The diameter of the chandelier is based upon the width of the dining room table. This is calculated by taking subtracting twelve inches from the total width of the dining room table. The height that the chandelier should be mounted at for rooms with 9 foot ceilings is roughly 30-33 inches from the top of the dining room table. When the ceiling is above 9 feet tall, the chandelier should hang 3 inches more (add 3 inches to the 30-33 inches figure for every foot above 9 feet) above the table for every foot. So, for a twelve foot ceiling, the chandelier should be 39-42 inches above the dining room table.

When not using the chandelier in the dining room, the size is determined by the room dimensions. There are two basic ways to calculate the diameter of a chandelier using room dimensions. In the first, the diameter is calculated by multiplying 2 inches by the total width of the room in feet. A width of 12 feet would require a chandelier with a diameter of 24 inches.

The other method is to add the dimensions of the room and convert into inches. In other words, a 10’X12’ room would have a chandelier with a diameter of 22 inches. Some judgment will be necessary but a good rule of thumb is that it is best to err on the small side when you have more elaborate and traditional chandeliers and to go a little large on more modern chandeliers.