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by Lukas Rathswohl
A chandelier can be an ideal option for lighting in your home. Not just for foyers and formal dining areas, but chandeliers can also be used to provide lighting in kitchens, bedrooms, as well as the children’s room. But before you go out and look for that perfect chandelier, here are some things that you need to consider.
Criteria For Buying Chandeliers
1) Size of the chandelier: The most important element to consider is the size. If not sized correctly, a chandelier will not be able to provide lighting as desired and may well not fit into its designated spot. So here’s what you need to know about sizing a chandelier.
• When choosing a chandelier for a particular room, you need to first measure the width and length of the room. Add these two measurements and the resultant sum (in inches) is how wide your chandelier should be. For instance, if your room is 14 feet wide by 16 feet long, you need to add these two numbers which gives you 30. Thus, the ideal width for a chandelier for this room will be 30 inches. However, you also need to consider the height at which the chandelier will hang. If you have low ceilings and the chandelier will hang quite low, you should buy a slightly smaller one (26-28 inches). But, if you have really high ceilings, then you should go in for a bigger one (34-36 inches). This is because the higher the chandelier, the smaller it is going to appear.
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• Another important size consideration is the length. A chandelier should be at least 30 inches above the table that it will hang over. This is the optimum height as it is high enough to leave adequate room to place things under the chandelier and is low enough to provide the desired lighting. Thus, after subtracting 30 inches from the top of the table to the ceiling, and 3-4 inches for the chandelier hook, the space left can be used to decide the length of the chandelier. Once again, you can be a little flexible here. If you usually use very tall centerpieces on your table, you should choose a chandelier that is a little shorter.
2) Type of lighting required: The kind of lighting that you need is also an important criterion to consider. Here are the various types of chandeliers used to bring about different kinds of lighting:
• Ambient Lighting: If you wish to achieve ambient (general) lighting, you should go in for a big one, which has plenty of bulbs and open lights. This will ensure that the chandelier provides light for the entire room.
• Accent Lighting: If you want to place your chandelier over something specific so as to illuminate that object, or if you want it to provide you with accent lighting for specific areas, then you should choose one with spotlights and down lights. A spotlight will help you to focus lighting on special works of art and help to bring about their beauty. With down lights, you can provide accent lighting for tabletops and other specific areas.
• Diffused Lighting: Many people like to have sober diffused lighting in their home. They do not like the glare of very bright lights. If you too desire such lighting, you should choose a chandelier with uplights. An uplight will throw light on the ceiling which then gets diffused and provides a very warm glow. You can also choose a chandelier with shades as this will help to maximize the light filtering down but reduce the glare at the same time.
Thus, once you have decided on what type of lighting effect you wish to achieve, you can select a chandelier accordingly.
3) Style of the chandelier: As it is most likely going to be the center of attention in any room, it is essential that you choose a chandelier that has a look and style which is in keeping with the rest of your décor. You do not want to draw attention to your chandelier for all the wrong reasons after all!
While a traditional crystal chandelier can look at home in almost any setting, if you want to go in for an ornate wrought iron chandelier, or perhaps a contemporary one, it is important to first determine that such a design will match your home décor. Remember, while choosing a chandelier style, you want to go in for one that matches your décor and not contrasts with it.
In addition to the above, ease of cleaning, number of bulbs (depending on how much lighting you require), and your budget are the other factors to consider when choosing a chandelier.
Lukas Rathswohl is the publisher of All About Chandeliers, your guide to finding the perfect chandelier for your home. Go to All About Chandeliers - Your Chandelier Guide and brighten up your home!
See Also...
Candle Chandeliers
Chandeliers have a classical elegance about them, and of all the chandeliers available, the candle chandelier "takes the cake" because of its lighting. Whatever the make of the candle chandelier—wrought iron, crystal or antler—candles are fitted to it create a warm, romantic and inviting atmosphere. An incandescent candle chandelier, with shadows flickering around it, is truly a spectacular sight. These chandeliers also give a medieval look to the place.
Wrought Iron Chandeliers
It is not very often that you find light fixtures with a distinct character; but you do with the chandelier. There’s the delicate, touch-me-not beauty of the crystal chandelier. And then, there’s the robust, wrought-iron chandelier.
Antique Chandeliers
Chandeliers conjure visions of royalty, grandeur and opulence. Though sleeker and slimmer versions have evolved, there’s still an aura of antiquity that surrounds a chandelier. So when one is striving for an antique look for his home, going in for turn-of-the-century furniture, a decadent looking fireplace and a chandelier are the first things on his mind.
Antler Chandeliers
Despite the raised eyebrows and reproaches from environmentalists and animal lovers, antler chandeliers continue to be in vogue. Antler chandeliers, as the name suggests, are made from the branched horns of a stag or a reindeer, shed naturally. The frame obtained in this manner must be first thoroughly cleansed, and only then can the bulbs or the candles be fitted and made into a chandelier.
Chandelier Lamp Shades
There are robust-looking chandeliers in wrought iron, crystal chandeliers that are simply drop-dead gorgeous, and candle chandeliers that ooze romance. And lampshade chandeliers are dainty, pretty things. The chandelier frame is a pretty massive, with lampshades that are attached to the top. So it is obvious that this type of chandelier is meant for a large room.
Chandelier Lighting
Interior designers are unanimous on one thing: gone are the days when lights were meant only for illumination. These days, mood lighting is much more in vogue, and chandeliers, as well as light fixtures are well suited for this purpose. Mood lighting is a relatively new concept in interior decoration, and it means creating a particular ambience with light. This can be achieved by varying the color of the light, its intensity or the look of the lamp.
Chandeliers
Lighting fixtures are usually the most overlooked aspect of interior decoration. More often than not, you have hideous-looking light brackets that do not at all coordinate with the overall decor. And, as with wall mounted light fixtures, the wrong type of chandelier at the wrong place can spell doom for the entire look of the house.
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