How To Choose A Chandelier

First of all, you have to decide what type of chandelier you want and which room you want it in. Why do you want a chandelier? Is it because it gives a feeling of elegance to your room or is it because you believe that it provides better light in the area?

You will need to know how any natural light in your room appears during the day and night to decide exactly where to hang the chandelier. From this, you can determine just how much light you need in the room. Then the next step is to choose a chandelier that will provide the light that you need. The best way to do this is to go to a home improvement store and ask a person who works in the lighting are to show you the different types available. You could be surprised at what you will find. Then you must decide whether you are going for elegance or simplicity in design.

A chandelier should be about 3 feet above a table and should have at least 150 watts of light. Consider if the chandelier that you choose has a remote switch that can dim and brighten the lights as needed for the light in the room. Consider if the one that you have chosen is a good size for the room in which it is going to be installed. Your chandelier will be a focal point for your room and you do not want to choose anything that will overpower the room. If it is too small it will look odd and more out of place than one that is too large. In order to determine how large your chandelier should be, add the length of the room to the width. The result will be the size your chandelier should be. Ex. 16 +12 = 28; your chandelier should be about 28 inches around. The height of your ceiling tells you how tall your chandelier should be. Multiply the height of your ceiling by 3 to determine the height of your chandelier. Ex. 9x3=27; you may choose a 27 inch chandelier for a 9 foot ceiling. Do not choose a chandelier wider than the table over which it hangs.

Since you have figured out how big the chandelier should be and just where it should hang, it is time to decide just what sort of fixture you actually want to buy. Do not choose something that does not work with your décor. It does not take an interior designer to tell you that a huge crystal chandelier does not “work” with certain types of furnishings. You can choose from other materials such as wrought iron with milk glass shades, wooden with brass and glass lights, and even items made in bright primary colors. Pick what is right for your room.