Chandelier Lighting

Chandeliers can add grandeur and elegance to your room, be it crystal Swarovski chandeliers or contemporary brass chandeliers or Tiffany chandeliers. Lend your room an aura of brilliance with focal lighting from a chandelier. Typically, a chandelier is a focal point of a dining room or a drawing room. Chandelier lighting can create a dreamy aura to your home.

The popular thumb rule for picking a chandelier is 'bigger the better'. But consider the dimensions of the room and estimate its focal point. Check out the placement - whether it will be over a table. Assess the lighting needs of the room. You can choose smaller accent lights to complement the chandelier lighting. If your ceiling is high (around 10 feet and more), then alone consider multi-tiered chandeliers.

Chandeliers can be placed in the dining room, living room or even a stairway. Install it correctly by following the instruction manual. Get the chandelier thoroughly cleaned once a year. Use the right cleaning solution and bring out the sparkle in the crystals.

Chandelier lighting guide

• It is important to choose a chandelier of the right size. If you are choosing a chandelier for your dining room, scale it to the size of the table. A chandelier of 17 - 20 inches diameter would suit a small room. For a bigger room, go in for a chandelier of about 24-36 inches diameter. A table of 42 inches width would need a chandelier of 30 inches. Chandelettes or mini chandeliers are popularly used in bedrooms and small alcoves.
  
  
• Chandeliers must be placed at the right height for optimum effect. Typically a chandelier must hang at least 32 inches over the top of the table in a room with 8' ceiling. When installing a chandelier in the foyer, give allowance for tall people and door swings.
  
  
• 40-watt bulbs are most flattering with chandelier lighting. Use dimmers to be able to alter the intensity of light to suit the mood and activity.
  
  
• Chandelier lighting must be chosen to suit the décor of the room. Do not go in for ornate chandeliers in a room that sports a casual décor. If your room is more traditionally decorated; go in for chandeliers with more ornamentation and decorative details.
  
  
• Avoid high wattage bulbs. They will increase the heat and cause excessive table glare. Some are designed with downlights to provide task lighting for homework or table games or to accent table settings. Equipped with shades or globes to avoid glare, chandeliers are suspended from the ceiling over dinette tables, game tables, kitchen counters or other work areas.
  
  
• Ensure that the chandelier has good finish quality and check for detailing and quality of crystals. Modern chandeliers come with multi-tone finishes. You are no longer restricted to just one metal or finish.
  
  
• Choice of right light bulbs is critical to the chandelier lighting. Clear bulbs enhance sparkle, whereas frosted bulbs cast a pleasing glow.
  
  
• The weight of the chandelier is another critical element. Chandeliers weighing more than 50 pounds have to be mounted with more care.