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Choosing the right size chandelier
Chandeliers are
designed to float in a room as an important part of
the decor. Too large and this fixture will overpower
the space. Too small and it will look out of place.
"Placing a chandelier that is too small in a space
is likely the biggest mistake because it's very
noticeable," says Joe Rey-Barreau, educational
consultant for the American Lighting Association
(ALA) and assistant professor of interior design at
the University of Kentucky. "Great designers,
therefore, tend to make their decisions on fixtures
that may appear slightly larger than might be
appropriate. It's generally always best to make the
mistake on a fixture being too big than too small."
- To make sure
your chandelier is the right size for the room
in which it will hang, consider the following
questions.
- How high is your
ceiling? Taller ceilings demand larger fixtures.
- What is the size
and shape of your table or island? The
chandelier should complement, not overpower,
anything you plan to suspend it over.
- How big is the
room you are trying to illuminate? Again, be
sure the chandelier is not too big or too small
for the room.
- What is the form
and design of the chandelier? Light, airy
fixtures tend to look larger.
To determine the
proper size chandelier for the foyer add the
dimensions together: For example if your foyer is
12ft. by 16ft., add the 112 plus 16 to get 28. The
proper size chandelier would then be 28” diameter.
This works for any room. Make sure the bottom of
the fixture does not hang more than 7ft. from the
floor. If windows are present, center the fixture
in the window so it can be seen from outside
To determine the proper size chandelier for a dining
table, choose a chandelier choose one with a
diameter 12" less than width of table. This assumes
the table is sized appropriate for room. It should
be hung with the bottom of the fixture 30” above the
tabletop for an 8ft. ceiling. Go up 3” for each
additional foot of ceiling. For ceilings nine feet
or higher, consider a two-tier style chandelier to
fill the space from the fixture's top to the
ceiling.
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Picking the right
chandelier
To find the right
style chandelier for your home, simply begin with a
color or a material that is predominant in the
decoration scheme of the room. What catches your eye
in the room? What type of statement do you want to
make? If the room is more traditional, choose
chandeliers with more ornamentation and decorative
details. If your home is modern, opt for less
ornamentation and simpler details.
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Chandelier Options
Colorful chandeliers
create drama in the kitchen. Teeny ones provide
elegance to powder rooms. Even walk-in closets go
upscale when lit with a small chandelier.
"Beyond laundry rooms and garages, any room is an
open target for hanging a chandelier," adds
Rey-Barreau. "More commonly, kitchens and bathrooms
have become the popular locations for chandeliers."
Chandeliers add twinkle to a boudier. "People are
treating their bedroom suites as more luxurious
personal spaces with elaborate bathroom areas, so it
is not unreasonable to consider chandeliers there,
either," says Dan Blitzer, Director of Education for
the ALA..
"Chandelettes," or mini chandeliers, add a new sense
of intimacy to small rooms and to corner spaces and
alcoves of larger ones. "Minis are even being used
as wall sconces in some instances -- and they look
fantastic," says lighting and furniture designer
Sergio Orozco.
These compact chandeliers are nine-12 inches in
diameter to slip easily into tight spaces. For added
impact, consider grouping them.
Chandeliers have also sized up to accommodate the
soaring foyers and sweeping two-story spaces of
larger homes.
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Designs
Tips
Fashionable and
functional, chandeliers should be incorporated into
the home just as any decorative accessory or object
of art would be chosen. "I would urge consumers to
view this purchase with same enjoyment they would
use in buying fine furniture," says Dan Blitzer,
educational consultant for the American Lighting
Association. "A fine chandelier is an investment
that will add to the value of your home."
To find the right style chandelier for your home,
simply begin with a color or a material that is
predominant in the decoration scheme of the room.
What catches your eye in the room? What type of
statement do you want to make? If the room is more
traditional, choose chandeliers with more
ornamentation and decorative details. If your home
is modern, opt for less ornamentation and simpler
details.
Here are
some more tips when shopping for a chandelier
- LIGHT IT RIGHT:
Be sure to choose the correct lightbulbs for
your particular chandelier. According to the
experts, clear bulbs in chandeliers with exposed
bulbs, or crystal glass enclosures will enhance
sparkle. In chandeliers with linen shades,
frosted bulbs cast a pleasing glow and won't
create shadows.
- WEIGHT THERE:
Always consider the weight of the chandelier.
Chandeliers heavier than 50 pounds have to be
mounted more securely to the house's structure.
"This is a criteria of the National Electrical
Code, and the electrician hanging the fixture
should be aware of this," says Rey-Barreau. "It
doesn't hurt to remind them, however."
- MORE IS MORE:
Don't let a chandelier stand alone in a room.
Like a star, they need a supporting cast of
characters to help them do their job. "A
chandelier needs supplemental lighting around
it," says Blitzer. "Don't sweat to find the one
fixture that does everything. It is best to
achieve a layer of light in the rooms with
sconces, table and floor lamps."
- MIXED MESSAGES:
Mixing of materials and styles within one
fixture is now a common design trend. It is not
unusual, for example, to find a rustic cast-iron
fixture with crystals hanging from it, or
different metals and types of glass all
incorporated into one fixture. "American
styles are decidedly eclectic and homeowners
today are very comfortable mixings styles," says
Blitzer. "Chandeliers lends themselves neatly to
that process. You can look for a chandelier that
is inspired by the period reflected in the room
you are putting it, but you don't have to. Many
contemporary designs are a blend of traditional
elements with modern materials -- glass and
alabaster with polished chromoe or satin nickel,
which makes them work with a variety of styles."
- COLOR ME
BEAUTIFUL: While sparkling clear crystal
refracts and reflects light, designers offer
chandeliers in a rainbow of shades to complement
decor. Colored crystal can combine with clear to
create a prism of hue. Smokey quartz, rock
crystal and amethyst offer an antique feel.
- FINISH LINE:
Chandeliers no longer feature just one metal or
just one finish. The latest looks offer
multi-tone finishes created by painted or
chemical processes.
- MOD SQUAD: The
freshest face in chandeliers is clean and
simple, designed to work in more contemporary
spaces. "We just introduced a dramatic new
categor of crystal product that is very
contemporary," says Schonbek. "It features
colored crystal geometic shapes -- cubes,
rectangles, spirals, pyramids. The colors mix
together to create auras of light for a vibrant
rich look."
- DIM LIT: Whether
they are ornate and multi-armed or simply
feature a large-scale bowl, chandeliers need a
dimmer so homeowners can control the intensity
of light. "Most of the time, the lighting
capability of a chandelier is more than is
actually necessary to light the space," says
Rey-Barreua. "They should always be controlled
by a dimmer to add to the aesthetic appeal."
- MATCH POINT:
Once a design preference has been identified,
the chandelier should simply be another
decorative element. "There is a trend to
eclectic interiors where traditional,
transitional and modern will blur even within
the same room," says Rey-Barreau. "The
chandelier doesn't need to "match" the decor in
a very rigid manner. If it works visually for
the user, then it's fine."
b. Dining Room Lighting Design Tips
Today's dining rooms reflect consumer's changing
lifestyles. Once used solely for daily dining,
this room has become more multipurpose.
"During the week, we use the dining room as a
work zone, for homework, crafts, church work,
organizational meetings," says Dan Blitzer,
continuing educator for the American Lighting
Association. "On the weekends and special
occasions, it becomes a gathering place for
parties and meals." The result? Dining rooms
must boast multiple lighting options that can go
from functional to fashionable in the flick of a
switch.
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Proper Lighting Tips
To get the best
balance of illumination in the dining room, opt for
layers of light. "The most important thing a
homeowner should recognize is that a dining room
does not look well-lighted if the only light source
is a chandelier," says Blitzer. "A chandelier that
is bright enough to illuminate a room will be too
bright for comfort when dining. Likewise, if the
chandelier's light is comfortable on the eyes, it
will be too dim and look flat."
When choosing dining room lighting, start with a
chandelier in the middle of the room, then work out
with accent lights. The chandelier will determine
the room's feeling. Use your imagination. In today's
more eclectic decor, even casual homes can have
elegant dining rooms.
"You might find casual wrought iron or brushed steel
metal fixtures in the home's adjacent "great room"
and wrought iron with crystal drops or pendants in
the dining room, creating a more romantic, softer
setting," Greg Vandia, Vice President Sales and
Marketing for New York manufacturer Murray Feiss."
That's perfectly acceptable."
When selecting a chandelier, don't worry about the
fixture's quality of light as much as its beauty and
scale. Chandelier choices include everything from
those with exposed bulbs to those with large
alabaster diffusing bowls. Trends range from simple
Mission-inspired models with mica glass to ornate
brass filigree with crystal pendants.
"Finish is the most important factor today and it
should compliment surrounding furnishings and
accessories; not match or contrast," says Rick
Wiedemer, CLC, President of Hinkley Lighting, Inc.,
a manufacturer in Cleveland, OH. "The finish
selected will then determine the material."
Popular materials include brass, aluminum, wrought
iron, other metal combinations, or composite
materials.
Crystal chandeliers are one of the most traditional
way to compliment a dining room setting.
Accent lights, either recessed or tract-mounted, on
either side of the chandelier and between the end of
the table add a festive sparkle to china, crystal,
fruit arrangements. Space them so they are not over
the head of diners, but not so close to the
chandelier to create shadows. Angle them toward the
chandelier to add sparkle to the chandelier and
provide down lighting.
The final layer of light should fill in the shadows
around the room's perimeter. Consider recessed
lights located in the ceiling toward the corners of
the room. Wall washers, recessed or mounted on
tracts, can illuminate drapes or paintings.
Torchieres and sconces point light toward the
ceiling.
Don't forget to light furniture around the edge of
the dining room. "Buffets, hutches or breakfronts
can be illuminated internally with low voltage
lights on the underside of shelves to light up
collections and china," says Blitzer.
Portable lighting, or table lamps, also plays an
important role in the dining room area. "Accent
lamps on breakfronts or etageres or two great buffet
lamps with unique shades can help create just the
right mood for that special meal or occasion when
the dining room is being utilized," says Vandia.
Other options include recessed or tract lighting
above buffets or breakfronts. Miniature low voltage
pendants suspended three feet above the buffet offer
a more contemporary look, while tall, thin
candlestick lamps on either end are more
traditional.
Additional Lighting Tips for Dining Rooms
- FIRST STEP: A
chandelier in the middle of the room defines the
space. Choose that fixture first, then work out
with accent lights.
- HANGING AROUND:
Choose a chandelier with a diameter 12" less
than width of table. The bottom of chandelier
should be 30" above table.
- TALL ORDERS: For
ceilings nine feet or higher, consider a
two-tier style chandelier to fill the space from
the fixture's top to the ceiling.
- DIMMER SHIMMER:
Always use a dimmer on dining room lights.
"Light becomes warmer as it is dimmed," says Dan
Blitzer, American Lighting Association
Continuing Educator.
- HOME WORK: For
those who use the dining room as a study area,
consider bringing in a portable study lamp to
brighten up the workspace. "Overhead lighting
may work well for general studies, but in depth
or close work demands more light," says Blitzer.
- GET SMART:
So-called "smart" dimmers, driven by
microprocessors offer convenience. "When you
have several layers of light, smart dimmers can
be set to various ambiences. Press one button
for dining, another for lighting up homework,
another for party-time.
- THE LAYERED
LOOK: Use multiple layers of light in the dining
room. Chandeliers provide the central focus.
Accent lights on either side of the chandelier
and at the room's perimeter brighten things up.
Accessory lights on and/or over other furniture
pieces fill in the background.
- TABLE THIS:
Table lamps add a soft, humanizing touch to a
dining room. Display them on a buffet or
breakfront.
Calculating the wattage required in any room:
How do I determine
the correct amount of wattage to properly illuminate
a room? Example a 12” by 16” room
Multiply the room dimensions to get your total
square footage (12 x 16=192). Then multiply the
square footage by 1.5 for total illumination needed
(192 x 1.5 = 288 watts).
For specific task lighting within a space (for
instance, the light needed on an island in your
kitchen) multiply the square footage of the island
(example: 8 by 4=32 sq feet) by 2.5 = 80. Two
40-watt pendants would do the job.
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Chandelier History and
Applications
Chandeliers Create Drama Throughout the Home The chandelier used
to mark your arrival. Clad in crystal, it met you in
the foyer of a well-appointed home, then dazzled you
from a power position over the dining room table.
Rarely did you find a chandelier in a starter home.
To see them illuminating any room other than one
used for entry or dining, more unusual still.
My, how times have changed.
Today chandeliers rate as a brilliant idea just
about anywhere -- from modest homes to magnificent
mansions, contemporary digs to traditional houses.
They dangle decorously in almost every room of the
house.
Credit our bigger-is-better building boom. Taller
ceilings and increased volume in today's homes means
chandeliers are less likely to crowd a room.
"Nine-and-10-foot ceilings almost demand something
hanging to fill the space," says Joe Rey-Barreau.
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