Whether you're looking for a lighting fixture to brighten up your foyer, set the tone for your dining room, or add character to another room in your home, chandeliers are a classic choice for making a big impression. Today's modern, contemporary and transitional styles offer an ever-expanding range of luminaire designs. In addition to style and materials, there are many other factors to consider when choosing the perfect chandelier, including size, light output, type of light source, dimming options, and more.
To help you narrow down your choices, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding buying a chandelier.
What should I look for when looking for my perfect chandelier?
Aside from style, the three main factors in choosing a chandelier are size/scale, light direction (glare vs. glare), and control (dimming).
Having something too big or too small can result in a disproportionate look in your space. A 30" tall chandelier hanging in the middle of a room with 8" ceilings will feel extremely low in space and look odd. If you buy something too small, the piece may appear dim in the room. If in doubt, it's best to err on the larger side, as chandeliers are statements.
Use the following "rule of thumb" method to size your chandelier so that it is the focal point of the room (wherever it is placed above a table or counter).
- Measure the length and width of the room in feet.
- Add these two numbers together.
- The sum of these two numbers should be the diameter of your chandelier in inches.
This is just a guide, but it gives a start. Try our chandelier sizing tool to easily find the right size chandelier for your space.
You can choose an LED chandelier for your home here.
You also want to make sure that the light coming out of the fixture is not bright. There is nothing worse than sitting at the dinner table with a bright light bulb on your face. In which direction is the light moving? Are the bulbs hidden or exposed? If the lamps are exposed, you should consider adding a dimmer to your chandelier to control the light output.
If I'm looking for a contemporary or contemporary look, which lighting trends should I focus on?
For a more contemporary look and design, focus on satin nickel or chrome finishes. Bronze finishes are more common in transitional fixtures that combine design elements from both traditional and contemporary styles. Modern design focused on chrome and satin nickel. Also look for clean lines, with minimal ornate decoration. Keep in mind that the finishes and materials of your chandelier should also complement the other finishes in your space.
How big should my chandelier be in my dining room?
Chandeliers are sized by diameter and height. The number of bulbs can also affect the size. I recommend a chandelier diameter of 1/2 to 2/3 the width of your dining table. Today's average dining room chandelier is a four to six diameter fixture, 26 to 30 inches in diameter.
Before buying, also consider the height of the ceiling and the height of the chandelier. The chandelier should hang about 30 to 36 inches from the top of the table to the bottom of the fixture itself. Too tall a chandelier can end up almost on the table! However, if you have high ceilings, a two- or three-tier design can work just fine. I love Tilda from Arteriors Home.
Use our Chandelier Size Guide to find the perfect chandelier size based on your dining table size and ceiling height. There are options for both square and round tables according to the size of the dining room chandelier.
Will my chandelier be bright enough to light up the entire room? How much light do I really need from my chandelier?
Chandeliers are decorative lights designed to add style and ambience, so don't expect your chandelier to be the main light source in the room. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with a chandelier. Putting one fixture in the center of a room and expecting it to completely illuminate that room is a recipe for poor lighting. This is exacerbated if the chandelier's lamps are exposed, which is common to many chandeliers.
Chandeliers work best as a supplemental light source and even better when included in a layered lighting scheme. For example, using recessed jars, bay lighting, or wall lights in a room is a great way to accentuate a space, highlighting walls, paintings, plants, countertops, and cabinets.
Are there chandeliers that use modern technology such as LED?
Absolutely. Today's lighting designers and manufacturers are releasing incredible new LED chandeliers every day. LED technology has improved so much that it is often impossible to tell an LED light from a traditional one.
Even better, some lighting designers are now choosing to design with LEDs simply because they provide truly unique design possibilities! LEDs are so small that designers don't have to worry about hiding the light source. This means there is much more freedom to experiment with form, function and material.
In addition to design flexibility, other benefits of LED lighting include improved efficiency and reliability, resulting in significant energy and cost savings. LEDs run five times cooler than halogen bulbs, using 1/5th of the energy. LEDs also outperform other light sources with an estimated lifespan of around 50,000 hours - that's 25 years of use at 5 and a half hours a day.
Below are links to LED chandelier options that can work in a variety of locations!
If I buy an LED chandelier, can I scale it down to create a romantic atmosphere?
Many LED chandeliers can be fully dimmable when paired with a compatible low voltage dimmer, but not every LED chandelier can be dimmed, so you should ask before purchasing. Check the specifications of each individual fixture and then refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for compatible dimmers. Not all dimmers work with all fixtures.
Can I upgrade my existing chandelier to LED or CFL (compact fluorescent) without changing the fixture?
Upgrading your chandelier to use LEDs or CFLs is called an upgrade and is often, but not always, possible. It depends on the fastener. There are many retrofit LED and CFL bulbs in various shapes and bases that you can buy to retrofit, but you need to be mindful of them. If your chandelier is connected to a dimmer, you will probably need to buy a new dimmer that is compatible with your CFLs or LEDs. Remember that the dimmer dims the bulbs, not the fixture.
Plumen is a really fun, decorative CFL that works well in fixtures where the bulb is visible, but the downside is that it's not dim. For dimmable CFL, I like this Bulbrite lamp, but I would only recommend it if the lamp is not exposed in the fixture.
Keep in mind that if your incandescent bulbs are exposed, there are LEDs and CFL bulbs that might work but might also look terrible.If you want to retrofit with CFL or LED, buy just one bulb to see if you like it. Then replace the rest if you do.
Can I use the chandelier in any room other than the dining room?
Certainly! Chandeliers are commonly found in foyers and official entrances, kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and even bathrooms or closets. Again, choosing where to place your chandelier depends on the size of the room, the height of the ceiling, the size of the fixture, and the surrounding décor. They can go anywhere!
Can I hang a chandelier above the dining table even if the electrical box is not centered above the table?
Yes. One of two solutions usually works. If you have drywall ceilings, an electrician can move the junction box to the center of the table. This is not an easy process as it also requires plastering the old hole in the ceiling.
If you have concrete ceilings, the chandelier may move across the center of the table. This means centering the hook above the table to hang cords from the junction box to the hook. You can also use a hidden cord on the ceiling to hide the appearance of the cord.
At what height should I hang my chandelier?
In a dining room, the goal is to hang it low enough that you don't pick up the glare from the light source, but high enough that it doesn't interfere with your vision. A good rule of thumb is to hang the chandelier so that the bottom of the fixture is 30 to 36 inches from the top of the table. Adjust this height to suit your personal preference or the requirements of your room.
