Purchasing lighting for your home can be shockingly tricky, even for decorating veterans. The options can be dizzying, the décor in the space should match and let’s not even get started on proper placement.
The correct chandelier stays true to the design theme not only within the room itself, but the entire home as well. So, how do we select the appropriate fixture for our house?
You should do:
If the chandelier is going to be hung over a table, center it over the table rather than being centered in the room. This is especially important within a dining room that has a hutch present.
Most rooms offer multiple lighting sources which compliment the chandelier. Be sure and install a dimmer switch to control the intensity so you can set the mood appropriately.
The distance between the bottom of the chandelier and the table should be about 30-34 inches. This allows for proper scaling as well as a centerpiece to be utilized on the table.
Complement the Color Palette and Materials of the Space
A chandelier should feel like an extension of the style of that particular room. Anything but crystal chandeliers would look entirely out of place in the halls of Versailles, for example.
When searching for a chandelier, think about the hues and materials that stand out in the room. Are warm woods or dark woods prevalent? Do you lean toward bright colors, or do you enjoy a neutral palette? Do you mix metals, or is only one metal present in the room? These are the things to consider when looking at wood, beaded, crystal or metal chandeliers.
Décor Pieces Should Echo the Look of the Chandelier
If you prefer, you can also build a room around the fixture, especially if it’s a showstopper that you simply adore. If the chandelier features distressed, vintage-inspired wood, bring in dining chairs that mimic that same wood. If your chandelier is brass, weave in brass touches, like candlesticks, decorative objects or picture frames.
You shouldn't do:
The most common mistake when hanging lighting fixtures is they are hung too high. Be mindful of this during installation.
Be careful not to select a fixture that is too large for the space. A good rule of thumb for round tables is the chandelier should be 1/3 the width of the table. Rectangular and oval tables can take a slightly wider piece rather easily.
Make sure the materials and style of the chandelier matches the room. Trends come and go and if you are not careful, you will be replacing your lighting fixtures more frequently than you’d like.