A chandelier is a ceiling-mounted fixture with two or more branches bearing multiple lights. Modern chandeliers are often very ornate, containing dozens of lamps and intricate arrays of various glass shapes to spread light in complex and attractive patterns. Many chandeliers are installed in dining rooms or entryways impacting the ambience of the room. Chandeliers vary greatly in respect to their styles, sizes, and designs. They also vary in the quality and amount of light they produce. Chandeliers are often thought to be large, ornate structures suited for only the wealthy or the very eccentric, but modern chandeliers can be suited to eccentuate any home or room. That being said, there are some simple guidelines with respect to choosing the right chandelier for the appropriate location in the home. It must be remembered that chandeliers are much heavier than typical ceiling mounted fixtures.

 

A chandelier is a ceiling-mounted fixture with two or more branches bearing multiple lights. Modern chandeliers are often very ornate, containing dozens of lamps and intricate arrays of various glass shapes to spread light in complex and attractive patterns. Many chandeliers are installed in dining rooms or entryways impacting the ambience of the room. Chandeliers vary greatly in respect to their styles, sizes, and designs. They also vary in the quality and amount of light they produce. Chandeliers are often thought to be large, ornate structures suited for only the wealthy or the very eccentric, but modern chandeliers can be suited to eccentuate any home or room. That being said, there are some simple guidelines with respect to choosing the right chandelier for the appropriate location in the home. It must be remembered that chandeliers are much heavier than typical ceiling mounted fixtures. For this reason, one must ensure that the ceiling juction box, where all the electrical wirings are kept, is strong enough to accomodate your new chandelier.  If you are unsure if your ceiling juction box is adequate enough, a qualified electrician will be able to assist you. After this intial consultation, you will find that replacing an existing light fixture with an elegant chandelier is a quick and easy way to improve any room's appearance.  To assist you in choosing the most attractive chandelier for your particular needs, here are a few basic guidelines.  For a dining room, ideally situated above the dining table, the chandelier should be placed a minimum of 30-36 inches above the table.  This height will ensure that there will be minimal interference from your guests walking under the the chandelier. Nothing detracts more from the beauty of your chandelier than having to constantly avoid hitting it with your head.  This height also provides the best illumination as well.  For ceilings higher than 8 feet, hang the chandelier higher than 36 inches.  Also keep in mind that you want the diameter of the chandelier to be approximately 12 inches less than the width of your table.

 

In dining rooms, chandeliers should be mounted a minimum of 30 inches to about 36 inches over the top of the table, which is high enough to keep heads from bumping into them. Chandeliers mounted at least this height give off the best illumination, too. If your ceiling is higher than 8 feet, however, the chandelier might look better if it is hung higher than the 36 inches. You should keep the diameter of the new chandelier 12 inches less than the width of your dining table. And leave a distance of at least 48 inches from each of the dining room's walls to the closest chair, wall, table, buffet or any other piece of furniture.

 

When installing a chandelier in the foyer, make sure that the bottom of the chandelier is approximately seven or more feet from the floor to allow for door clearances and tall people.

The earliest chandeliers were used in medieval churches and abbeys to efficiently illuminate large halls. They generally took the form of a wooden cross with a number of spikes on which candles could be secured, the whole assembly being hoisted to a suitable height on a rope suspended from a hook once lit.From the 15th century, more complex forms of chandeliers based on ring or crown designs began to become popular decorative features, found in palaces and the homes of the very wealthy. The fixture's popularity as a status symbol continued to grow. By the early 18th century, ornate cast brass forms with long, curved arms and many candles could be found in the homes of most of the merchant classes. Quite the contrary, a chandelier that contrasts with the table over which it is hung over can be an extremely stylish, modern, individual look oozing with personality. To warn against it is very outdated advice, mixing styles is hot.           Select a chandelier that can hang at the correct height when a table will be centered beneath it. Consider both the chandelier and the room you're lighting: if the chandelier has bare bulbs, for example, it will need to be hung high enough to avoid glare. At the same time, if you have an 8-foot ceiling, you'll want to avoid hanging a chandelier too high or it will look sawed off and stunted.

Remember that a chandelier is more of a room decoration than a functional light fixture. It doesn't need a zillion flame bulbs just because the room is big; let other lighting in the room appropriately supplement a more restrained chandelier. Pay attention to scale. Bigger is usually better; too often a chandelier can look tiny. Choose a chandelier that meshes with the mood and style of the other furnishings in the room: wall sconces, furniture, wallpaper, window treatments and other accessories. Try to keep metals in the room in finishes that harmonize. For example, dull pewter shouldn't mix with shiny silver, and shiny brass shouldn't be mixed with antique brass or verdigris.

Developments in glassmaking in the 18th century allowed the cheaper production of lead crystal. The light-scattering properties of this highly refractive glass quickly became a popular addition to the form, leading to the Crystal Chandelier.