The chandelier has been an ideal way to light a home for thousands of
years. In fact, the earliest example of a chandelier is in the walls of French
caves that were once inhabited by cavemen: there are holes in the walls
because the cavemen needed a place to hang their torches. (You can also
read more about the history of the chandelier. It’s an interesting story!)
Chandelier design has, of course, evolved over the centuries and now
there are more chandeliers available than ever before. Whether you want
something ornate and traditional or something modern and unique,
whether you need something big or small, there is a chandelier to fit
your needs.
This buying guide will help you find your new favorite light by teaching
you the basics about chandeliers: types, uses, styles, sizes and more. This
guide will help you make the best and most well-informed decision about
purchasing a chandelier. If you need more help or advice on chandeliers,
contact us or call our trained lighting specialists at 1-866-688-3562.
Chandelier Types and Uses
While more specific design styles such as Asian, Mission, nautical, Tiffany,
industrial and Tuscan are also available, these are the most common and
the most easily recognizable chandelier types.
Crystal is probably the first kind of
chandelier that comes to mind when you
hear the word. A traditional and enduring
style, crystal chandeliers work best as
a focal point in the room because their
ornate beauty demands your full attention.
Today, crystal chandeliers are available
in a range of sizes and prices, so if you’re
dreaming of crystal glamour, you can make
that dream a reality no matter what.
Contemporary or modern chandeliers can take the shape of anything
from a dazzlingly daring crystal confection to a design that looks almost
space-age. Common elements in
contemporary chandeliers include clean
lines, unique shapes and metallic finishes.
Many contemporary chandeliers are also
“green,” featuring elements like recycled
materials, energy efficiency or use of
LED lights. Contemporary or modern
chandeliers are great for less formal
rooms, especially toward the back of the
house. People often dress up their front
rooms with grand, ornate fixtures so guests will see them, but you need to
consider your own lighting needs and decorate the rooms where you do
the most living, too.
Transitional is a midway point between
traditional and modern styles. (It’s such
a common style that you may have
transitional pieces in your home right
now and not really know it.) Transitional
chandeliers generally aren’t ornate, but
aren’t offbeat either. Straight lines, simple
curves and sophisticated design define
transitional chandeliers. Transitional light
fixtures are versatile and designed to pair
well with anything.
Mini chandeliers, also known as chandelettes, are
a great idea for adding chandelier beauty in rooms
that are too small for traditional chandeliers. Like their
larger counterparts, though, they run the gamut of
décor styles from traditional to contemporary and
everything in between.
Because chandeliers are available in such a wide variety of shapes, sizes
and styles, they can be used in practically any part of the home. The most
common uses for chandeliers are in entryways and dining rooms. However,
chandeliers hanging above kitchen islands are becoming common, as are
chandeliers adding touches of elegance to bathrooms or bedrooms. There
are even some varieties of chandelier that can be used outside.
Anatomy of a Chandelier
Loop: Connects the chandelier’s chain to its body.
Column: The main structure of the chandelier.
Bulb: A chandelier’s light source. Candelabra bulbs, which look more like
candle flames and are pictured here, are commonly used in chandeliers.
Candle Sleeve: A decorative and protective element designed to look like
a wax candle. As shown above, candle sleeves often look realistic.
Candle Cup: Holds the bulbs.
Bobeche: When chandeliers used actual wax candles, these pans played a
crucial role--catching wax drippings so people didn’t get hot wax dripped
on them. While that’s not an issue anymore, bobeches are still found in
many chandelier designs.
Arm: Structures that hold the bulbs away from the chandelier column.
Finial: An ornament that often hangs alone at the bottom of the
chandelier. Crystal finials are common.
Some styles of chandelier, especially contemporary and modern styles, may
interpret the anatomy differently by not including some of these parts.
Sizing Chandeliers
Finding the right size for a chandelier depends on where you are going to
use the fixture. If you’re going to use the chandelier above a table or island,
measure the width or diameter of that area. That will be the maximum
limit for the width or diameter of a chandelier.
A chandelier with a complex design will look bigger than it actually is, so
keep this in mind.
If you’re going to use the chandelier as general room lighting, measure the
length and width of the room in question, then add them together to find
the ideal width of your chandelier in inches. (Example: An 8 foot by 10 foot
room can be well-served by an 18-inch wide fixture.)
For rooms with lower ceilings, get a fixture that isn’t too large or else the
room will look like it’s caving in. Higher ceilings can handle bigger fixtures.
The standard height for hanging a chandelier is 7 feet off the floor, but
you can adjust this as necessary depending on the size of the fixture, the
height of your room’s ceiling, how tall the people in your home are and so
on. (You can read more specific information about light fixture sizing.)
Chandelier Installation
These instructions are for replacing a previously-existing light fixture. New
chandelier installations might require the placement of a new and stronger
junction box inside the ceiling to support a heavier fixture.
Turn off the power to the circuit where the chandelier will go or
temporarily take out the fuse at the electrical box that would power the
chandelier. Just turning off the light switch is not good enough to avoid
possible electrical shock. Use a circuit tester, available for about $20 or less
at hardware stores, to make absolutely sure the power is off before you
begin work.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully before starting your
installation.
Assemble the chandelier before mounting it, but don’t add the light bulbs
yet. You can do that once the chandelier is mounted, plus it is much safer
to put the bulbs in at the very end of the process.
Determine if the new chandelier weighs as much as the old one. If it’s
heavier, you should install a different junction box that will support heavier
fixtures (as mentioned above), but you may also be able to use your
existing junction box if the new chandelier weighs as much as the old one.
Take out the old fixture and observe how it is wired, especially if you’re
replacing an old chandelier. Take detailed notes or pictures before
disconnecting the old fixture completely. Then match the wiring of your
new chandelier to the notes or pictures you took. This will save you time
and keep you from making mistakes!
Wire the new chandelier first, following the notes you took earlier. Then,
bolt the chandelier securely into place, add the bulbs, turn the power back
on and enjoy the results.
Installation tips: Bring a helper along for installation. Chandeliers are
heavy, so one person should hold the fixture up while the other does all
the wiring. The helper can also help you bring down the old fixture (since
you shouldn’t climb down a ladder with a heavy chandelier in your hands)
and install the bulbs at the end of the process.
Don’t be afraid to use a professional for installation. If you feel intimidated
or worried, or you physically cannot install lighting fixtures on your own,
you can always call a local electrician to do the job safely.
Chandelier Light Source Information
There are three general types of light bulb used in chandeliers:
incandescent, fluorescent and LED. Each one has its advantages, though
your personal preference should also be considered.
Incandescent is still the most popular light source and used in the vast
majority of chandeliers. LED bulbs have very long lives (20 years), although
the bulbs are more expensive. Fluorescent is rarely used in chandeliers,
but if used, bulbs should be chosen carefully to ensure that they provide
flattering light.
A common shape of light bulb used in chandeliers is the candelabra, which
is thinner and looks more like the flame of a candle.
No matter what type of bulb you choose to use in your fixture, there are
some important numbers you need to look at so you can get the best light
possible.
Color temperature: Measured in degrees Kelvin, color temperature
means how white a light source is. For a yellowish-white light, commonly
associated with incandescent bulbs and sometimes described as warm
white or soft white, look for bulbs with a color temperature between 2700
to 3000 degrees Kelvin (K). Cool, neutral or bright white light can be found
with bulbs at a color temperature between 3500 and 4100 K. For natural
white light that looks close to daylight, look for 5000 to 6500 K. Color
temperature appears
on bulb boxes as a
sliding scale from
warm to cool, low to
high. Here’s a graphic
example of different
color temperatures
via Energy Star so you
can see the differences
side-by-side.
Color rendering index: Along with color temperature, bulbs are also rated
on their ability to be as true to daylight as possible. This is the color rendering
index, or CRI. Again, getting the truest and most accurate light possible is
important in the bathroom, so look for high CRIs between 85 and 90. 100 is the
highest CRI score, but is just for daylight since that is considered the highest
ideal type of light.
Light direction: In a chandelier, the light sources will often point either up
or down. This is called uplighting and downlighting. Both styles have their
advantages, depending on your needs. Uplighting aims light toward the
ceiling, providing a wash of ambient light, and is a great style for aging eyes.
Downlighting aims light the other way, which is good for more directed
task lighting. However, some chandeliers spread the illumination all around
instead.
Lumens and watts: When buying bulbs to use in chandeliers, the most
important measurement is really lumens, not watts. Wattage means how much
power is required to operate the fixture, but not how much light it produces.
(Note that wattage is still important, however, because you do not want to use
more wattage in your bulbs than the fixture is rated for—that is a fire hazard.)
Lumens are a measure of how much light a bulb will give you. With lumens,
the more you have, the brighter the light. This is a table of watt to lumen
equivalency rates that use the traditional, not the recent and more energyefficient, wattages on light bulbs.
100 watts
1600 lumens (range of 1490 to 2600 lumens)
75 watts
1100 lumens (range of 1050 to 1489 lumens)
60 watts
800 lumens (range of 750 to 1049 lumens)
40 watts
450 lumens (range of 310 to 749 lumens)
Again, that table is based on the traditional bulb wattages, not the recent
government-mandated revisions that improve bulb efficiency (which have all
gone into effect as of January 1, 2014). Here is a table of those revisions:
100 watts
72 watts
75 watts
53 watts
60 watts
43 watts
40 watts 29 watts
Other Important Chandelier Information
If you need more advice about picking out your new chandelier, we have a
helpful video! Some things to consider include the size of the room, the style
of the room, your budget and what you want your chandelier to do.
Ready to shop? Browse our wide array of chandeliers now!
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