848 Chandeliers

Historically associated with regal dining rooms and grand entrances, today’s chandeliers are about more than just opulence; modern designers use this dramatic focal point quality to create stylised kitchens, bedrooms and even bathrooms. But many a disastrous chandelier experience can be averted by first analysing your space and what style fixture will look best.

More than just antique lights: Find out which chandelier style works for your space

Pick a look that's going to complement your space. Note that this doesn't necessarily mean that the chandelier needs to be in the exact same style as your room's decor. Sometimes a bold fixture that almost contradicts the look of your room can make the entire ambiance work.

For instance, designer chandeliers offer flexibility in material and style, well beyond the traditional Georgian chandeliers you’ve seen in museums and estate libraries. Be original! You don't have to go with a standard lead crystal chandelier.

A chandelier can be made of just about anything, including glass, metal and even fabric, so get creative with your choices. For a trendy look, opt for an unexpected black chandelier, a unique geometric pattern or bold colour. Go traditional with a candle chandelier (and tell us how that worked out for you!), wrought iron fixture or standard gold finish.

It’s useful to remember that the idea behind a chandelier’s traditional crystal and glass makes through the centuries was essentially about creating an almost bejewelled dramatic light. Therefore, you might want to spend a little more time assessing your chandelier’s material and finish than, say, that of a floor lamp meant to light just one corner.

How does one buy chandeliers online?

We’ve come a long way since the candle and wood chandeliers of Medieval times. Today’s choice in chandeliers ranges from high quality Murano glass chandeliers from the famous Venetian island in Italy to eclectic gunmetal black chandeliers. In even better news, all these chandeliers are available online. Instead of physically browsing through a massive showroom full of chandeliers, you can filter your options by era, style, material, lights, and size - all while checking Facebook on a different tab. This leaves you with only one concern - that of finding the perfect chandelier match for your style.

While a chandelier should be the focal point of your space, it shouldn't overwhelm all the other elements in the room. If you're placing it in a space with lots of furniture, it might help to measure sofas, tables and chairs to determine the chandelier's size in relation to the rest of your furniture. A common rule of thumb is that a fixture should be half the diameter of a furniture piece, like a dining table (but it's really personal preference).

Most chandeliers listed online will include size and weight in their descriptions, so be sure to look for details.

In a room with minimal furniture, there's less to compete with, so a bigger fixture might be better. Oversized chandeliers work especially well in rooms with a vaulted ceiling; after all, it gives both visitors and homeowners a reason to look up! In general, allow three inches of chandelier height for each foot of a room's height. For example, if a room has a three-metre (10ft) ceiling, the maximum height of its chandelier should be seventy-five centimetres (30 inches). It’s also a good idea to check ceiling load capacity with your home contractor to know how heavy the chandelier can be.