You'd be hard-pressed to find a light fixture more impressive and imposing than a chandelier. Stately, chic, and timeless, chandeliers are a versatile accessory that have graced everything from presidential dining halls to chic salons and co-working spaces. While traditional chandeliers featured heavy and intricate crystal and glasswork, their modern interpretations have moved away from these elements, and instead have embraced cleaner liners, metallic fixtures, and a smaller profile to create a stand-out product.
Chandeliers come in a wide range of styles, each of which have been popular at different times in our rich interior design history. Classic candle-style chandeliers are perhaps the most vintage looking for the bunch. They're designed to hold real or faux candles, and all feature candelabra-style arms that add heritage and charm to any room. According to
Bellacor, these chandeliers are a "herald to Victorian times when chandeliers were a primary source of light, the traditional chandelier holds anywhere from a few to dozens of electric candles. The style, shape, and wattage of the candlesticks vary from model to model. The modern versions sport tall thick candles with embedded light, while the more traditional models have a vintage look with slender candles rising from curved swan-like frames of iron or brass."
Shaded chandeliers are available in a variety of styles, but share the similar addition of a share over each lightbulb. They cast a warmer, dimmer light than candle-style chandeliers. Their shades can be upward or downward, fluted or straight, and transparent or opaque, giving rise to a plethora of unique looks off of this basic style. They're also known as bowl chandeliers and are a common fixture in older styled dining rooms and hallways. Drum-styled chandeliers feature one or multiple large lamp shades encompassing the entire fixture. As with the others, drum chandeliers can be found in any style, and modern adaptations are common due to the versatility of the drum shade. These include 'drums' or shades made out of 3D-printed metals, rattan, wicker, or even paper. These circular-shaped chandeliers are often seen in wide-open spaces like shopping malls or restaurants, but also look great in a larger kitchen, living space or another area that needs a striking fixture and optimal light.
Moving on, we have the classic crystal chandelier. These timeless pieces are intricate as they are expensive, and are usually reserved for special cases where spaces need an extra touch of glam or old-world charm. In these chandeliers, light reflects off each individual crystal, creating romantic and enchanting lighting in any room. In contrast, Sputnik chandeliers are the midcentury modern man's response to the vintage look. These spacey looking pieces double as conversation starters and avant-garde accents, with their striking sculptural quality of long extending spindles attached to a central ball and tipped with globed light bulbs. Most fan out in a sun-burst shape but also come in simple, geometric shapes with fewer spindles and larger globes. They're extremely popular these days, and are featured prominently in offices, dining spaces, and lounges.
Other popular chandelier types include lantern chandeliers, globe chandeliers, linear chandeliers, wagon-wheel chandeliers, empire chandeliers, beaded chandeliers, wooden chandeliers, caged chandeliers, and geometric chandeliers. While each chandelier type is suited to its own unique design element/period, combining them with modern furnishings and paint, can create an unforgettable experience.
While picking a chandelier with the right aesthetic is key, it's equally important to factor elements like size, height, and maintenance in your decision. You do not want your light fixture to completely dominate the space, so pick appropriately. If your chandelier is above a dining table, pick one that's no greater than one-half to three-quarters of the width of the table. In other spaces, use this general rule of thumb to get good gauge on the right size: width of room (in feet) + length of room (in feet) = diameter/width of chandelier (in inches). Always make sure to measure your room and the fixture prior to buying to ensure that they're the right fit. Also take into account the height of the ceilings as well. According to design blog Houzz, "If your light will be centered on a seating area and not the entire room, use the approximate length and width dimensions of that area instead of the entire space. Another way to calculate this is to add the length the light will be from the two closest walls and then double it to get your approximate chandelier diameter in inches."
Choose a larger chandelier if you have vaulted ceilings, and a smaller piece if you have lower ceilings so it doesn’t overwhelm the space. Consider your lighting needs and the other lighting points in your room too. If you're going for a cozy, dim look, a chandelier with a single light fixture might be ideal. If you’re attempting to brighten a larger area however, opt for a model that features multiple bulbs or reflects light in many different directions like a Sputnik chandelier. When it comes to height, a good rule of thumb is to find the height of your ceilings in feet or meters, then multiply that number by 3 and convert it to inches or centimeters: for example, a dining room with a 9 feet (2.7 m) ceiling will accommodate a chandelier up to 27 inches (69 cm) high. Chandeliers are generally mounted to hang 30–36 inches (76–91 cm) from the top of a table or other surface, which is another great tip to keep in mind when buying one.
Chandeliers in dining rooms need other special considerations. If the style is modern or if the piece thin linear or branching shape, choose one two-thirds to four-fifths the length of the table so it doesn’t look too small to hold its own. If the dining table is round, choose a round or square fixture one-half to two-thirds the width of the table all the way around, so that the table doesn't look small in comparison.