We truly understand the importance of a good chandelier in your living space. Chandeliers are not just light fixtures - they are statement pieces that act as focal points and draw a lot of attention to them.
As such, they should blend in well with the rest of your home's architecture. Let's go through some basic steps you need to follow to incorporate a nice chandelier into your lighting scheme.
1. Right size for a chandelier
First, you need to consider whether you need a small, medium, or large chandelier. Small chandeliers are best used in bathrooms, medium chandeliers are best used in bedrooms and kitchens, and large chandeliers are best used in living rooms. However, these are general guidelines that are also affected by the rest of your lighting scheme.
For example, do not use a large chandelier if you already have pendants or too many recessed can lights in your living room. Then you would end up overlighting your space and cluttering it with too many fixtures. You need to find a balance between your light sources.
To figure out the specific size of the chandelier you should buy, follow this formula:
Chandelier's diameter in inches = Room's width + length in feet.
For example, if your living room is 13 by 11 feet, your perfect chandelier should be 24 inches in diameter.
2. Right height for a chandelier
The chandelier's height in inches should be equal to your ceiling height in feet multiplied by 2.75. For example, if your ceiling height is 10 feet, the chandelier's height should be about 27.5 inches. Just make sure that the bottom of the chandelier is not lower than 7 feet (210 cm) - however, this rule is flexible if you don’t need to walk underneath the fixture.
If you have a dining or living room table, hang the chandelier approximately 30-34 inches above the table. This will ensure that your visibility is not obstructed and the chandelier does not create unflattering shadows on your face.
3. Where to place the chandelier
More often than not, a chandelier should be placed at the center of the room. This is definitely true for bedroom and bathroom chandeliers, but it might depend on the architecture of the rest of your room for kitchens, living rooms, and dining rooms.
For example, you probably want the chandelier in the middle above the dining table for dining rooms. Similarly, if you have a large kitchen island that is not in the center of the kitchen, you might want to place your chandelier over that.
This is to create some symmetry in your space and therefore a warm, welcoming environment.
4. What style of chandelier to buy
Although checking out our collection and purchasing one that you love is a good tactic, you also need to consider the rest of your home's architecture before making a decision. For example, a rustic home architecture would fit best with a rustic chandelier.
Thankfully, you can use our filters to filter by style and room and narrow down your options.
5. How bright should the chandelier be
The brightness of the chandelier depends on the size of the room and the rest of the fixtures in use.
For ambient light in the living room and bedroom, you need about 10-20 lumens per square foot. However, the kitchen and the dining room are more functional spaces so you need about 30-40 lumens per square foot for ambient light. The bathroom is somewhere in the middle at around 15-25 lumens per square foot.
So if you have for example a living room of 250 square feet, you would need 2500-5000 ambient lumens. If you also have recessed can lights of 1500 lumens, your chandelier should be 1000-3500 lumens. It might seem complicated at first but really it's quite simple.
Follow these guidelines and you will figure out exactly how bright your chandelier should be.
6. What bulb types should the chandelier have
We always recommend going for LED bulbs, as they are the most energy-efficient and versatile bulbs out there. Not only that, many LEDs come with adjustable brightness and color temperature, making them an excellent choice for setting the mood.
Since we're on the topic, the color temperature of your chandelier should be one to match the overall purpose of the room and complement the rest of your lighting fixtures and architectural design. Take a look at the specifics of each color temperature below:
Warm White (2700K-3000K):
- Best For: Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and areas where you want a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
- Why: Warm white light has a soft, yellowish hue that mimics traditional incandescent bulbs. It creates a relaxed and comfortable environment, ideal for spaces where you entertain or unwind.
Neutral White (3500K-4000K):
- Best For: Kitchens, bathrooms, home offices, or modern interiors where you want a balance between warmth and clarity.
- Why: Neutral white light is crisper and more balanced, providing a clean and bright look without being too harsh. It's great for functional spaces where visibility is key but still maintains some warmth.
Cool White (5000K-6500K):
- Best For: Areas that require bright, energetic lighting, such as garages, workshops, or contemporary spaces where a stark, modern aesthetic is desired.
- Why: Cool white light has a bluish tone that mimics daylight. It’s very bright and can make spaces feel more energized and focused, but it’s typically too harsh for relaxing environments.
Extra considerations
Your chandelier’s color and material should match and blend with the room’s decor. There are many materials to choose from: metal, glass, crystal, and wood. The finish should also match your other metal finishes.
Design Consideration: An aesthetic chandelier should match the surrounding room or the desired aesthetic. For example, a classic, detailed chandelier with crystal drops would fit a Victorian-style house but not a rectangular masterpiece fixture.
The shape may also match the room. For example, a circular chandelier fits over the round dining table.
So now you have all the information you need to buy the perfect chandelier for your home. Check out our wide selection and order the one that best suits your taste and space!
And if you are still unsure about which fixture to buy, we offer a free consultation with our design experts via phone call. On the call, we can discuss all about your individual needs and preferences and help guide you through your purchase. If you would like to book a call, please visit this link. We are looking forward to hearing from you!