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Chandeliers: How to Choose What is Best for You

Chandeliers come in all types of styles, sizes, and challenges. If you like the idea of adding some classy style to your home with a new chandelier, we can help. This guide will take you through the main types of chandeliers and factors you should consider in your search.

Types of Chandeliers

Chandeliers are far from basic in style. Some are fancy, like those you may picture accentuating a palace ballroom. Some are more modern and offer a simpler style. Others provide an old-fashioned look with candelabras updated for the modern era to be electric. In other words, when it comes to buying a chandelier, you have got plenty of options. Here are six of the most common types of chandeliers you will be choosing from.

Shaded Chandeliers      Tiered Chandeliers       Candelabra Chandeliers

Crystal Chandeliers      Drum Chandeliers        Mini Chandeliers

Factors to Consider When Buying a Chandelier

Chandeliers come in so many different shapes, sizes, and materials that figuring out how to narrow your search down can be overwhelming. To give you an idea going in of just what you can expect when you set out to find a chandelier, here are some of the main factors you should keep in mind in your search.

Before you take the step of purchasing a chandelier, it is important to know the dimensions of the space you plan to put it in. Start by measuring the height of the ceiling. One recommendation is to choose a chandelier that has two inches of height for every foot of space. That does not necessarily have to be treated like a hard and fast rule, but it can give you a standard for your search.

You also want to consider the width. If it will be hung in a living room or bedroom, you have some flexibility to work with, but probably still want it to be smaller than a fourth of the width of the room. If your plan is to hang it over a dining room table, then you should make sure the width of the chandelier is smaller than the width of the table.

Keep in mind the heights of the people in your home in determining how high to hang it. If it’s too low, you risk people hitting their heads on it–there should be a good amount of space between people’s heads and the lowest point on the chandelier. If you hang it too high, cleaning it and replacing bulbs may be a frustration.

More than most lighting fixtures, chandeliers are often heavy. If you purchase a heavy chandelier, that will affect how tricky installation is, and exponentially increases the risks involved in trying to install it yourself. No one wants to be in the wrong place when a badly installed chandelier falls from the ceiling, so be aware of the additional issues that come with purchasing these gorgeous fixtures.

Room Placement

With a large selection of mini chandeliers on the market, hanging a chandelier in your bathroom is even an option with damp or wet location rated chandeliers. But you do have to be careful to pick the right chandelier for the right space. To figure out which chandelier makes sense in the room you have in mind, take into consideration these three factors:

The Style of the Room – Do the colors and design of the chandelier you are considering match the overall space?

The Amount of Lighting Needed – The big appeal of chandeliers is that they are beautiful, but they also have a practical job to do. Do you need the chandelier to put off lots of light, or can it simply do the job of adding a little ambient light to the setting?

The Size of the Room – A massive chandelier in a small room is overkill, plain and simple. On the other hand, one mini chandelier will not do much for larger spaces like living rooms. Make sure the size of the chandelier is appropriate to the space available.

The Connection to the Wiring – Some homes already have a setting to hang a chandelier, but if you want to install one in a location that does not have an existing one, you will want to consult a professional electrician for more information, as more heavy chandeliers will require a stronger setting.

Type of Bulb

Consider the type of bulb your chandelier requires. Will it be easy to replace? Is it expensive? Does it let off enough light? How much energy does it use? LED and CFL bulbs fare the best on energy conservation. They will save money each month on your energy bills and you will not have to worry about replacing them for a while.

Ease of Installation

If you buy an expensive chandelier that’s heavy, you don’t want to drop it and ruin it before you ever get to enjoy it, so for some types of chandeliers you may want to call in a professional regardless of your typical DIY tendencies just to be safe. How high you hang it will have an influence on how you experience the light (and whether any guests will bump into it). Heavy chandeliers require more careful installation to ensure they will never fall. This is a process you need to get right, so make sure it is done well when you do it.

Ease of Care

Let us save you some trouble – chandeliers can be a frustrating and challenging item to clean. How frequently they need to be cleaned and how difficult they are to clean properly will depend on the materials they are made of and how intricate the design is. If you buy a beautiful chandelier with tons of small pieces, expect to pay for that beauty in cleaning time.

Pay attention to any cleaning instructions that come with your chandelier; it’s worth taking the time to take proper care of it and keep it in good condition so you can enjoy it for many years to come.

The Bottom Line

Any home can be suitable for a chandelier if you choose the right chandelier for your home’s space and style. Chandeliers are accessible to all homeowners who like the idea of adding a little extra light and elegance to their space. Even if you are on a budget, there is an exceptionally good chance that you can find a chandelier you love. Just be sure to call Swartz Electric today for a free consultation on what would be safest for you and your home at 719-457-2218.

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