Flower Love
Chandeliers have been a preferred choice for lighting fixtures for some time. The way people incorporate them into their homes has often changed: the process went from tiny wooden candle holders to excessive crystal solutions to become the modern chandelier lighting we use today.
As you can see, it’s a very long tradition and there is no reason to give it up. The main difference, however, is that chandeliers are no longer tools for functional lighting of the room, but decorative additions that make the room appear unique and sophisticated.
This is precisely why buying the right chandelier can be a fussy experience, especially when you need a great lighting solution for an even larger dining room.
Image source: RMI – Rebecca Mitchell Interiors
There is nothing wrong with being utterly confused the first time you choose a dining room chandelier. Almost no one knows how to choose a chandelier for the dining room without expert advice.
Sometimes even experts don’t know how to guide you, and you can easily come up with an overwhelming solution that doesn’t fit any aspect of your home.
Image source: TY LARKINS INTERIOR
Therefore, you should have a clear idea of what you want and familiarize yourself with the basic rules that can make it easier to choose.
Ideas for lighting the dining room
The size
Image source: Arch Studio, Inc.
Size is the most important criterion when choosing a chandelier for a dining room. The widest width of a chandelier is a foot less than the width of the table, while its length should be at least four feet from any wall in the room.
The maximum length is 30 inches from the tabletop, or two feet when viewed from the ceiling side. The main idea behind these calculations is to properly balance the space and choose a piece that will not cause a blockage or inconvenience to our guests.
The style
Image source: AM Dolce Vita
An obvious contrast between the style / theme of your home and your chandelier may seem like a refreshing solution, but the excitement of breaking the rules won’t go away for a year or two. Unless you’re really ready to replace a chandelier with every renovation, pick a piece that matches the era and architecture of your place.
Every room has an overall plan and there is no reason why lights shouldn’t stick to the plan. They have to meet certain criteria and meet certain parameters (traditional, modern, contemporary, etc.).
As strict as this sound may be, you shouldn’t blindly follow the rules, but choose the chandelier that will charm you without removing you from the overall theme of your dining room.
Modern dining rooms benefit from smooth nickel and chrome surfaces. You can also use bronze, although this material is more suitable for transition devices. (Bronze creates a visual bridge between traditional and modern styles, and that makes it a smart choice for any type of dining room.)
Image source: Michael Abrams Limited
A modern interior also requires clean lines, sharp edges, and the least ornate decorations that you could possibly have applied. Don’t make the mistake of applying a chandelier finish that doesn’t match other surfaces in the room.
Visiting the local light gallery with pictures of your dining room or furniture will help narrow down the choices and better understand which option is best for the area around your home.
You should also consider the cutlery, wallpaper, metal elements or similar lights. From experience, they all have a design hint that can help you make the right decision.
uniqueness
Image source: Clear architects
In the past, buying a unique chandelier was just as expensive as furnishing the rest of the house. Chandeliers were luxurious additions, usually made up of thousands of pieces of crystal to reveal style, class, and wealth.
Times have changed since then and most of us wouldn’t buy a crystal chandelier even if it were free. Over time, we came to the conclusion that the price is not tied to a specific material, but to the uniqueness of this model, which can distinguish your home from any other home.
Today we invest in vintage pieces (from seashells to glass bottles), the ideas of our local artisans, or even a personal moment of kit creativity. What we want is a chandelier that can tell a story and we take its decoration very personally.
Functionality
Image source: Meredith Heron Design
We all want our chandeliers to look amazing and highlight the beauty of our decorating style. Unfortunately, when it comes to chandeliers, beauty only comes second after functionality.
The main job of chandeliers is to create light or at least illuminate the point surface below. If you don’t, nobody will notice how beautiful you are.
For this reason, you should never sacrifice the functionality of a luminaire for its appearance, but choose something that suits both your taste and your needs.
Image source: Michael Abrams Limited
A very functional solution are lights with dimmer controls that act as a mood switch and are therefore perfect for evening entertainment.
During the day it would be nice to have a chandelier that can light up the entire room. Dimmed light, on the other hand, is similar to peace by candlelight and is therefore suitable for pleasant and more intimate dinners.
If you have your buffet / sideboard in the corner of your room, add some small lamps to put the food in the spotlight.
You can also amplify the light in your china house by shining a few recessed lights at the items stored in it.
Accent chandelier
Image source: Cristi Holcombe Interiors, LLC
The reason most of us want to hang large and extravagant chandeliers in our dining rooms is because we expect them to grab attention every time a guest arrives for dinner.
Chandeliers are perfect for the role of focal elements, especially if you choose a model that contrasts the rest of your decor.
It could be an antique decor in a modern room or a deep blue sphere in a predominantly white room. Remember: beautiful chandeliers will always arouse admiration and be the focus of any dinner conversation.
Two chandeliers for long tables
Image source: RLH Studio
Those of you who have a large dining table should consider two small chandeliers instead of a single large one. The correct way to position two chandeliers is to divide the length of the table into three equal parts and hang the lights one-third from the end of each table.
Light bulbs with bright colors
Image source: Martha O’Hara Interiors
The traditional lightbulbs were a uniform color, but these days they come in all colors and shades. You have the modern day compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) or diodes that emit light in every possible color (LED).
It should be noted that the color of LEDs can radically change both the appearance and the mood. Warm yellow or light bulbs with a soft yellow sheen can make a room feel cozy and inviting, which is why they are so chosen.
Image source: Elizabeth Gordon
After all, choosing the right lamp color is not a big problem as you can always switch to a darker / lighter shade without replacing the entire chandelier.
With LEDs, however, it would be wise to get off to a good start as these lamps can last up to 20 years depending on how often they are used.
Other things to consider about chandeliers
Image source: Elad Gonen
The number of lightbulbs you need will depend on the number of arms your chandelier is holding. Most chandeliers support 40 watt lamps, which means the only way to get more light into the room is to buy a chandelier with more arms.
The lighting capacity of the chandelier is likely to be reduced if the lamps are scattered with light tones instead of being completely transparent.
Lightbulbs with clear candles slightly diffuse light and look much better and more authentic than their frosted competitors.
get inspired
Image source: Angela Free Design
Before making a final decision, consider as many options as possible. Inspiration comes from the least expected place, which is why you should pay attention to any magazine, website or catalog.
Say you found something you like, take a picture of it and propose it to the seller. Without a “tangible idea”, not even the greatest lighting professionals can help you.