subject: Choosing Just the Right Chandelier For Your Home [print this page] Choosing Just the Right Chandelier For Your Home
They can be decadent or purely functional, sprawling fixtures or diminutive devices, act as the focus of a room or produce complementary light. For generations, chandeliers have provided light of all kinds, from the extravagant to the subtle.
Where your chandelier goes is limited only by your imagination. For years, they were found in the dining room, living room and foyer. But recently even bedrooms, kitchen nooks and large bathrooms have become ideal settings.
How to properly size a chandelier and lighting a room are the almighty questions, and the following formulas can be applied to every room or area in your home.
To size a chandelier, determine the room's length and width and add those figures together. The sum, converted to inches, should equal the correct diameter for your chandelier.
For our example, your dining room is 16 ft. x 12 ft. Since 16 + 12 is 28, the proper size chandelier for the dining room would be 28 inches in diameter.
If this measurement seems small due to a larger dining room table, size your chandelier to three-quarters the width of the table. Also, the bottom of the chandelier should hang approximately 30-32 inches above the table top.
Lighting a room properly can also be tricky, but, like sizing your chandelier, just plug measurements into a formula. This time determine the room's square footage by multiplying its dimensions. Then, multiply that number by 1.5 for the total amount of wattage needed for general illumination.
Again, your dining room is 16 ft. x 12 ft., so its square footage is 192. Then multiply 192 by 1.5 for 288 watts, the recommended wattage for this room. So, if you have an eight-light chandelier that requires 40-watt bulbs, 320 watts should be ample light. In areas where stronger light is needed for task lighting, multiply the room's square footage by 2.5 rather than 1.5.
Always take note what type of bulbs yourchandelier requires. Many are powered by standard base bulbs, but other possibilities include candelabra-base bulbs, halogen or compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). For optimal bathroom lighting, incandescent bulbs behind diffusers radiate the most flattering light and color.
Speaking of CFLs, lighting manufacturers are constantly adding to their product lines with improved technologies and ENERGY STAR-rated chandeliers. Sea Gull Lighting, Kichler, and Progress Lighting have proven themselves to be leaders in this movement.
Keep in mind that it's not necessary to burn wattage like crazy just because you placed your chandelier in a large room. A chandelier can complement other lighting (floor lamp, table lamp, wall sconces) in a sizeable setting.
Remain intuitive with your design choices and you'll be enjoying the perfect chandelier for years to come.
