subject: Picking The Right Size For Your Brass And Crystal Chandeliers [print this page] While one might assume the hardest part about picking a chandelier is the debate between whether you want crystal or brass chandeliers, in actuality the most trying part of the ordeal is finding a piece that fits with the room. And regardless of whether you've displaying a piece made entirely of toothpicks or an antique brass chandelier from the 1600's, it won't make a lick of difference if the product doesn't match the room you're putting it in.
Remember, the room will dictate the chandelier, not vice-versa. So to find a proper chandelier, you'll need to examine and evaluate your room properly. What colors or materials dominate the rooms decoration? If these materials can be replaced, or a new dominant color can be inserted, then you've given yourself more options. But if not, your modern chandeliers style will be dictated by the way the room looks.
Once you've picked out the right color, the next thing to do will be choosing the right size chandelier. Since all modern chandeliers are designed to hang in a room, the correct size is a vital aspect. If the chandelier is too large, the room will be overpowered by the piece and inhabitants will often express discomfort. If the chandelier is too small, the piece will look out of place and the entire room will feel inadequate. Like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, chandelier shoppers are truly trying to find the "porridge" that is "just right."
When trying to figure out if you've found a chandelier size that's "just right," keep the following in mind:
Taller ceilings require bigger chandeliers, so if your ceiling is real high, you're chandelier should probably be pretty big. Also, if you intend for the chandelier to suspend over and item whether it be a table, a fountain, or an island. Make sure that they are similar in size. If one has to be bigger than the other, it should be the item below, not your crystal chandelier, as the item on top shouldn't overpower the sight at the bottom. And no matter what you have under it, on the rarest of occasions should a chandelier extend more than eight feet from the floor. Even if it's in a position that no one is intended to stand under it.
It's important to know that a lot of interior designers use a simple mathematical equation to determine the size of a chandelier. Typically they add the dimensions together. For example, if your room is 10 feet by 20 feet, one would add them together, getting 30. In theory, the correct chandelier size would be approximately 30" diameter.
