How to Choose a Modern Chandelier - Styles & Types
This guide will begin with some basic information on chandeliers and the different types, shapes, f…
When it comes to light fixtures, nothing creates a statement like a chandelier. It sets the tone of the room and can be a conversation piece among guests. But first, you’ll need to educate yourself about the different chandelier designs, styles and types, so that you know all the possibilities for adding a chandelier to your home.
This guide will begin with some basic information on chandeliers and the different types, shapes, finishes and functions. Then it will go over three things to consider when putting a chandelier in your home: position, installation height and brightness level.
What is a Chandelier?
At its essence, a chandelier is a light fixture that hangs from the ceiling. While most commonly used in the dining room, chandeliers can be used to create a statement in any room such as the living room, bedroom and patio. Chandeliers feature multiple lamps, often in multiple tiers, and are used for ambient lighting.
A similar style of light, the pendant light, may be confused with a chandelier. A pendant light generally includes just one shade or light source hanging from a single wire or suspension system, while a chandelier has multiple shades/light sources, often connected by a branched frame. However, even with this distinction, the difference between pendant lights and chandeliers seems to blur when comparing larger-sized pendants. For most, a larger hanging light fixture is more broadly understood as a chandelier even if it technically might be a pendant light.
Although the image of a traditional chandelier is often quite specific—a suspended light fixture with multiple arms and candelabras with beads and crystals hanging beneath—modern and contemporary chandelier design rethinks the traditional concept of chandeliers in new and innovative ways.
Chandelier Design and Style
One of the most exciting aspects of being in the market for a chandelier is the discovery of a style that you adore for your home. To match your home’s design, consider the following types of chandelier design and which one might fit your home the best.
Modern Chandelier Design
Modern and mid-century modern chandeliers are distinctive for both the era their style originates from and their focus on creating furniture that was both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Contemporary Chandelier Design
Are innovative design and minimalism key themes of your home? Contemporary design breaks away from other styles to produce cutting-edge chandeliers that show how chandelier design can be reimagined for everyday use.
Rustic Chandelier Design
Characterized by an emphasis on simplicity and naturalism and a nod to the American West, the use of wood, wrought iron and Edison-style bulbs are common for rustic chandeliers.
Farmhouse / Craftsman Chandelier Design
In the same vein of rustic, farmhouse chandeliers offer a pinch of nostalgia. These chandeliers often use clear glass or no glass to show off bare Edison-style bulbs, aged looking wood and metal accents.
Industrial Chandelier Design
Industrial design employs the use of exposed wood and metal to stir up the image of lighting that may have been used in a factory or industrial setting.
Chandelier Shapes
Once you have an idea of the type of style you’d like, then you can consider the type of shape your chandelier can take. There’s a lot more to a chandelier than just the number of arms it has. Take a look at some of the different forms that chandeliers can be found in.
Chandeliers by Finish
As with style, you should determine whether you want your chandelier’s color or finish to coordinate or contrast with the surrounding furnishings and any other light fixtures. For example, a chrome chandelier can work well with wall sconces in bronze, as long as they have similar design styles.
Chandeliers by Lighting Function
After determining a chandelier’s design statement in a room, it’s best to consider how its lighting will function within your home.
- Uplight Chandeliers: Uplight chandeliers focus light upwards, providing reflected ambiance around a space, rather than direct downlighting.
- Downlight Chandeliers: Akin to the traditional style of chandeliers, downlight chandeliers provide unobstructed light below. Ideal when your room needs lots of direct, focused light as well as ambient light.
- Ambient Lighting: With the exception of downlight chandeliers, most chandeliers aren’t ideal for providing task lighting—most work much better to create ambient lighting due to their emphasis on diffused, non-direct light.
While the easiest option is to go with the style that matches your home, another option is to find a chandelier that contrasts with its surroundings. You may find that a classic crystal chandelier is more dazzling in a modern space than a simple large bell shade.
With whatever type of chandelier you choose, the key is selecting a style that will enhance the surrounding space and not take away from the theme of the room.
3 Things to Consider When Choosing the Perfect Chandelier
1. Positioning a Chandelier
In an interior space, the position of the chandelier should be as centered as possible. Here are three reasons why:
- Aesthetic: A well-designed chandelier is admirable from all angles. Placing the chandelier in a central position gives you a 360-degree view to admire all the beautiful elements.
- General Light: Artificial ambient light is more evenly distributed from a centered position.
- Symmetry: As most likely the only suspended object, a chandelier is best put in a central location for visual balance.
2. Installation Height
In a dining room, a chandelier should hang approximately 30 inches above a dining table surface so people seated around it can see each other and won’t get glare in their eyes. If you have a high ceiling (9 feet or higher), add about 3 inches for each additional foot of ceiling height.
Additionally, the chandelier should be 1/2 to 2/3 the width of the table.
In other rooms, you should always consider such line of sight and safe clearance when installing a chandelier. After all, a light fixture is much less appealing if it blocks your view or if you keep hitting your head on it.
3. Chandelier Brightness
The ideal lumen count for ambient lighting in a dining room—or any room—is determined by the space’s square footage. Per 100 square feet, a dining room needs about 300-400 total lumens. So you would be smart to consider the lumen output of a chandelier as part of your selection process. In the interest of proper light layering, a chandelier may not be the sole source of ambient lighting in a space, but it will likely be the primary one.
When it comes to designing a dining room, lighting is easily one of the most important interior elements. It also happens to be one of the trickiest details to get right. Which is why today, we’re sharing all of our best tips to help simplify your lighting decisions.
Whether you're looking to create a formal dining area, a cozy breakfast nook, or an inviting kitchen island, we’ve got you covered. Scroll below for everything you need to know when it comes to choosing the right size pendant or chandelier for your dining space.
Rule of Thumb for Sizing
There are two ways you can determine the best light fixture size. You can either base the diameter of your pendant or chandelier by how large the room is or how large your table is.
As a general rule of thumb, if you already have furniture selected, the best course of action is to size your light fixture to the dining room table.
Light Fixture Diameter By Room Size
To determine the approximate diameter of the chandelier or pendant, add the room's length and width in feet. In this example, 12 feet + 10 feet = 22 feet. Convert this total to inches, which means a chandelier with a diameter of around 22" would be the right size for the dining room.
Light Fixture Diameter By Dining Table
Size
Generally, the light fixture's diameter should be about half to two-thirds the width of the table. Keep in mind, this rule is meant to serve as a guideline and your personal preference should play a role in determining the scale of your pendant or chandelier.
Hanging Height
When it comes to selecting the right length for your light fixture, you will want to start by measuring the height of your ceiling. For rooms with standard 8-foot ceilings, a chandelier should hang about 30 to 36 inches above the dining table. For more tips on how high to hang your light fixture, read our guide here.
Typically, hanging your light fixture closer to the table will make your dining area feel more formal + traditional while a shorter light fixture length will lean casual + modern.
Spacing For Multiple Light Fixtures
If you have a long rectangular dining table, you might consider using two or three smaller pendants or linear chandeliers to evenly distribute light along the length of the table. The key to working with multiple light fixtures is getting the spacing just right:
For two fixtures, leave an equal amount of space between the table ends and between each fixture.
For three or more fixtures, evenly distribute them along the length of the table, maintaining equal spacing between each fixture.
- read our guide here.
Generally, we recommend a minimum distance of 24" between each fixture and a maximum distance of 36". For tips on lighting a kitchen island,
Tips for Choosing the Best Light for Your Style
While furniture, tableware, and other home accessories play a part in setting the room's style, the lighting you select is pivotal in the overall look and feel of your dining room. Below, we loosely outline three lighting styles to help get your creative wheels turning (keep in mind, this guide should serve as a starting point and mixing and matching different eras is always encouraged): modern, mid-century modern, and traditional.
Modern Lighting
For a modern aesthetic, look for light fixtures with sleek, sculptural silhouettes. Modern lighting often features clean lines and come in neutral palettes for a statement-making focal point. We recommend the Gantry Pendant, Kepler Pendant, and Plaza Chandelier (pictured below).
Mid-Century Modern Lighting
To set a mid century modern mood, aim for globe pendants, mushroom-shaped shades, and factory-inspired lighting. We've also been loving the recent resurgence of our Luna Pendant in fun color pops. Our mid-century modern picks include: the Sidnie Pendant (pictured below), Luna Collection, and Ray Collection.
Traditional Lighting
Last but not least, traditional fixtures often feature timeless designs in warm, rich tones—think natural brass chandeliers or pendants with drum-shaped shades. Our favorites in this style point are: the Union Pendant, the Agnes Pendant, and the Augustine Pendant (pictured below).
Ultimately, choosing the right size chandelier or pendant for your dining room is a balance of aesthetics, functionality, and personal preference. Before finalizing your choice, consider using a visual aid (we recommend tying a blown up balloon to a piece of string and taping it to the ceiling) to get a better sense of how it will look above your dining table.
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