Make Your Space Sparkle

Chandeliers date back as early as the Medieval times. Over the years, they have progressed from wooden crosses with spikes for candles to more sophisticated fixtures akin to suspended works of art. When well-chosen, a chandelier can be the focal point of the room, and a marvellous conversation piece.

Insidegives you some factors to consider when chandelier-shopping.

1. Space Out

Why should a chandelier be limited to the living room or dining room? When properly picked, you can have a chandelier in any room. A child’s princess-themed room, for example, can have a chandelier for a touch of whimsy. A balcony or even your patio can accommodate one to make a grand statement. You can even have a chandelier in your walk-in-closet for a regal touch or your bathroom to pamper yourself.

Apart from which room to put the chandelier in, which part of the room it is placed is also something to think about. The standard answer is in the centre. It is, however, not the only answer. If there is a window nearby, you might want to place the chandelier in the centre of the window to maximise the visual effect for those looking in.

If you are lighting up a long corridor, you might want to use two or even three chandeliers.

2. Sense Your Style

Just because chandeliers came from Medieval times does not mean that only traditional-looking homes can have chandeliers. Chandeliers now come in different styles from the ornate to streamlined.

“The choice of a decorative lighting fixture should be an expression of your personal style and the style of your living area,” adds Ron Rodgers, Director of Marketing, Swarovski Lighting.

“Choose fixture that you enjoy and enjoy the appearance of. A light fixture in your home will be seen by you every day,”

Crystal light, for example, can be used as a jewellery to enhance the appearance of your living space.

Another thing that can inspire the look of your chandelier is the soft furnishings in the room. You might want a chandelier with coverings that echo your cushions or sofa. Your chandelier can also be inspired by the wood of your furniture.

3. Scale to Size

Chandeliers tend to be larger than most light fixtures. If your room is huge, make sure you get a chandelier large enough to illuminate the room. A too-small chandelier in a too-large room can get lost in all the space. That does not mean that smaller rooms cannot accommodate a chandelier. Proportion is key.

There is actually a formula to calculate diameter size of your chandelier vis-a-vis the room:

(Room width in metres + Room length in metres) x 10 = diameter of chandelier in centimetres

In the dining room, the chandelier should be about 30 centimetres smaller in diameter than the width of the dining table.

Do not forget about the ceiling either. The formula for the height of the chandelier is:

Room height in centimetres / 4 = Height of chandelier in centimetres

When hung in a place where people walk past, the tip of the chandelier should be at least 1.9 metres above the ground. When hung in the dining room, the bottom of the chandelier should be about 80 centimetres above the surface of the dining table to provide enough light and head room.

The number of arms a chandelier has determines its lighting power - the more arms, the more power. 200 to 400 watts of light should sufficiently light up your room. Remember, whether or not the bulbs are covered and the colour of the covering, can also affect how bright the chandelier is. Chandeliers with diffusers in dark, opaque glass cast the least light.

4. Colour It Beautiful

These days, chandeliers come in a rainbow of colours. You can pick one to match the colour of your room. Alternatively, you can make your chandelier an accent in the room. In this case, you might pick a colour on the opposite end of colour wheel from your room’s colour.

The style of your room can affect your choice of colours as well. A modern room can take chandeliers in bold colours. Zen rooms in neutral tones work best with clear chandeliers or those in basic black or white.

The choice of colour can also affect the mood of the room.

“Consider the mood that the fixture may bring to you living area. Choose a fixture that will maintain the mood you desire for your space or one that will change the mood to one you desire,” notes Mr Rodgers.

If you know how to pick them, chandeliers adorn more than mansions and mega spaces. You can light up just about any space with these sparkling lighting fixtures. So, shine on!

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