Choosing A Chandelier

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CHOOSING A CHANDELIER

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When you are deciding to purchase lighting for your home, chandeliers may not be a part of lighting options you have considered. Ornate, crystal chandeliers are usually the first type of chandeliers that people think of when you mention them. But these sparkling hanging lights are not the only style chandeliers available – not by a long shot.

Choosing a chandelier is made simple by the many different styles. Today, there are chandeliers and other hanging lamps designed to fit into almost any décor. Even men who dream in flannel and boots can find a variety of chandelier styles to fit their design scheme. Below are a few style choices:

Contemporary Chandeliers – When most people think of modern lighting, they picture recessed spot and accent lights and maybe some track lighting. If they do not consider a hanging lamp or two, the modern decorator may feel as if they moved into an art gallery where all the lighting is bright but far away. A chandelier in the entryway and another over the dining area can bring rich lighting down to people-level and can highlight modern style. Chrome starburst designs and cylindrical designs are both sleek, modern chandelier options.

Victorian Chandeliers – You do not have to live in a Victorian mansion to add crystal or glass-drop chandeliers. In fact, if you have a formal dining area or baby grand piano, you can use a crystal chandelier for that area. If you have gracefully legged chairs and tables in your living area, crystal chandeliers can also fit. If you decorate in chintz and floral patterns, glass-drop chandeliers can offer the same feel as crystal without being quite as formal.

Rustic Chandeliers– Many hanging lamps and chandeliers are designed with a more rugged look for today’s single men. Antler chandeliers allow you to bring the hunting lodge home with you. A bent-branch chandelier would go well if you have even one bent-branch chair. Wood beam chandeliers with metal brackets may make you think of medieval castles, but current wood styles offer tailored designs as well as rough-hewn designs.

Tiffany Chandeliers – This style encompasses how many people currently decorate. And there are a bevy of chandelier designs that can fit in an tiffany-inspired décor. From chandeliers that use colored glass to free-form design, hanging lighting options abound. To find the style that suits you, shop around.

To help determine your style, take pictures of your rooms and pictures of your favorite pieces in that room. Now go to a lighting gallery or two with pictures in hand. Check out the lighting styles available and pick a few that seem to fit in with your pictures. Now take pictures of those chandeliers and other hanging lights and take them home.

Review your pictures while keeping the size and the brightness of the chandelier in mind. You want a chandelier that will provide adequate lighting for its location, but will not blind your guests. Dimmer switches are often used on chandeliers for this reason. With all these tips, choosing a chandelier for your space is made easy and enjoyable.