How to Use Chandeliers at Home

These days, chandeliers can be found in any room of the house. With so many designs to fit anyone's style, it's not hard to understand why. A homeowner can enhance a small alcove, create an elegant entryway, or add a charming touch to the dining room or bedroom with extravagant looks in crystal, bronze, antique brass and more.  Read on for practical advice and some unexpected design inspiration for using chandeliers and hanging lights.

I’m sure I only have to type the word “dining room” to make most everyone conjure up an image of a fancy table with an opulent chandelier. Though very little thought probably went into that association, adding a chandelier to your own dining room does take some planning. Two basic rules here:

1. A chandelier should always go about 30 inches above the table.

2. It should also be about 6 inches narrower than the width of the table on each side.

If you like the traditional look of a chandelier, but have a larger space to fill, try multiple fixtures instead of one large chandelier, which might look too bulky.

For those of you with a living room and dining room in one large space, or if your den has multiple seating areas, double chandeliers will also help the space look more cohesive.

Even though it’s one of the more “functional” rooms in the home, a chandelier can add the perfect ambiance to your kitchen, making everyday tasks feel more fanciful.

While the 30-inch rule is a go-to for the dining room, a chandelier over an island or open counter top should rest slightly higher, as to not block your range of movement.

A chandelier or pendant in the foyer adds a needed focal point, and if you have a window above your door or off the staircase, unforgettable dramatics inside the house and out. Just make sure that if you do have a window, the light lines up with it.

When figuring out what size light to get for your foyer, simply add the length and width of the space, and convert that measurement to inches. For example, if your foyer is 12 feet by 12 feet, then your chandelier should be about 24 inches wide.

For the Bathroom:

Putting a chandelier in the bathroom is an unexpected choice, but one that will make it feel more personal and luxurious. Just make sure whatever fixture you choose is approved for use in wet locations.

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