Lighting

Rustic Chandeliers – How To Buy The Right Size Chandelier

 

Finding the Right Size Chandelier Doesn’t Have to be a Daunting Task.

Rustic chandeliers are a fantastic way to incorporate style and function into your home. There are many options to choose from though and it could be a bit frustrating to know exactly what size you need. 

With these helpful tips & tricks, you can quickly access your room and make buying that perfect chandelier so much easier and enjoyable.

Follow these 5 simple steps to help you find the perfect chandelier for your space:

STEP 1 - DECIDE ON PLACEMENT

The first thing you should determine when planning to install a chandelier is where you would like to install one. 

Everyone is familiar with a beautiful fancy chandelier positioned above the dining table, but there is so much more that can be done with them now a days. You can add a touch of romance to your bedroom, give your foyer some added charm and appeal or simply create a peaceful, elegant bathroom with the simple addition of rustic chandeliers.

STEP 2 - MEASURE THE ROOM

Once you have decided where you would like to install your chandelier, the next step is to find out the measurements of the room. 

There are three important measurements that you need to find. The…

  1. length of the room
  2. Width of the room
  3. Height of the ceiling

These measurements are crucial in ensuring you don’t buy a chandelier that is too big or too small for your space. 

You need to know the size of the room in order to know what size chandelier to buy.  Makes sense right?

STEP 3 - FIND THE BEST SIZE CHANDELIER

Find the Diameter of Your Rustic Chandelier

The quickest and easiest way to find the desired diameter of a chandelier is to…

Step 1 – Add the length and width of the room together

Step 2 – Convert it from feet to inches.

(For Example : Lets imagine your room is 12’ x 15’. When you add them together, you get 27’. Convert feet to inches and you would need a 27” chandelier for that room.)

Find the Height of Your Rustic Chandelier

The rule of thumb when looking for the height of a chandelier is to accommodate 2.5” to 3” for every foot of ceiling you have.

(For Example : If your ceiling is 8’ tall, then it would require a chandelier that is 20” to 24” tall.)

STEP 4 - CHOOSE YOUR CHANDELIER

The wonderful thing about chandeliers today is that there is such a wide variety to choose from. 

You have the ability to find that special chandelier which will bring you happiness every time you enter the room. Be unique, be original, be you.

Below are some of the most common styles of rustic chandeliers.

STEP 5 - HANG IT UP!!

Lastly, now that you know the size of your chandelier, you want to figure out how high you should hang it in your home.

Above Your Table

With an 8′ ceiling, the bottom of the chandelier should be between 30″ to 34″ above the top of your table. However if your ceiling is higher then 8′, then you should add an additional 3″ of spacing for each foot of ceiling height.

(For example : If your ceiling is 10′ high, you should add an additional 6″ to the standard 8′ ceilings spacing.  With the additional spacing, you would now hang you chandelier so that the bottom of it is 36″ to 40″ above the top of your table.)

 

 

In a Room

If your hanging the chandelier in a bedroom, foyer, living room or any other room where people will walk under it, then it should be hung 7′ off the floor, if not higher.

In Bathrooms

Because of electrical requirements and danger risks, chandeliers work best in bathrooms with high ceilings or vaulted ceilings. The bottom of the chandelier must be 8′ above the highest point of the bathtub. When thinking of installing a chandelier in a bathroom, definitely take safety precautions and talk to a professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHANDELIER AND A PENDANT?

Pendants usually only use one light bulb and focus light downwards, while chandeliers use many light bulbs and project light throughout the room.

ARE CHANDELIERS OUTDATED?

Styles and trends may come and go but the use of chandeliers as sources of light will probably never go out of style.

WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO PUT A CHANDELIER?

Chandeliers work great in any room that requires large amounts of light. Dining room, bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms.

HOW TO KNOW THE MAXIMUM WATTAGE BULB I CAN USE?

When purchasing a new chandelier online or in a store, the maximum wattage ratings should be easy to find. Just look on the specifications page of the website or on the side of the box in the store. If the chandelier is older and already installed, look on the bulbs socket. There is usually a sticker that indicates the maximum wattage rating.

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM WATTAGE OF A CHANDELIER

The amount of light a chandelier produces is something you should consider because each chandler is different. Fortunately its pretty easy to figure out. Determine the maximum wattage bulb that the fixture can handle and multiply that by how many light bulbs the chandelier uses. For example, if your chandelier uses five 60-watt bulbs then your chandelier produces 300 watts of light.

WHAT ARE THE 3 WIRES IN A CHANDELIER?

A standard chandelier should have 3 wires, a white wire (neutral), a black wire (current), and a copper wire (ground).

WikiHow – How To Install a Chandelier

HOW DO YOU SUPPORT A CHANDELIERS WEIGHT ON THE CEILING?

Because drywall is not strong enough to support weight, a heavy ceiling fixture requires some kind of additional support. One way to create strength in your ceiling is to add a 2″ x 4″ beam between the joists and screw your electrical box to it. Another way is to purchase a ceiling fan brace to support your chandelier.

WikiHow Resources

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April 7, 2022 No Comments