Gone are the days when people used to think a chandelier was limited to the dining area where family and friends gather to enjoy food. Modern chandeliers are becoming much more popular in home lighting and decoration plans. If you are planning a home renovation or just wanting a fresh new look for your home, we highly recommend you check out the information listed below.

A Brief History about Chandeliers

The word chandelier is derived from the Latin word candelabrum, which means an ornamental branched holder for more than one candle. Modern chandeliers come in different designs and types of light, and they have been in existence since the medieval era, most popular in palaces and homes of the noble class. It wasn't until the 18^th century when artists started using lead crystal in their designs that chandeliers began looking like what we picture today.

Chandeliers in residential homes have been traditionally limited to the dining area and sometimes the foyer, but as times have changed, so has this perception. Modern designers have left nothing to chance for ensuring a beautiful home with elegant lighting patterns. Whether in a living room or even a bathroom, chandeliers appear to be everywhere.

Are modern chandeliers and pendant lights the same thing?

Although similar, pendant lights and chandeliers are not the same thing. They are both hanging fixtures that provide good lighting, but that's where their similarities end. Pendants are hanging lights with only a single bulb (or few more) that illuminates a limited area, whereas chandeliers have multiple bulbs that brighten entire rooms. Chandeliers are typically quite bulky when compared to pendants.

Pendants can be placed in just about any room while chandeliers are limited to rooms large enough to accommodate them, and although similar, they are not related. The closest relative chandeliers have are girandoles, which are ornamental branched candlesticks or light fixtures consisting of several candles/lights that stand on a flat surface or project from a wall.

Points to Consider When Buying a Chandelier

There are some important details to consider before purchasing a hanging light of this size. A prospective buyer should have a thorough understanding of the following:

Area

A well-lit room creates great appeal and you should consider hanging a chandelier in any of the following areas:

• Bedrooms
• Kitchens
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Outdoor Patios
• Entryways

Size

The size of your new hanging light depends almost exclusively on the dimensions of your room. As a thumb rule you can go with this formula:

Length + Width of the room (in feet) = Diameter of the chandelier (in inches)

For example, a 20 foot by 20-foot room should use a chandelier with a 40-inch diameter.

Large areas of a home like a living room can use one large chandelier or more than one of medium size. In the case of bedrooms, opting for hangings with 12 lights or more is a good choice and for smaller areas like a bathroom, the one having 6 LED bulbs or 8 bulbs is sufficient.

If you're placing the chandelier over a dining room table, the standard rule is the diameter of the fixture is one half to two-thirds the width of the table. For example, if the table is 42 inches wide, the chandelier should be anywhere from 21 inches to 28 inches in diameter. Staying in this range keeps the proportions right.

Height

Regardless of where you place the chandelier, most experts agree on hanging the fixture at least 7 feet from the ground, but if you like the way it looks, that's all that matters. Almost every chandelier is accompanied by ten-foot-long wire and a six-foot chain.

• If installing in the dining area, we recommend hanging the fixture 30 to 36 inches above the surface of the table. Please note this rule is for eight-foot ceilings, and the general rule is to raise the height three inches for every additional foot of ceiling. For example, we recommend hanging a chandelier 36 to 42 inches above the dining room table if the ceiling is ten feet high.

Can we use Chandeliers in Wet or Damp Areas?

Moisture is a major concern for lighting and any other sort of electrical installation. Outdoor chandeliers are more prone to damage caused by moisture and damp conditions, so make sure the fixtures are rated wet or damp locations. The same goes for bathrooms that are constantly exposed to wet and damp conditions, and do not hang chandeliers directly over toilets, bathtubs, sinks or showers.