One of the rules of interior design – especially as regards lighting – is that if your goal is to light up a room in a way tha is both classy and practical, then you can’t go wrong with a chandelier.
For a long time, people have been using chandeliers to create a blend of aesthetics and functionality that does not compromise one or the other. Because of where they are located – near the top of a room, equidistant from the four corners – a chandelier tends to cast more light than you would get from a standing floor lamp, a desk lamp, or even a few wall sconces.
That’s for the practicality. In terms of design, people have been getting creative with hanging lights for centuries. In New England back in colonial days, if you walked into a tavern you would likely see a wagon wheel hanging from the ceiling, with dripping wax candles set up along its edge.
At the other end of the spectrum, there were Kings and Queens who hired artists to create chandeliers made from rare crystal and gold and silver, with multiple tiers of light. These were lights as much as they were museum quality pieces.
Your chandelier is more likely than not going to fall in the middle of that pair of extremes. There’s no need to hire your own artisan, but you can also avoid suspending battered tire rims too.
A good way to choose the perfect chandelier is to begin with the room where you plan to hang it. In other words, fit the chandelier to the room and not the other way around. Take some measurements – both height and width. You want to be sure the light isn’t too big for the space.
AS well, you should consider the natural décor of the room. If you are doing something along the lines of early Americana, then you should probably avoid the Art Deco lights that look like something Andy Warhol would have loved. You want to create a seamless appearance, not one that jars the senses.
Nobody said it was easy to purchase a chandelier – much less the right one. The breadth of options is daunting. But if you start be analyzing the space you have to work with, then you will have an easier time integrating these historic light fixtures into your home.
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