Chandeliers Some basic fact

by Stephen Neal

Chandeliers can be defined as branched candle holders or electric light holders which are suspended from ceilings. In their earliest forms, chandeliers were made from wood or iron and came in simple shapes. But that was before the Norman Conquest, when they were used in the Anglo Saxon churches. In the 12th and the 13th centuries, huge openwork hoops of iron or bronze with a multitude of spikes for candles became more common. The late European middle ages saw the emergence of the brass chandeliers; quite like its predecessors, these were also mostly used in churches.

During the 18th century, one finds the use of fine chandeliers in silver and gilded wood. Then came the era of elaborate glass chandeliers complete with glass icicles round the shaft and long cascades of pear shaped drops. Venice and Bohemia were the best places to look for glass chandeliers of the highest quality. The multicoloured glass and floral decorations in the Venetian chandeliers are famous all across the world to this day.

Gradually, chandeliers came to be used in ballrooms or large royal mansions and palaces. And in the present day and age, one can find crystal chandeliers in the mansions of the rich and the famous.

And why only the rich nd the famous ? As of now, people who want to live life luxuriously are purchasing these with other articles of home decor to make their homes and living areas quite special. Many common people can now afford to purchase and use a chandelier. And they are doing just that. They are buying these articles of home decor and changing the look of their dining rooms and living areas quite drastically.

And the great news is that there are a host of designs to choose from. A person wanting to make a purchase can check out the online stores dealing in chandeliers and get to know more about all the design options currently in vogue. This way, he or she would not have to go out and visit the “brick and mortar” stores in search for a modern and stylish chandelier. He can review the best options in style and lighting and select the perfect design that would suit his home the best.

One thing that potential buyers must remember is that a good chandelier is one which hangs high on the ceiling. So, in instances where the ceilings are low, one needs to consider buying a smaller one. The product bought need to be proportional to the room in which it would be placed; this way, the chandeliers would look their best.

To conclude, one can say that chandeliers have illuminated churches, mansions, and halls since times immemorial. And now, these very distinguished pieces of home decor are available to one and all. Anybody and everybody who want to make their living areas or other spaces come alive can buy a chandelier according to his aesthetic tastes and sensibilities. A buyer can choose from crystal chandeliers, black chandeliers, and chandeliers with glass shades. To know more about how you can create your very own royal ambiance, visit periodstylelighting.

Stephen Neal is a well known author who writes article for periodstylelighting.co.uk, crystal chandelier, crystal chandeliers chandeliers, chandelier, and many more ideas and turns their designs into reality.

Article Source: Chandeliers Some basic fact

Make Your Home More Beautiful With A Classy Chandelier

by Lukas Rathswohl

A chandelier can be an ideal option for lighting in your home. Not just for foyers and formal dining areas, but chandeliers can also be used to provide lighting in kitchens, bedrooms, as well as the children's room. But before you go out and look for that perfect chandelier, here are some things that you need to consider.

Criteria For Buying Chandeliers

1) Size of the chandelier:
The most important element to consider is the size. If not sized correctly, a chandelier will not be able to provide lighting as desired and may well not fit into its designated spot. So here's what you need to know about sizing a chandelier.

-  When choosing a chandelier for a particular room, you need to first measure the width and length of the room. Add these two measurements and the resultant sum (in inches) is how wide your chandelier should be. For instance, if your room is 14 feet wide by 16 feet long, you need to add these two numbers which gives you 30. Thus, the ideal width for a chandelier for this room will be 30 inches. However, you also need to consider the height at which the chandelier will hang. If you have low ceilings and the chandelier will hang quite low, you should buy a slightly smaller one (26-28 inches). But, if you have really high ceilings, then you should go in for a bigger one (34-36 inches). This is because the higher the chandelier, the smaller it is going to appear.

- Another important size consideration is the length. A chandelier should be at least 30 inches above the table that it will hang over. This is the optimum height as it is high enough to leave adequate room to place things under the chandelier and is low enough to provide the desired lighting. Thus, after subtracting 30 inches from the top of the table to the ceiling, and 3-4 inches for the chandelier hook, the space left can be used to decide the length of the chandelier. Once again, you can be a little flexible here. If you usually use very tall centerpieces on your table, you should choose a chandelier that is a little shorter.

2) Type of lighting required:
The kind of lighting that you need is also an important criterion to consider. Here are the various types of chandeliers used to bring about different kinds of lighting:

- Ambient Lighting: If you wish to achieve ambient (general) lighting, you should go in for a big one, which has plenty of bulbs and open lights. This will ensure that the chandelier provides light for the entire room.

- Accent Lighting: If you want to place your chandelier over something specific so as to illuminate that object, or if you want it to provide you with accent lighting for specific areas, then you should choose one with spotlights and down lights. A spotlight will help you to focus lighting on special works of art and help to bring about their beauty. With down lights, you can provide accent lighting for tabletops and other specific areas.

- Diffused Lighting: Many people like to have sober diffused lighting in their home. They do not like the glare of very bright lights. If you too desire such lighting, you should choose a chandelier with uplights. An uplight will throw light on the ceiling which then gets diffused and provides a very warm glow. You can also choose a chandelier with shades as this will help to maximize the light filtering down but reduce the glare at the same time.

Thus, once you have decided on what type of lighting effect you wish to achieve, you can select a chandelier accordingly.

3) Style of the chandelier:
As it is most likely going to be the center of attention in any room, it is essential that you choose a chandelier that has a look and style which is in keeping with the rest of your decor. You do not want to draw attention to your chandelier for all the wrong reasons after all!

While a traditional crystal chandelier can look at home in almost any setting, if you want to go in for an ornate wrought iron chandelier, or perhaps a contemporary one, it is important to first determine that such a design will match your home d�cor. Remember, while choosing a chandelier style, you want to go in for one that matches your d�cor and not contrasts with it.

In addition to the above, ease of cleaning, number of bulbs (depending on how much lighting you require), and your budget are the other factors to consider when choosing a chandelier.

Lukas Rathswohl is the publisher of All About Chandeliers, your guide to finding the perfect chandelier for your home. Go to All About Chandeliers - Your Chandelier Guide and brighten up your home!

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