Chandelier Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Chandelier for Your Home
Brighten up your space with beautiful chandelier designs.
If you want to elevate your space, a chandelier is a great way to add an eye-catching focal point and a cozy ambience to any room. Chandeliers come in a variety of shapes, materials, and sizes to suit a range of different styles. With so many chandelier designs to choose from, we've put together this guide to help you streamline your shopping process for buying a chandelier. Keep reading to find the perfect chandelier to make a stylish statement.
Choose a Chandelier Design
Pick the Perfect Material
Select a Stylish Finish
Find the Best Chandelier Size
Consider Chandelier Features
Choose a Chandelier Design
From effortless to elegant, it's easy to find a chandelier design that matches the style of your home. We've outlined five of the most common designs to help you choose the right one.
Candle-Style: These chandeliers have candle-style lights to mimic the look of real candles. Candle-style chandeliers come in several different materials and silhouettes, which make them a versatile option for almost any aesthetic.
Statement: Statement or unique chandeliers are perfect for adding artistic flair to your home. They incorporate design elements like unexpected materials and sculptural shapes for a stylish and eye-catching centerpiece for your room.
Shaded: Shaded chandeliers feature a shade that covers the lights for a more diffused glow than candle-style designs. The shades can face upward or downward and are most often made from fabric, metal, or glass.
Lantern: A lantern chandelier has an open frame that houses a set of candle-style lights to mimic the look of real lanterns. The combination of clean lines and an airy frame creates a timeless design that pairs well with traditional, rustic, and farmhouse-style homes.
Sputnik: Sputnik chandeliers combine straight lines and circles to create a chic modern lighting look. The globe-shaped lights are attached to metal arms that extend from the center of the fixture. With an angular arrangement and whimsical feel, this design is popular in mid-century modern and transitional spaces.
Tip!
Chandeliers come in a wide range of designs to match the style of your home. To learn more, read our guide Types of Chandeliers.
Pick the Perfect Material
Though chandeliers typically have a metal frame, there are additional materials that help construct their overall design. Details like crystal embellishments and fabric shades customize chandeliers and allow them to maximize the style and ambience of your space.
Metal: These chandeliers are primarily made of metal. Though candle-style and lantern chandeliers are the most popular choice for metal chandeliers, there are statement chandeliers with drum-shaped or geometric metal shades. Metal chandeliers also come in several beautiful finishes, which we outline in the section below.
Glass: Chandeliers often incorporate glass elements through glass shades or panels to provide ambient light that is dispersed evenly throughout the space. The glass shades come in several shapes, such as cylinders or globes. The shades also come in different types of glass: clear, frosted, Murano, Mercury, and seeded. Each type of glass has a distinct appearance, so you can choose one that suits your style.
Wood: Wood chandeliers bring a natural feel to your home. These chandeliers typically incorporate wood into the frame, such as the base of a wagon wheel chandelier, or as an embellishment like wood beads. The wood details pair perfectly with rustic or farmhouse-style spaces.
Crystal: Crystal details are perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any space. A crystal glass chandelier either has crystals attached to the frame to make a sheer panel, or suspended from the frame to add layers of dimension. These embellishments add a dazzling shimmer that reflects the light.
Textile: Like glass shades, fabric shades diffuse the light into a soft, even glow. Fabric shades can be made from different materials, such as cotton, linen, and polyester, and they can either enclose the whole fixture in one fabric shade or as individual shades for each light. Textile shades are ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, or dining rooms.
Metal chandeliers come in a wide range of finishes. The finish determines both the color and the sheen of the fixture. For example, a polished nickel finish has a smooth sheen, while a brushed nickel finish has a softer, more textured surface. Some of the most popular finishes include black, bronze, gold, silver, nickel, and brass.
When choosing the right finish for your chandelier, there are endless options. For a coordinated design, opt for a chandelier finish that matches other finishes throughout a space, such as cabinet hardware or furniture details.
We also suggest mixing and matching two finishes to create a bespoke look. Try combinations like a set of black sconces and an antique brass chandelier to warm up the space, or pair a matte black chandelier with satin nickel cabinet hardware for a cool-toned kitchen.
Size is another key consideration when choosing a chandelier. The fixture should feel proportional to the space in both size and placement. For more information on how to measure for a chandelier and guidelines for best chandelier placement, read our guide How to Find the Right Chandelier Size (And Where to Place It).
Width
Width is one of the most important measurements when choosing a chandelier. To calculate the correct width of your chandelier, start by measuring the length and width of the room (in feet) and then add those two numbers together. That number is the width (in inches) that your chandelier should be. For example, a room that is 10' by 10' should have a chandelier that is 20" wide.
Mini (14" wide): Mini chandeliers are well-suited for extra-small spaces, such as closets or powder rooms. Despite their small size, mini chandeliers bring a glamorous touch to any space.
Small (15" – 20" wide): These chandeliers are an excellent choice for small rooms like bathrooms and home offices. Small chandeliers are the perfect accent light if you're looking to add a bit of visual interest.
Medium (21" – 26" wide): Medium chandeliers are a versatile option that can be placed above a dining table or seating area. They are great for bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens.
Large (27" – 34" wide): Large chandeliers are best for living rooms, family rooms, or master bedrooms.
Oversized (greater than 35" wide): Oversized chandeliers are ideal for making a statement. This size is best for spacious areas, such as great rooms, foyers, or entryways.
Hanging Length
The correct chandelier hanging length depends on the height of the ceiling and where you plan on installing the chandelier. Always measure the height of your ceiling before selecting a chandelier hanging length. Use our chandelier placement guide to determine the best hanging height for different spaces, including dining rooms, above kitchen islands, entryways, bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms.
Great chandeliers for low-ceiling rooms (6-7 ft tall):
Perfect chandeliers for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms:
Great chandeliers for high ceilings:
Tip!
Opt for a chandelier with an adjustable chain or rod so that you can change the hanging length if needed.
After deciding on the right style and size, there are a few more features to consider when choosing the right chandelier for your home. Features like dimmer compatibility or smart connection can upgrade your lighting choice.
Dimmable: Control the brightness of the light with a dimmable chandelier. These chandeliers are great for creating ambience in the evening, and they work well for bedrooms, dining rooms, or living rooms.
Swag Light: Swag lights simply plug into a wall outlet and don't require hardwiring. This feature allows you to place a chandelier anywhere – just secure the cord to the ceiling with ceiling hooks and plug in the fixture. Swag lights are ideal for rentals, dorms, or anywhere in your ome with access to a wall outlet.
Smart-Enabled: Want to turn the lights on and off remotely? Smart-enabled chandeliers connect to your home's Wi-Fi or smart hub and can be operated through an app.
Sloped Ceiling-Adaptable: Not all light fixtures can be installed on sloped ceilings, so these chandeliers are designed to be placed at an angle.
High Ceiling-Compatible: With an extra long chain or downrod, these chandeliers are made to accommodate high ceilings and hang at a proper height.
Bulb-Included: Bulb-included chandeliers make it super easy to set up/install your chandelier because you don't have to source your own light bulbs. So when you receive your chandelier, all you have to do is attach the bulbs, install the fixture, and enjoy!
Vintage Filament Bulb-Included: Vintage filament bulbs have a beautiful design that adds to the aesthetic of any chandelier. Browse for chandeliers that come with compatible vintage bulbs to ensure a chandelier product has this design element.
Tip!
Need help installing the new chandelier? Check out our guide How to Install a Ceiling Light for step-by-step instructions to walk you through the process.
Start browsing to find a beautiful chandelier for your home.
