How do I Choose the Best Candelabra Chandelier?

The perfect candelabra chandelier adds to the ambiance of a room without overpowering other furniture in the room and making the room feel smaller than it really is. In order to achieve this, the candelabra chandelier must be the right size and must fit in the the overall design of the room. In addition, the chandelier candelabra should fit within the homeowner's budget.

Chandeliers are not one size fits all, as rooms sizes and the ceiling heights vary throughout a home. The size of the room is important because if the candelabra chandelier is too large for the room, the room will feel smaller. On the other hand, if the chandelier is too small for the room, or the ceiling is too high, the chandelier will not have the desired effect. Overall, it is better to have the chandelier a little too big than a little too small.

When choosing a candelabra chandelier for an entryway or foyer, add the length and width measurements of the room. For example, if the entryway is 9 by 16 feet, (about 2.7 by 4.9 meters), the total would be 25 (about 7.6). The diameter of the chandelier chosen should then have a 25-inch (about 7.6 meters) diameter.

This method of calculating the diameter of a candelabra chandelier can work in any room of a house unless the light fixture is meant to accent a table rather than light up a whole room. In order to choose the best chandelier to complement a dining room table, the chandelier's size should be a minimum of 50 percent to about 75 percent of the width of the table, depending on the location of the table and the size of the room. For example, if the dining room table is 6 feet wide (about 1.8 meters), the chandelier should have between 3 and 4.5 feet diameter (roughly 0.9 to 1.4 meters).

Not only should a candelabra chandelier be the right size for a room, the chandelier should be the right style so that the candelabra enhances the overall appearance of the furniture and the room while still being an entity unto itself. Fortunately, there are a number of candelabra chandelier styles on the market, both vintage and new. Personal preferences should trump designers' suggestions, but the more traditional the home is, the more ornate and detailed the chandelier typically is, while the more modern the decor is, the simpler the the chandelier is.