By Gordon Lee
Lighting options nowadays are limitless. There are various chandeliers to choose from in decorating your room or an area in your house. The appropriate placement, the décor of the space, the flow of the room and the pieces of furniture must align with the lighting centrepiece.
Here is a guide on decorating with a chandelier – a step-by-step procedure from shopping to installation.
Window shop
Start the exercise by visiting shops and browsing or pinning away at Pinterest. Assess the design of your room. Start with the idea of where you intend to hang it. Will it be by the bay window, or will it by the stairs or inside the bathroom. Possibilities are endless when it comes to placement. One thing is sure, the vibe of the chandelier will reflect the feel of the room, and it should be cohesive with your style.
The right size
There is science behind choosing the perfect fit chandelier for the room. It should mesh well, like a hand to a glove or a wall to a fitted wardrobe. A fitted wardrobe appears to be a continuous wall, a floor to ceiling installation that functions as storage space. It is a custom-design storage space that meshes well with the room’s material, aesthetics, and colour palette.
Proportion is the key. An enormous chandelier may be too overwhelming. On the other hand, a tiny chandelier may drown in the room. The diameter of an ideally-sized chandelier must equate to the perimeter of the room in inches.
The vibe of the room
The chandelier must mimic the style of the space. A crystal chandelier will be out of place in a room with a farmhouse aesthetic or a room filled with taxidermy pieces. Take into consideration the hues and materials in the room. Find a chandelier that will go well with the room’s colour palette and the prevalent material in the space.
The vibe of the décor, furniture and fixture
The décor pieces must be the extension of the lighting centrepiece. If pieces are paintings and walls are Versailles-like, a crystal chandelier would complete the look of that room. If the furniture is wood, the features of the chandelier must also be vintage-inspired and distressed wood. If decorative pieces are of brass material, a brass chandelier would perfectly blend in with the room.
Chandeliers can be quirky.
Chandeliers do not need to be the traditional kind — crystal. There is a wide array of lighting options to choose from, way beyond crystal detailing. Some chandeliers are reclaimed wood, paper, beads, rope, stained glass, and metal. A chandelier with a matte metal finish with a geometric design for a modern feel is now available in the market. Placements can also be trendy. In hanging a chandelier, try to veer away from the traditional spots like entryways, dining rooms and bedrooms. Be bold enough to place them in powder rooms, children’s bedrooms, or the kitchen.
It is best that it be appropriately installed and should never obstruct people and movement. A rule of thumb is the taller the ceiling, the taller the chandelier. Adjust accordingly.
The purpose of a chandelier is to be the focal point of any room. It seeks attention, and it reflects the character of the homeowner and space.
Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/spacious-living-room-in-studio-6312362/
