Would you love to hang a chandelier in your home but you don’t know how to begin to choose one?
If you’re a first-time chandelier buyer, you probably have many questions about which chandelier will be best for your space. This style guide will help you discover the basic difference between five of the most popular types of chandeliers: crystal, candle-style, linear, cage, and drum chandeliers.
Each kind of chandelier has its own purpose and history behind it. You will find that the ideal chandelier for your home will be the one that best suits your needs and matches your style preferences.
Crystal Chandeliers
Crystal chandeliers add a touch of glamour to any space. They are true statement pieces that command attention with their bedazzling jewels. The popularity of this style of chandelier goes back to the 17th and 18th centuries when Europeans first made lighting fixtures out of rock crystal and soon began designing ornate chandeliers in baroque and rococo styles. Designed to impress, large crystal chandeliers will add drama to your foyer. Try a petite crystal chandelier in your dining room to add a glimmer of elegance.
Candle-Style Chandeliers
If you prefer a more rustic or intimate look, try a candle-style chandelier that mimics the soft light of candles. Large lighting fixtures featuring multiple real candles date back to the 6th century. But they came with many problems and hassles, including dripping wax, smokiness, and the necessity of elaborate pulley systems so they could be lowered and lifted in order to replace the candles. Today, candle-style chandeliers are all electric fixtures, so they have none of the problems but all of the benefits of candlelight. Some even feature flickering bulbs!
Linear Chandeliers
If your tastes are more contemporary, you will probably love a linear chandelier. These chandeliers typically hang straight down from the ceiling and feature clean geometric shapes and lines. They come in a variety of colors and finishes, often showcasing a particular metallic look. Linear chandeliers work well in kitchens where they often complement other metallic and wooden elements. Larger fixtures make a statement in any of the gathering rooms of a modern-style home.
Cage Chandeliers
Another option that works well in modern homes is the cage chandelier. As the name suggests, these fixtures feature lights surrounded by metal caging for a look that is both industrial and stylish. They are another popular choice for kitchens and also often work well with the proportions of hallways in contemporary homes.
Drum Chandeliers
If you want the light emanating from your chandelier to be more discrete, your best bet is to choose a drum chandelier. These fixtures feature a drum shading around the light bulbs that can create soft or hard lighting depending on the thickness and angle of the covering. Drum chandeliers come in many styles ranging from classic to modern, so they can be the perfect accessory for any home.
One design tip:
Match your drum chandelier to the style of the curtains in the room to create a cohesive look and feel for your space.
