Almost every house these days has a mounted hanging fixture of some kind. But most people don't know how to fit a fixture to their space. Our decorators are well-versed on the types and benefits of fixtures, and we would like to pass this knowledge onto you.
1. Type of Fixture
This is the most crucial part of deciding what fixture will work for your room. Determine the amount of space, amount of light needed, type of room, and personal taste. This will help you decide which of these types you need:
Everyone knows what a chandelier is! They were originally used to light up a broad space in a castle or large home. The basic layout hasn't changed much in 1,000 years. In fact, many still feature bobeches (originally in place to catch dripping wax) and "candle sleeves" (as shown below) to mimic candles.
Chandeliers are great for lighting up a broad space, over dining room tables, or even in a bedroom with a high ceiling. Although designs will vary, most of them broadly distribute light.
As implied by the name, flush mounts sit "flush" to the ceiling. They are typically used in hallways, front porches and other transition areas. They are also a perfect solution for low ceilings or bathrooms. You can get very creative with flush mounts, and even make one from a fabric shade! Flush mounts are typically light broadcasters -- lighting up a large area. They can also be designed to be directional or accent lighting.
You get the best of both lighting worlds with a semi-flush mount. If a chandelier is too large or imposing for a room, but you want something hanging instead of flush, a semi-flush mount is a perfect solution. It's also a good complement to use a semi-flush that matches a flush in a different area of the house (see below). These can be directional, accent or broadcasting lights depending on the layout and the type of bulbs.
Pendant lights also vary greatly. People typically use them in a home over a kitchen island, bar or pool table. There are many more creative uses, especially in a more modern or industrial designed space. They can often replace chandeliers or semi-flush mounts, and are great for stairways, over kitchen tables or even in bedrooms hanging over the bedside tables! Pendants are almost always either directional or accent lighting, and are often not the primary light source of a room. Using diffusers can alter the direction and intensity of the light, and you have to keep this all in mind when designing a space. We often have customers come in who are being blinded by an over-counter pendant in their kitchen. A nice decorative mirrored bulb (see below), will take care of that problem.
2. Height of fixture
Again, this varies on the type of fixture and its interaction with the space. As a general rule, a chandelier should be about 30 inches above a table in the dining room, 6 feet above the floor when it's above a kitchen island and 7 feet above the floor in a living space. More modern fixtures will sometimes look better while hanging lower. Near a bedside table, a fixture that is replacing a sconce should hang at about where the sconce would have been. Of course, this will all vary depending on table height, where the light is being broadcasted and proportions. (Reference: homedit)
An often overlooked detail, what wattage and type of bulb you use can affect the fixture in dramatic ways. See our bulbs 101 blog and incandescent light bulb types blog for more information on types of bulbs! Wattage is important as well. The more watts, the brighter the light. It's crucial to read the fixture directions or look on the sockets to determine the maximum wattage a fixture can take. If you are desperate for light in the space, you'll want to go with the max wattage (just don't use real wax candle sleeves, they'll melt!). If it's more of an accent light, you can play with wattages. Be sure to know your needs before buying a fixture!
4. Style
Contemporary? Art deco? Traditional? Industrial? I've provided a few examples below.
5. Chandelier Accessories
Made to replicate candles of past chandeliers. Real wax one's are the most realistic, but using a bulb over 25 watts with these spells disaster. Paper, cardboard or vinyl with or without "dripping" will give you the look without the hassle. If it's being hung high, no one will see the difference! We carry plastic sleeves as well, but we don't usually recommend using them; they gather dust, are flimsy and are hard to cut. They are more economical, and on a high fixture, they won't be noticeable.
We offer rewiring to give your hanging fixture a nice silk cord. If you don't want to do that, you can always use a cord cover to add a decorative flair to your fixture. In more modern pendants, the cord is alone without the chain! It can be metallic, black or white.
Chain & Canopy
Canopies are decorative and functional. They help hold the fixture up, while covering the electrical box. There are many different types of canopies. Most canopies also need a screw collar, crossbar, and other components.
The chain is also decorative and functional. Use caution if your fixture is heavy, a lot of decorative brass chains can't support the weight! When in doubt, use a steel wire to give additional support.
