how much should you spend on a chandelier

Full Answer

How much do chandeliers cost to install?

Chandeliers cost between $100 and $2,500 or more before you hire an electrician to install them. They cost more or less based on how ornate they are, how many bulbs they have, and what materials they’re made of. Let’s explore the cost of chandelier installation by type, and see how it affects the total price.

What size chandelier do I need for a dining room?

A chandelier should be sized in proportion to the room. In a dining room that's 12 feet by 12 feet, for example, an 18" to 24" chandelier might be appropriate. In an entry hall with a very high ceiling and minimal furniture, you might prefer one that's 2 or even 3 feet across.

How many watts do you need for a chandelier?

If the chandelier isn’t the only light source, you can scale down wattage accordingly. The numbers you’ve calculated are for total wattage needed in the room. So if you also have a 40-watt lamp in a living room, for example, your chandelier would only need to provide 140 watts.

Do chandeliers increase the value of your home?

You can install a chandelier to either give your master bedroom a more sophisticated touch, glamorize the dining room or give your own style to the foyer. Replacing an older light fixture with a stylish chandelier will increase the value and looks of your home quickly and inexpensively.

What is the average cost for a chandelier?

Cost to Install Light Fixture by Fixture TypeType of FixtureCost Per FixtureTotal Cost, InstalledCeiling lights$20 – $1,000$75 – $1,200Recessed lights$20 – $300$100 – $500Pendant lights$15 – $4,500$70 – $4,800Chandeliers$100 – $4,500$400 – $6,5005 more rows

How do I know if my chandelier is worth anything?

The Value of an Antique Crystal ChandelierExamine the Condition. ... Look for a Maker's Mark. ... Uncover the Piece's Provenance. ... Check Lighting Price Guides. ... Research the Marketplace. ... Get a Professional Appraisal.

What to know before buying a chandelier?

Scale - size needed based on your room's dimensions. Height - how high to hang based on size of room and chandelier placement. Finish - type of finish that will compliment your space.

How much does it cost for an electrician to install a chandelier?

Most electricians charge about $100 to $200 to install a new chandelier in place of an old one (not including the cost of the chandelier). Installing a new chandelier where one is not already in place costs anywhere from $300 to $2,000 or more (again, not including the chandelier).

Why are chandeliers so expensive?

Chandeliers are expensive because it does require special expertise to make them and the time and effort required are not trivial at all. More importantly, there are rarely any manufacturers in the US or EU who make chandeliers which means that most chandelier products are imported from abroad.

How do you tell if a chandelier is crystal or glass?

The crystal shines at first glance, it is shiny, and a wide range of colours can be seen through the light passing through it. The glass does not shine and does not reflect the light rays into colour combinations. Crystal can be processed better, its edges are very fine, thin.

Can a heavy chandelier fall?

The CPSC and Sea Gull Lighting Products, LLC indicate that the screw collars that holds the chandeliers to the ceiling mount can break and fall. If struck by one of the metal and glass fixtures that can measure up to roughly 50 inches long, people could suffer severe lacerations and trauma injuries.

Can a chandelier be too heavy for ceiling?

Most chandeliers are heavier than other light fixtures, and chandeliers with crystals can be particularly heavy. If the chandelier you want weighs more than 15 pounds, you'll need to install a special electrical box, just as you would if you were going to install a ceiling fan. In fact, it's the same box.

Should I buy an LED chandelier?

So, if you are looking for the best type of chandelier to hang in your house, LED chandeliers are your best bet. Though they may be expensive, the benefits you get outweigh their price. Energy-efficient and long-lasting, your chandelier is sure to last for decades with your electrical bills not going that high.

Should I hire an electrician to hang chandelier?

Unless you have previous electrical experience, you should always hire a licensed electrician for any electrical project, including installing a light fixture.

Can I install a chandelier myself?

Installing a chandelier can be done by an electrician, or if you are able to use basic tools and feel comfortable working with electricity, it can be an easy do it yourself home project.

Can an electrician hang a chandelier?

It is almost impossible for a homeowner to do this. So, the best option is to hire a professional electrician. The electrician can handle any size of chandeliers and their wiring needs. Although you need an electrician to install a chandelier in your home, you must also take precautions when hiring.

How can you tell how old a chandelier is?

Look over every inch of the light fixture for a maker's mark, name or date. ... Sift through old catalogs, newspaper advertisements and home magazines for your chandelier or a close match that could lead you to the actual manufacturer, country of origin and period. ... Consider the source that powered your chandelier.More items...

How do I sell my old chandelier?

Antique and vintage chandeliers, light fixtures, and ceiling lights sell well everywhere- Craigslist, Ebay, antique stores, thrift stores, and salvage stores. They also sell well on Etsy but you need to have an Etsy shop to sell on the platform. If you only have one fixture to sell, I would recommend selling on Ebay.

How do I know if my light fixture is antique?

Look at the light fixture for manufacturer impressions. The metal framework supports the fixture, the base of the light and the arms connecting to the globes. The company names or signatures that were incorporated into the original casting are the most common markings.

How do I identify my crystal chandelier?

Note the body of the chandelier from which the pieces were pulled. If the frame is brass, copper, bronze, or iron, the chandelier is most likely crystal, because its weight requires the body to be robust.

How Large Should It Be?

A chandelier should be sized in proportion to the room. In a dining room that's 12 feet by 12 feet, for example, an 18" to 24" chandelier might be appropriate. In an entry hall with a very high ceiling and minimal furniture, you might prefer one that's 2 or even 3 feet across. Bear in mind that, in general, the height of the chandelier will increase with the room diameter. While the proportions vary by style, a larger diameter chandelier will usually hang down further than a smaller diameter one will.

How Far Down Should It Hang?

It means that if you're going to hang it where people will walk under it, the lowest part of it should be no lower than 7' above the floor. In a tall foyer, it might be 10' or more overhead. If you're hanging it over your dining table, most people find keeping the bottom of the chandelier between 30" and 36" above the table to be a comfortable height.

Why are crystal chandeliers so popular?

One is simply that many people find the crystals, and a crystal chandelier, attractive to look st. The second, more practical, reason is that lead crystal "sparkles.". That is, it scatters light.

How big should a chandelier be?

How Large Should It Be? A chandelier should be sized in proportion to the room. In a dining room that's 12 feet by 12 feet, for example, an 18" to 24" chandelier might be appropriate. In an entry hall with a very high ceiling and minimal furniture, you might prefer one that's 2 or even 3 feet across.

How much does a light fixture box weigh?

Those boxes are typically rated to hold light fixtures that weigh up to 150 pounds.

Does a chandelier scatter light?

That is, it scatters light. At the time, the light itself was still produced by candles. Adding crystals to catch and scatter the light made the chandelier a more efficient light fixture. Of course, neither lead nor glass is particularly light.

When was clear glass invented?

First of all, clear glass was only invented in the 15th century, and lead crystal glass was invented in 1675. Even then, as nice as it might have been to have them in a chandelier, they were simply too costly until, in the eighteenth century, glassmakers learned to make lead crystal-less expensively.

What size chandelier do I need?

Here’s a very simple way to calculate what size chandelier to buy: Just add the length of your room – in feet – to the width of the room (also in feet). The sum is the diameter or width you should shop for in inches. (Don’t convert it. It’s just the same number in inches.) Here’s how it works:

What wattage do I need in my chandelier?

You can figure this one out with some easy math, too. First, multiply the length of the room in feet by the width to find the area.

How high should a chandelier hang above a table?

Generally speaking, a chandelier should be 30 to 34 inches above a table. That’s usually low enough to provide adequate light, but high enough that it’s not casting a glare in diners’ eyes or getting in the way of centerpieces. If you have ceilings taller than 8 feet, you may want to go higher so there’s not a big gap between the ceiling and light. Designers often recommend going 3 inches more above the table for each extra foot of ceiling height.

What is a swag hook?

A swag hook is simply a ceiling hook from which to hang your chandelier. Depending on how far you’re hanging it from the existing junction box, you may also need several hooks to support the chandelier cord as it runs along the ceiling, and you might even need to purchase a longer cord.

How to find the wattage of a light?

How to find the wattage necessary to best light your space: First, measure the length and width of the room in feet. Example: Length = 12 feet, Width = 10 feet. Next, multiply the length and width figures together to get the total square feet of the area (length x width = total area) Example: 12 x 10 = 120 square feet.

How wide should a chandelier be?

So if your table is 3 feet wide (36 inches), shop for a chandelier that’s 12 to 18 inches wide .

How far should a chandelier be from the floor?

In a room with 8-foot ceilings, leaving 6.5 feet between the floor and the bottom of the chandelier is standard. If you have 10-foot ceilings or taller family members, 7 feet is a good option.

How to calculate wattage of light fixture?

For lighting experts, the practice is to tailor the illumination to the square footage of the foyer space, using a simple formula. Multiply the room length by the width, and that total by 1.5. This produces the wattage required by the combined bulbs in the ceiling fixture. For example, a 10 by 10-foot foyer has an area of 100 square feet; multiplied by 1.5, the appropriate wattage of the lighting fixture should be 150 watts. Note that this total wattage can be achieved by one or more light bulbs in the fixture.

How to measure a chandelier?

For interior designers, another rule of thumb guides the sizing of the chandelier itself. Choosing the diameter of a chandelier fixture involves adding the length and the width of the room together (measured in feet), then converting that measurement to inches. The resulting number is a proper diameter for the chandelier light fixture. For example, in a foyer that is 10 feet by 10 feet in size, the total is 20 feet; here, a 20-inch-diameter light fixture produces a good visual effect.

Why is a foyer important?

It deserves better treatment, though, because the foyer greets you when you come home and welcomes guests when they arrive. The foyer should set the tone for the rest of your home. Good lighting is one of the best ways to make sure your foyer makes a positive first impression. A foyer chandelier lights up the entryway with sophisticated style, ...

How high should a chandelier be in a foyer?

This means that the fixture may be at 8 feet above the floor or even higher.

Where should a foyer chandelier hang?

Remember, too, that a foyer chandelier should generally hang in the exact center of the space.

What is the foyer in a home?

The foyer is both one of the most important and one of the most overlooked areas in a home. It's not hard to see how this space might escape notice in smaller homes where the foyer is barely noticeable. But even in homes with grand entryways, this pass-through space often lacks both style and substance. It deserves better treatment, though, ...

How many years has Lauren Flanagan been in the home decor industry?

Lauren Flanagan has more than 15 years of experience working in home decor and has written extensively for a variety of publications about home decor.

How Large Should It be?

Will It Need Special Support?

How Far Down Should It Hang?

• You want your chandelier to be low enough to give good light but high enough to be out of the way. It means that if you're going to hang it where people will walk under it, the lowest part of it should be no lower than 7' above the floor. In a tall foyer, it might be 10' or more overhead. If you're hanging it over your dining table, most people fin...

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What Is It with Crystals on Chandeliers?