A chandelier in a kitchen is almost always the focal point. It's a stylistic reference point too, and often a showpiece. So it's important to get it right. Here are 12 tips for designing a chandelier into your kitchen.
1. Match the chandelier's style to your interior design style. For example consider the style of cabinetry; classical moldings and detail will work best with a traditional chandelier with classical design elements. Remember that there is some overlap in style compatibility: for example, art deco can often work superbly with contemporary.
2. Install a dimmer and control the chandelier separately from the other lighting in the kitchen. Don't put all the lighting on one dimmer or switch. Well worth the extra work or cost. Then you can change the entire ambiance or mood of the room, AND the under-cabinet lights etc. separately.
3. For a non-eat-in kitchen choose a centrally placed chandelier that doesn't hang down too low: the kitchen is a work area. These fixtures are available in numerous shapes and proportions. With a lower ceiling a wider, more shallow fixture is best.
4. Scale and proportion matter: a big light fixture is right for a big room, a smaller one for a small room. Obvious, but often overlooked. That's why if you plan to make a lighting purchase over the internet, measuring is crucial.
5. A chandelier's diameter should be 12 inches narrower than the width of a table. Wider, and you risk banging your head on it when you get up from the table.
6. Hang the light 30" to 34" from the ceiling over a kitchen island or dinette table in an 8 foot high room. If your kitchen ceiling is higher than 8 feet, hang it 3 inches higher for each additional foot in ceiling height.
7. If your kitchen doesn't have a range hood and fan for ventilation and your chandelier will be close to the stove, consider a simpler rather than more elaborate design, with glass rather than fabric shades. Easier to clean and maintain.
8. Have an electrician install a heavy chandelier. Safety first. Some chandeliers can weigh quite a bit, and would cause serious damage if they came loose.
9. For a traditional chandelier or one with historical style, consider a ceiling medallion to embellish the look. They are easy to install, and look most impressive.
10. Use other lights on dimmers in the room, along with the chandelier. A single light source is rarely as interesting as a major source combined with subtle accent lights in the background. Without an additional light source the room will seem smaller.
11. If you are using both a chandelier and a pendant light in the same room, match the style of the pendant to the chandelier. At least have some common element between them to link them together.
12. A chandelier in the center of a non eat - in kitchen can have a dual function as chandelier and general uplight, if it has frosted shades open at the top, like cups. Soft, diffused light washes the ceiling from the open cups, helping to give overall light to the room. Two for one.
Keep those design principles in mind as you plan your kitchen's lighting scheme, and your chandelier will top it all off as a centerpiece that will dazzle your friends!
