Chandeliers lighting has been around for centuries and is showing no signs of fading away from the limelight. Traditionally, the term "chandelier" was used to describe any lighting product that was hung from the ceiling and was a source of ambient light. This definition needs a revision today, given the huge range of products that can be described in the same way. However, what the other products cannot deliver is style and a feel of luxury, characteristic of chandeliers. The history of these lighting fixtures links them to several key events in British history. They have been extensively used as royal gifts by various Lords and rulers of yore. A famous example is of Queen Victoria gifting the world’s largest chandelier to the rulers of Istanbul as a sign of respect. To this day this chandelier adorns the ceremonial hall of the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul.

Chandeliers Lighting: Crystal Chandeliers

One key aspect to keep in mind with chandeliers lighting is that it is primarily an ambient light source. Thus, the perfect place to install it is in open areas, like drawing rooms or foyers. Other key points to consider before buying a chandelier are:

• How high is the ceiling where it is to be installed?

• What is the size of the object over which the chandelier will be suspended?

• What are the dimensions of the room where it will be installed?

• How much light do you want from the chandelier?

Next comes the time to actually choose the material of the chandelier. Crystal chandeliers are considered by many experts to be the best. These chandeliers contain cut glass fragments placed together in such a way as to present exquisite light reflections. They are hung from the ceiling via chains and often come with suspenders that allow you to raise or lower the fixture, according to your requirement.

Traditionally, crystal has been the preferred material for creating chandeliers. The light emitted from the inbuilt bulbs is reflected off the various crystals and eventually can be seen dancing throughout the room, creating small rainbows in its wake.

Crystal chandeliers lighting has no parallel. It is the perfect installation for enhancing the ambience of large living spaces in a house. Some of the modern varieties even come in compact sizes and can be installed in bedrooms, giving it a luxurious feel. These products also come in shapes that can captivate the imagination of children, making them a must for children’s rooms as well.

Alternatives to Chandeliers Lighting

Ceiling Downlights: These products are either partially or fully recessed in the ceiling and are also a very rich source of ambient lighting. The only true advantage they have over chandeliers lighting is that they are smaller and can be placed in kitchens and bathrooms. These products also come in the form of spotlights, which can be used to produce exceptionally bright lights with the use of parabolic aluminized reflector bulbs. Energy efficiency can also be obtained with the use of low rating bulbs. But then, this can be done with chandeliers as well.

Ceiling Fan Light: This is a worthy competitor of the chandelier in the ceiling lights market. This is because it is almost impossible to place a ceiling fan and a chandelier in the same room. However, when they are brought together, the scene created is truly magnificent. Ceiling fan lights are exactly what the name means. They are fans that have lights placed in the middle. The important thing to note is that these lights can be as decorative as you need them to be. This product boasts a huge number of designs and colours. This allows the designer to experiment with various themes for the same house. For instance, he can create a Tiffany based theme for one room, while going completely retro for another.