Chandeliers

A chandelier is a ceiling light that is meant to be looked at. It carries the room instead of disappearing into it, which is why it belongs over a dining table, in a stairwell or above an entry where there is height to fill.

That also sets a limit on what it can do. A chandelier is a decorative layer first and an ambient one second, so a room with one still needs a lamp beside the chair and light on the working surfaces. Treated as the only light in a room, it usually disappoints.

What's in this range

This collection holds 8 fittings, priced from $75 to $2,000 in Australian dollars, which is the widest price spread of any collection on this site. Listed heights run from 13 cm for a flush mount model up to 120 cm for a hanging design measured with its drop, and the one fitting that lists a diameter measures 40 cm. The one wattage figure stated in the range is 25 W.

The materials divide the collection cleanly. Crystal appears on most fittings, set in stainless steel, in an iron frame with a polished finish or as accents on a metal frame, and one product page specifies K9 crystal. Away from crystal there is a rattan and bamboo shade on a wood structure, a bubble glass design and an antler style piece. Light sources are split between integrated LED systems and fittings that take E14 lamps, with one supplying E14 LED lamps and another stating that its five E14 lamps are not included. Mounting covers chain pendants, cord pendants, an assembly pendant, a flush surface mount and one design listed as suiting both flat and slanted ceilings. Three product pages state that the fitting does not dim, one states that it does, and one dims with a compatible switch. Dining rooms are named most often, then living rooms, bedrooms, entryways and restaurants.

How to choose

Hanging or flush mount

This is the decision the ceiling makes for you. A hanging chandelier needs enough height that nobody walks into it and that the shape reads properly from across the room. Where the ceiling is low, the flush mount models in this range give the same decorative effect without the drop. Measure floor to ceiling before you look at anything else, and see oyster lights for the flat mounted alternatives.

Drop over a dining table

Over a table the fitting can hang lower than it could in a walkway, because nobody passes underneath. The listed height on each product page tells you the drop, and it runs up to 120 cm here. What matters is that people seated opposite each other can see each other, so hold a tape measure at the drop before deciding.

Diameter against the table or the room

A chandelier that is too small for the room reads as an afterthought, and one that is too large crowds the table. Diameter is listed on the product pages that state it, and the one figure in this range is 40 cm. Compare it to the width of your table rather than to the size of the room.

E14 lamps or an integrated LED

Fittings with an integrated LED arrive complete and need nothing further. Fittings that take E14 lamps let you choose the colour temperature and change it later, but one model here states that its five E14 lamps are not included, so they need to be ordered separately. The light source line on each page states which applies.

Whether it needs to dim

Over a dining table, dimming changes the room more than any other feature, because the same fitting can be bright for a meal and low for the rest of the evening. Three fittings here state that they do not dim, one dims and one works with a compatible dimmer switch. If dimming matters, read that line first.

Frequently asked questions

Will a chandelier work under a low ceiling?

A hanging one usually will not, but a flush mount version gives the same look with no drop at all. There are two flush mount crystal fittings in this range, both measuring 25 cm. See also crystal chandeliers.

Do I need an electrician?

Yes. Every fitting in this collection is hardwired to the ceiling, and fixed wiring work must be carried out by a licensed electrician in Australia. Weight matters too, so the mounting point needs to be right for the fitting.

Are the lamps included?

It depends on the model. One fitting supplies E14 LED lamps, one states that its five E14 lamps are not included, and the integrated LED models need no lamps at all. Check the light source line on the product page before you order.

Is a chandelier enough light for a dining room?

For eating, often yes. For anything else in the room, usually not, which is why most dining rooms pair one with a wall light or a lamp in the corner. See wall lights for the second layer.

What is the difference between a chandelier and a pendant?

A pendant is normally one shade on one cord. A chandelier carries several lamps or a sculptural arrangement on one frame, so it fills more space and asks for more height. Both hang from the same point. See pendant lights for the simpler shapes.