Chandeliers - Not Just For Dining Table Anymore!

Who honestly doesn?t love the elegance and refinement of a gorgeous chandelier? For centuries, chandeliers were found in the finest homes, castles, and palaces throughout the world. The crystal chandelier literally became an iconic status symbol and many can still be found that are just simply too large to be displayed in any home that people actually live in. However, chandeliers are made for use in ?real people? homes and the vast majority hang above the dining room table.

Chandeliers are a variety of ceiling fixtures that either provide illumination directly downward or bounce the light upwards where it will then reflect downwards towards the room. In other words, the bulbs are either facing downwards or they are inverted along with the lamp shades in an effort which tends to reduce glare and diffuse light to a greater degree.

Another defining feature of the chandelier is the use of multiple light bulbs and lampshades. Unlike many ceiling fixtures which may use a single bulb with a high wattage output in order to generate the necessary ambient lighting to properly illuminate a space, the chandelier uses several bulbs. This feature of the chandelier allows for the use of bulbs with lower wattage to produce the same or more illumination with less glare and eye strain.

The multiple bulbs and high ambient lighting output tend to make chandeliers the perfect choices for dining rooms. Placed above the dining room table which is generally situated as the focal point of the room anyway, a chandelier naturally suits the space and sparse d?cor found in the typical dining room. The only problem is?.nobody uses the dining room anymore!!

With the exception of family reunions and other rare occasions, the dining room is not the typical eating area for most people on an average night. It is not uncommon for family members to eat at different times and it is just plain impractical on most nights to use the formal dining room. Thus, the beauty of many chandeliers are simply lost or wasted for much of the year in many homes!

Therefore, it is time to consider using chandeliers in other rooms so that they can be appreciated and used as they were intended rather than simply lying dormant for much of the year! Chandeliers make perfect lighting fixtures above stairways and can illuminate this dangerous area while also adding a decorative element to what would otherwise be an essentially featureless area.

Chandeliers are absolutely perfect in foyers or entryways and make the perfect introduction to your home while also illuminating an area that is often neglected in many lighting schemes. Or, if you really want to get the most use out of your chandelier while still illuminating a very high-traffic area, why not buy one for the living room? When you really consider the wide assortment of styles and designs available on many online retailer websites, there is certainly a chandelier out there that will make the perfect addition to your living room (or any room other than the dining room where it may lie dormant!) in a style and price range that will please everyone!

Pamela Tice is the owner of numerous lighting and home decor websites including http://www.barnesandwagner.com. Her store offers a complete product line of indoor lighting such as a Contemporary Chandelier and Wrought Iron Chandeliers, as well as outdoor lighting from the industries leading manufacturers. Everything to light your home in style.