Wooden chandeliers: pros, cons and tips to install them

If you love rustic or natural-looking materials in your home, you should consider buying a wood chandelier. Wood chandeliers may help enhance your space if you want a country, rustic or “cabin in the woods” aesthetic and feel inside your house. But before you purchase this type of chandelier, you should learn the pros and cons related to it. This will help you decide if a wood chandelier is the best lighting option for your space. Then, we will talk a little about the types of chandeliers and we’ll give you some tips on how and where to install them.

The pros of wooden chandeliers

Wood chandeliers are affordable. One of the benefits that come to mind with wood chandeliers is that they are very affordable. Metal, crystal and glass chandeliers can be pricey, but wood chandeliers tend to be way cheaper. This is perfect for people who want their lighting fixtures to make a statement, without their bank account being too affected.

You can alter your chandelier whenever you want

Another advantage of wooden chandeliers is that the wood can be modified in the future, if your design style or taste changes. Wood chandeliers can have the wood stained or painted to alter its appearance or color. If you plan on changing the floors in your house from light to dark, you should stain your light fixture to match them. Also, if you’re in the process of lightening up your space, you may want to whitewash your wood chandelier. Being able to change the chandelier allows the light fixture to change along with your design style.

Obviously, wood chandeliers are not the ideal choice for every space or every homeowner. However, if you’re looking to hang the chandelier in an open and light space and you’re willing to put in the extra work to maintain the light fixture, it may just be perfect for your space.

The cons of wooden chandeliers

Wood chandeliers require a lot of maintenance

One of the downsides of wood chandeliers is that they require more care and maintenance than other types of chandeliers, like glass, metal or crystal. That’s because wood is a material that has to be carefully maintained, otherwise it can begin to warp, split or rot. The care that a wood chandelier needs varies based on the type of wood the chandelier is made from and whether the wood is sealed. If you are looking for a low maintenance lighting option, a wood chandelier may not be the best fit for you.

They don’t work in every space

The other disadvantage to wood chandeliers is that they’re not right for every space. Many chandelier materials, such as glass, metal and crystal, reflect light. This helps the chandelier to open up and brighten up dark or closed off spaces. However, wood doesn’t reflect light, which can cause it to make an already dark or small room look darker or smaller. Wood chandeliers work best in bright, airy spaces. If your space is not bright, a wood chandelier may not enhance the space or add to it.

If you do choose to buy a chandelier for your home, here are some tips on where and how to install them.

How to choose a chandelier for the entryway or foyer

If you plan on making your entryway or foyer stand out, a wooden chandelier is a great choice. When it comes to installing it, first you’ll have to determine the height you will need. Start by measuring the height of your room. As you can imagine, the higher the ceiling, the taller the chandelier. Then, you’ll need to do some math. Don’t worry, it’s not the difficult kind.

For this, we can use a simple ratio: 6 centimeters in fixture height per 30 centimeters of room height. This means that for a standard 2.5 meter ceiling, you’ll want an option with a fixture height of around 50 centimeters.

Regarding the diameter, the classic rule of thumb is that your diameter should be half of the room’s parameter treated as centimeters. Don’t worry, it’s not as confusing as it may sound. You just have to add together the length of the room with the width of the room. But keep in mind that this only works in feet and inches. To give a concrete example: imagine your room has 10/14 feet (3/4 meters). Add 10 plus 14 and you get a total of 24 feet (7.3 meters). So then, for a room this size, you will need a chandelier with a diameter of 24 inches (60 centimeters).

How to choose a chandelier for the dining room table or kitchen island

First, let’s talk height: hang the fixture so that its lowest point is about 75 centimeters from the tabletop. Next, the diameter for a chandelier hung over a table should be around 30 centimeters less than the width of the tabletop, to avoid hitting your head. If you want to place two smaller chandeliers over a long table, choose a diameter that’s about one third of the width of the table.

Types of chandeliers

Now that you know how to choose the right size chandelier, how do you choose the right type chandelier? With so much variety, how do you pick a chandelier that suits your design style? Let’s check out the main types of chandeliers, so you know what  to look for in the shop.

The candle chandelier is the oldest and most classic chandelier style, coming all the way from early medieval times. Candle chandeliers are often ornate, and they usually have scrolling arms and filigree. Although they now run on electricity, most candle chandeliers still feature bobeches, which is the drip pans beneath candles used to catch wax.

The crystal chandelier emerged during the 18th century when Murano and soda glass were introduced. These were light-weight and could be shaped into complex designs and patterns. Crystal options can get a bit pricey, but it’s worth the glamorous look that surely catches the eye. Crystal chandeliers are ideal to create romantic and dreamy lighting in any room.

The drum chandelier was introduced into the lighting world sometime during the 20th century. It resembles a pendant light with a material (usually a lampshade) encircling the entire light for a warmer and more muted lighting.

The island chandelier is a modern invention. It doesn’t have the famous circular shape of the chandelier, but an elongated form, perfect for kitchen islands or long tables.

The modern style emerged during the post-World War II era, when furniture design was heavily influenced by the modernist movement. Modern chandeliers feature clean, straight lines that are unseen in any other chandelier style. These chandeliers rebel against the lavish designs of traditional chandeliers and offer very little detailing. Choose a modern option to add a contemporary, unapologetic edge to your space.

The tiered option can come in multiple styles, from modern to rustic to Mid-Century–it can go with any type of home decor. For each tier a the fixture has, the fixture becomes larger and has more and more presence in a space. Choose a tiered option for its wow factor when it comes to light sources, whether from a high ceiling home entryway or a grand hotel lobby.