Chandeliers: More Versatile Than Ever

Chandeliers can brighten your home and add a little glitter.

And dining rooms and entrance ways aren't the only places they're being used these days, according to home furnishings design expert Tracy Porter.

On The Early Show Thursday, Porter told co-anchor Hannah Storm chandeliers can make every part of your house look better, even the bathroom!

People may not give much thought to lighting when decorating, but it can make a huge difference in the ambiance and décor of a home, Porter says. Changing lighting is one of the easiest ways to adjust a home's look and feel. And nothing does it as dramatically as chandeliers.

Porter points out that you can make a dramatic statement by hanging them in unexpected places as you incorporate the beautiful, functional pieces in your decorating scheme.

A wonderful thing about chandeliers, Porter notes, is that they're so versatile, coming in many different sizes, looks and finishes.

A lot of people may think they're not chandelier people, she says, but today you can find one in any kind of style, so there really is something for everyone. Whether you love French Country or things that are more modern, there's surely a chandelier in the size and finish that will fit the bill for you.

Porter considers them a great way to add flair to a room, adding, "I actually look at chandeliers as jewelry for a room."

Most ceilings are plain and white so nothing else interferes with your chandelier; it's your eye candy, she says.

If you're considering a chandelier, Porter observes, first you have to think about the style you like. What's your sensibility and what are you drawn to? Because, even if you think your taste is very simple, you still may like a chandelier with crystals hanging off of it.

Chandeliers can make small spaces more interesting and enchanting. And just having a small space doesn't mean you absolutely must hang a small chandelier. You can put a decent-sized chandelier in a small space, because it adds interest. Or, you can use more than one chandelier; perhaps think about hanging a row of three, petite chandeliers; that spreads the light out. Or, you can hang one, larger chandelier between two petite ones.

There are no rules, as long as you love it! The most important thing is that loving what you're choosing. Don't be bound by rules; if a piece makes you wild, then get it! It should be an emotional decision.Kitchens

Any kitchen can handle a chandelier. It doesn't matter if you have a galley kitchen or a gigantic room; there's a way to make it work in any of those spaces. For instance, in a galley kitchen (because a lot of people have apartments), you can find a more petite chandelier that will fit. Or, many chandeliers today come in oval shapes, which may fit a small space better. You can even get chandeliers now that have pot hooks on them so, not only is it an amazing piece of lighting that adds incredible beauty, it's also practical!

Bathrooms:

Chandeliers can go in any bathroom, from a tiny powder room or your master bath, Porter says. They really work anywhere. Porter has two in her master bath, one over the tub and one over the sink.

If you're thinking about having a chandelier in a bathroom, bear in mind that you don't have touse it in the traditional way, with one large chandelier hanging in the middle of the room. Think outside the box! You could use two chandeliers over a vanity or one of medium size.

Some people don't like the idea of a chandelier over the bathtub, but I think it's romantic. If you like the idea but don't want it directly over the tub, you could always put it at one end of the tub. I think it's pretty to have a mirror up high and a chandelier reflected in it, because light bounces off it, and is beautiful.

Porter calls bathrooms and chandeliers "a natural for me."

Also, a bathroom is a great place to start with something small, just to get your feet wet. You can try something there before starting in a bigger room, which can be intimidating.

Placement

The question of how high to hang a chandelier can be very challenging for some people, because everyone has a different thought.

If you're putting one in the bathroom, you obviously don't want to run into it, so you want it high, but Porter says she doesn't like them stuck on the ceiling. She likes them "dropped down a little, bearing in mind that some people are very tall."

Porter says most people hang chandeliers too high over dining room tables and she thinks they "should be hung as low as possible, while still being able to see people around the table." Most people say to figure out the lowest point of the chandelier and then hang it 30 inches up, but Porter recommends doing it differently: Sit at your table and have someone hold a ball or something at the height you're considering (it would be great to have someone actually holding the chandelier up so you can see the true effect, but most chandeliers are too heavy to do that), then decide if it's too low and intrusive. Porter says she likes to feel as if it's part of the intimate setting you're a part of. You want the lighting to feel as if it's part of the ambiance, not like it's flying away. Porter also likes hanging chandeliers even lower for buffets. Even though it's a functional piece of lighting, if it's hung low, it can also be used as an accessory and centerpiece (like the picture of the vintage chandelier hanging low over the side table).

More Tips