Chandeliers are ubiquitous -- as they are found in elegant homes in the United States and elsewhere.

Having had its roots in the Medieval period, the earliest known chandeliers took the shape of crosses with spikes on which candles could be securely placed. During that time, the presence of chandeliers could only be found in places of assembly. How times have changed.

Today, the chandeliers are more intricate in design and has found their way into private homes, specifically in dining rooms. But what makes chandeliers in style? They are popular because no other furnishing can command as much attention.

How To Choose The Right Chandelier

If you're thinking of buying a chandelier, the criteria for choosing the best one is actually NOT based on your personal taste, but rather in (a) the size of your table and (b) on how much illumination your dining room needs.

The typical feature across all light bulbs is that they have multiple bulbs that shed off a great deal of brightness. But how much light does your dining room need? Measure the size of your room. Multiply the length of the room by the width, then you multiply the result with by 1.5. So if the size of your room is 12 feet by 15 feet, the formula would look this way: 12 x 15 x 1.5. If you do the math, you will find that you need a total of 270 watts. The chandelier that will provide enough illumination is the one with 6-40 watt bulbs. To provide the best lighting, you can complement the chandelier with other light fixtures, wall sconces or buffet lamps.

A chandelier's diameter should be equal to around ½ of the width of your dining table. It should be suspended from 27 to 30 inches above. But of course, the number of light bulbs shouldn't be your only consideration in buying a chandelier. You should also consider the chandelier's design, its size and, of course, your budget.

Installing Your Chandelier

So, now you've bought a chandelier. What you have to do now is to install your chandelier. Handle with care when installing your chandelier as they are elaborately designed.

- Check the weight. You surely don't want your newly-bought chandelier to fall off upon installation. Should your chandelier be heavier than you existing lighting, you may need to replace the ceiling's junction box.

- This is practically common sense, but you need to disconnect the power connecting to your chandelier when you are in the process of installing it.

- Take out the old lighting and take note of how your previous lighting was installed. Replace the old lighting with your new chandelier.

Be sure you have a mounting strap in place from your ceiling. Attach your chandelier's hardware to the mounting strap. Screw the mounting strap to the junction box.

- Connect the wires of your chandelier to that of your ceiling.