Chandeliers used to be found only in the living rooms of spacious mansions and grand hotel lobbies and function rooms. Nowadays, though, they can be installed in any home, even yours. Indeed, you can choose from many different types and styles of chandeliers and if you cannot find what you're looking for or don't want to go through the process of having to browse through various catalogues, you can always have a custom chandelier made, especially if you have an innovative modern chandelier in mind.

Indeed, custom chandeliers are offered by many lighting companies. If you opt for these, though, you will be asked a lot of questions to ensure that the finished product meets your exact specifications, so you should have a clear idea of what you need.

For one, you should know the right chandelier size that you require. Keep in mind that the bottom of the chandelier should be at least seven inches from the floor so you have to measure the height of the room from the floor to the ceiling. As for the diameter, you can simply give the area of the room to the company so they can calculate it for you. Remember that a chandelier easily draws attention so if it is too large or too small, it is a mistake people will easily notice, making the entire room less attractive.

Contemporary Chandelier Light

Once the size has been decided, it is time to describe the style of the custom chandelier that you want, which is the more difficult part. First, you have to find out if you want a traditional chandelier, a transitional one or a modern chandelier. A traditional chandelier is usually one with tiers and has a frame usually made of either antique brass or polished brass with the bulbs attached to the frame. With modern chandeliers, however, the design is more varied and minimalist. Aside from these three design types, you can also choose from other more specific chandelier designs, such as Art Deco, Rustic, Asian, Renaissance or even Tropical. There are also dozens of finishes available.

In order to choose the right style, you have to consider the style of the rest of the room, so that the chandelier will complement it rather than go against it. If you can't pinpoint the style of the room, you can just choose one element of it that stands out and use that as the basis for creating the design of your custom chandelier. If you are good at drawing, you can sketch the design of the chandelier you want and then show this to the lighting company to serve as a guide.

In some cases, you can also specify what bulbs you want the custom chandeliers to use so you should take advantage of this option. The bulbs can be exposed or enclosed in spheres or shades and they can be fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, xenon and even LED. They can also be colored or have dimming capacities to create a dramatic effect.

By keeping all these in mind, you can truly have a chandelier that is custom made to meet your needs. It will be one of a kind, as well, so when people ask you where you got it, which they surely will, you can just smile and say that there is no other like it.

Sarah Brighley is a full-time mom and an avid blogger of home improvement ideas. She loves to share the best tips in interior design and furniture.

A ceiling medallion is a decorative molding that is intended to accentuate the center of a ceiling, usually in a dining or living room. It is often mounted in rooms that also have decorative crown molding. When choosing a ceiling medallion, there are a few things to consider. Here is your quick guide to selecting the best ceiling medallion for your space.

Size of Light Fixture

Most ceiling medallions are used in living and dining rooms along with a hanging light fixture. If your room has, a light fixture such as a chandelier, or if you intend to install one, one important thing you need to remember is to choose a medallion that is not exactly the same size as the outside diameter of the light fixture. The medallion can be bigger or smaller than the fixture. You don’t want it to be the same size as the fixture as this will make the two objects form a virtual column, and this will make the room appear to be smaller than its actual size. You also need to take note of the size of the canopy plate that your light fixture hangs from. This will have to the same size as the hole in the center of the ceiling medallion.

Ceiling Height

Ceiling medallions are generally intended for rooms with high ceilings. A good rule of thumb is that the higher the ceiling, the larger the medallion should be. So a really tall two-story ceiling will require a large medallion, unless its dimensions for length and width are small.

Room Size

There is no fixed formula when it comes to the selection of the medallion size relative to the room where it will be installed. A large room would require a larger medallion compared to a smaller room. For a hallway, you would need to choose a ceiling medallion that is proportional with the width of the area, not its length. If you are intending to mount the medallion in a large room which is part dining area and part living room, consider only the size of the space where the medallion will be placed.

Type of Room or Space

The size of a ceiling medallion will also depend on what type of room will be installed in. A dining room, bedroom, or a large entry way may have a medallion that's larger in diameter than the light fixture. But for a bathroom or a small hallway, choose one that's smaller than the circumference of the light fixture.

Formula

Like previously mentioned, there really is no specific formula to get the appropriate size of medallion, as you will need to take into consideration all of the factors above. However, if you really want a formula, you may refer to these numbers to help you decide what size ceiling medallion is best for your room.

1. Measure the length and width of the room in feet.

2. Multiply these numbers to get the area of the room in square feet.

3. Divide the result by 7.

4. The final number will be the diameter of your ceiling medallion in inches.

So, for example, a room that is 12 feet wide and 12 feet long would be 144 square feet. Divide this number by seven and round this off, the result will be 20. Consider this number as inches and the ideal size for the ceiling medallion for this particular room would be about 20 inches.

Ceiling medallions are available in a wide range of sizes, from 4 inches in diameter for a closet or dressing room to over 36 inches for large rooms. If you are decorating a large hall or ballroom, you will have to install more than one ceiling medallion on the ceiling.

Joan Silver is a known lighting expert from Capitol Lighting (1800lighting.com) and a fan of all things “lighting”. She currently provides customers and designers with robust information on their lighting needs.