The Ultimate Nightlight
Fun, flattering and more than a little flirtatious, the chandelier is the seductress of the lighting world. So where better to hang one than in a bedroom?
"Recessed lighting is useful in a lot of rooms, but I think a fixture gives better lighting and more intimate lighting," says Suzy Treby of Treby Spanedda Interiors in Midland Park, New Jersey. Chandeliers are particularly effective in spaces with high ceilings, as they tend to direct the eye down from the ceiling and make the room feel more intimate.
While we tend to think of chandeliers in traditional spaces, they're equally at home in other types of interiors. A bowl-style fixture is a good fit for a transitional room, while more contemporary interiors would benefit from some of the wilder or more playful designs available. With so many chandelier styles to choose from, is there any place Treby wouldn't put one?
"Maybe not in a boy's room," she says, laughing.
Aside from shedding light, chandeliers make an artistic statement (like a hanging sculpture) and provide a focal point. Just be sure to hang the fixture at least 84 inches above the floor, to prevent any accidental collisions.
Chandeliers are particularly effective in rooms with high ceilings, as they tend to draw the eye downward from the ceiling, making the ceiling feel less lofty and the room more intimate.
This globe-shaped chandelier has a traditional feel but without all the dangly bits, making it well suited to the conventional ceiling height in this bedroom.
Chandeliers aren't just for traditional rooms. A modern chandelier illuminates this bedroom in a Chicago high-rise, providing ample ambient light without detracting from the view.
A black chandelier offers a new twist on an old form — perfect for this modern Miami high-rise. Mounting the fixture to ceiling blocks helps anchor the chandelier in the space and gives it a more modern look.
Poised against a white ceiling, this clear glass chandelier seems almost subliminal, but it does a nice job bridging the gap between the high ceiling, the headboard and the curtains.
A chandelier is probably the last thing you'd expect to see in this masculine Chicago bedroom. But this cut-glass number takes some of the edge off the room, softening the atmosphere and making the space feel more inviting.
A shaded chandelier fits the tailored character of this Toronto bedroom.
In this New York City loft, a playful chandelier adds a bit of electrical fireworks overhead.
For a boudoir dripping with glamour, nothing is too over the top — including this exquisite beaded chandelier.
The sparkle of the chandelier matches the sparkle of the water outside the window of this dreamy New York bedroom.
Treby Spanedda Interiors used an antique Baccarat crystal chandelier in a client's Central Park West bedroom in Manhattan. The fixture's delicate, twinkly demeanor is a good match for the room's traditional decor and high ceiling.
Chandeliers can take many forms. This gnarled nest of painted branches and twigs echoes the trees in the wallpaper behind the bed, bringing the forest motif to three-dimensional life.
Want a chandelier for your own bedroom? Here are a few options.
Regina Andrew Scalloped Wood Bead Chandelier - $1,247.50 » I love the way this chandelier has wood beads instead of crystals, giving the whole piece a much more relaxed and endearing feel. This would be a great choice for a country home, beach house or child's room. The distressed metal finish adds an heirloom touch, and while I usually find bare bulbs too harsh, here their unpretentiousness feels just right.
Quadralli Chandelier - $2,625 » This chandelier would look great in a Craftsman-style bedroom — especially one with a beamed or coffered ceiling. The design pays homage to the Arts and Crafts era, while the light is filtered through layers of crepe and organza, producing a soft, flattering light that's ideal for a bedroom.
Mia Facted-Crystal Pendant - $249 » This chandelier doesn't lack sparkle. But all those glittery strands form the outline of a pendant, making this fixture feel more restrained and somehow better for use in a bedroom.
More: Browse chandeliers for every style and budget
