Chandeliers - Jewelry for the Ceiling

I love the way the lines blur between home decor and fashion (as if you haven’t gathered that by reading some of my other Hubs). There are so many parallels between the two areas of design, it just makes me giddy!

You know, they say chandeliers are like jewelry for the home. Chandeliers are the accessories that pull a room together. They add shimmer and that special dash of glamour – the same way earrings or a necklace complete the look of an outfit.

Read on to find out how you can add instant drama to any room with a chandelier. There are so many styles to choose from, finding the right piece of jewelry for your room takes very little effort!

Imagine yourself lounging away a lazy Sunday morning in this designer bedroom awash in rich tones of orange, lime green, deep aubergine and white with hints of black. It is perfect in every way. Or is it?

The room is painted in a deep eggplant on the upper walls. A gorgeous quilted lime green coverlet tops a tailored white bedskirt. A sumptuous orange down-filled duvet and piles of dreamy pillows with coordinating stripes, round out this oh-so-comfy bed. White wainscoting contrasts the deep hued walls. Lime green artwork creates a focal point while chocolate nightstands help ground the grouping. But yet, something is missing. Where’s the sparkle? Where’s the shimmer?

Wouldn’t this lime green chandelier finish the look? Just for an over-the-top touch, I would add orange silk chandelier shades with white detailing, picked up from the comforter, to truly make this a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry for the bedroom!

Bold punches of turquoise punctuate this inviting living room. Nothing works better with turquoise than a smattering of black occasional furniture pieces and accessories. This room reflects an individual who loves to decorate with unique treasures collected from their extensive travels. It is another example of a beautiful, yet incomplete room. What’s missing? The jewelry, of course!

This chandelier from Marjorie Skouras Design is a masterpiece of semi-precious stones. The genuine black onyx and turquoise used here could also be inspiration for a gorgeous, show-stopping necklace. Can’t you just see this magnificent lighting creation gracing the ceiling of our turquoise and black themed room?

Call me weird, but one of my favorite rooms of the home is the powder room. They’re diminutive and can easily pack a lot of decorating punch. It’s no wonder intensely colored powder rooms are known as jewel boxes. And what better place for a fitting piece of jewelry!

Coral red, black and white make quite an impact in this exotic powder room designed by Miles Redd. The mirrored medicine cabinet reflects the graphic zebra wallpaper by Scalamandre and the stunning black onyx rimmed vessel sink. The jewelry below would be my contribution to this adventurous design direction…

…a genuine coral chandelier, once again one of Marjorie Skouras’ fabulous creations. This powder room has the height to carry off this impressive work of ceiling glitz. Without it, the room would seem naked. Just like when you rush out the door without your favorite piece of jewelry!

All that's needed to install a chandelier is an overhead lighting fixture or junction box, ladder and basic tools. If you are handy, you can ido it yourself—with the help of an additional pair of hands. Don’t forget to turn off the power before you start!

So remember, when you are looking around the house and feel there’s something not quite right, chances are a chandelier will help bring your design vision full circle. I’m not saying you need one in every room, but then again, why not?

Now, I’ll be the first to admit the chandelier examples in these photos are not for everyone’s budget (certainly not for mine!) If money is a concern in your quest for ceiling bling, you can definitely find a chandelier for every budget. Consider mini chandeliers that provide sparkle without crippling your bank account. You can even purchase an ornate “candelier” eliminating the need for hardwire installation – candles are all you need to brighten a room.

Still not ready to take the leap? Why not start with some conventional jewelry to accessorize your wardrobe! These pieces from Amazon.com are way too cute for words and if you haven’t noticed, they look like the chandeliers featured in this Hub!