Elegant, solid, massive, majestic - all these are classic chandeliers. They always become the central piece of the interior. It is impossible not to notice them - the multi-tiered and shimmering crystal fascinates and attracts the eyes of guests. Such a chandelier is usually chosen by conservative people, with a sense of style and delicate taste, who want to emphasize their status and craving for beauty.
Historical beginning
We owe the origin of magnificent chandeliers in the classical style to Italian craftsmen; it was they who invented artificial cut crystal, which began to decorate the lighting fixtures of the most eminent nobles - such luxury was not available to mere mortals.
Both ceiling chandeliers and pendant chandeliers were popular at that time. Since then, famous masters began to use a wide variety of materials when creating lamps, but this only made the classics more elegant and organic.
It is also worth mentioning the Spaniards, who also made an invaluable contribution to the design of lamps; their chandeliers are distinguished by their particularly sophisticated beauty. Today, classic chandeliers from Spanish and Italian manufacturers are considered the standard of craftsmanship in lighting fixtures.
General recommendations
A lighting fixture that matches the classic style is chosen taking into account the following tips:
- a small kitchen will look great if you purchase a chandelier that is not burdened with decorative elements;
- the stylish design of the room will be given by the design of chandelier shades and sconces in a single color;
- In rooms characterized by high ceilings, chandeliers with long pendants look original. Multilevel models are appropriate here;
- a modest-sized chandelier will look ridiculous in a large, spacious room.
The classic style represents one of the most important style trends, which will always be in fashion and appropriate for any room.
IrinaAuthor of the article
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Variety of types of classic chandeliers
Initially, the concept of “chandelier” meant a massive pendant lamp, generously decorated with crystal. Manufacturers were not afraid of classic decor made of bronze and gold, which fit very organically into the interior. In the modern world, there are many classic lighting fixtures. Here are the most popular ones:
- Classic ceiling chandeliers, most often pendant ones, are luxurious, with pendants made of crystal, which is now being quite successfully replaced by cut glass. Swarovski pendants are distinguished by their special quality and elegance;
- Another equally popular type of classic chandeliers is carob chandeliers that imitate candles. They, just like hanging ones, can be multi-tiered - such chandeliers often decorate the luxurious halls of museums, ancient estates, and theaters. There are three or more horns in such a chandelier, which allows them to decorate the interior even in a small apartment;
- Table lamps with shades are an elegant decorative element for a bedroom or office. Porcelain lamps from Italian manufacturers will become a real work of art in your apartment. They create soft, even light and give real aesthetic pleasure. In their diffused light, it is pleasant to read a book before bed or look through documents at your desk;
- Floor lamps are used to illuminate certain areas; this can be a place near the bed as an alternative to a table lamp and sconce, or a reading area near a cozy chair. Thanks to their multitasking and elegant lines, floor lamps will fit into the interior of any room;
- Wall lamps or sconces are mostly decorative, becoming an elegant element of the decor. Sconces are preferably used in bedrooms to create dim lighting and a cozy atmosphere;
- If you are the owner of your own home, then the local area can also be transformed and street lighting can be installed in a classic style. There are both wall-mounted and ground-mounted. A veranda or country house can be transformed by adding lighting with classic lamps, and garden paths will gain charm and add a touch of romance to evening walks. Landscape lanterns, despite their seemingly solid and even rough appearance, look very sophisticated, as they are most often made by hand.
Replacing the chandelier yourself
Sometimes there are times when it is necessary to replace a chandelier. You don't always have the time or desire to call an electrician. Changing a chandelier is actually quite simple, and you can do this work yourself. This operation is simple, but requires responsibility and compliance with certain rules. It consists of two stages: dismantling the old product and attaching a new chandelier.
To successfully dismantle the chandelier, you must:
- Turn off the power to the house.
- Determine the location of the stopper to which the glass with wires is attached.
- Hold the lamp, loosen the stopper and remove the glass.
- Carefully disconnect the wires and remove the old chandelier.
The next step is connecting a new lighting fixture. To perform this procedure you must:
1. Connect the wires on the chandelier itself. This is done depending on how many keys the switch has. For a single-key one, connect one wire from each lamp. Then the remaining wires are connected. Sometimes this process is performed by the manufacturer himself.
2. Connect the ceiling wires to the chandelier. The wires that were connected one from each lamp are connected to the phase, the rest are connected to the other ceiling wire. To determine the phase, use an indicator screwdriver.
3. To ensure a high-quality connection, it is better to use terminals with screws. They are more reliable.
4. Carefully cover the wires with a glass and secure with a bolt.
A correctly selected chandelier will not only complement the interior, but also an object that, with its light, will create comfort and coziness in the home. You can share your impressions and comments, as well as photos of options with our readers.
Detailed installation instructions (1 video)
Different models of chandeliers (130 photos)
Materials and main features of a classic-style chandelier
As a rule, expensive and rare materials are used to make lamps in a classic style. Formative elements are made of metals - such as bronze, brass, silver, copper, and rare types of wood are also often present - rosewood, red.
Natural fabrics, artificial and natural stones, porcelain, and glass are usually chosen for lampshades. And, of course, crystal for decoration. Despite the variety of materials and luxury of finished products, classicism as a style is devoid of small and rough details; precision, simplicity and symmetry are still in fashion.
Among the characteristic features of a classic chandelier, the following can be noted:
- Imitation for candles or torches. The shape can be either regular or slightly curved, creating the impression of a candle flame fluttering in the wind.
- Color field - golden tones, silver, coffee, bronze, white and black colors and shades - no bright, pretentious colors - only calm nobility.
- The undoubted quality of the product, which will serve you for many years, is achieved through expensive materials and predominantly manual labor in terms of formative elements.
- Classic models are made on a metal base, and therefore the weight of the final product is quite large, and the chandelier itself is massive.
- A different number of horns and candles allows you to illuminate a room of any size.
Important! When choosing a product, pay attention to the metal parts - they should be either natural color or high-quality tinted, without chips or abrasions - beware of fakes!
Antique floor lamps
A floor lamp (from French torchère - “torch”) is a floor lighting device. This lamp creates directional, diffused light that is not tiring and calms. And antique floor lamps will also become a full-fledged decorative item, helping to create an aesthetic impeccability of the interior.
A retro floor lamp looks appropriate in a modern interior, while giving it a touch of sophistication.
Vintage floor lamps have one or more legs - not necessarily straight, they can be of completely bizarre shapes. Most models are equipped with a lampshade that covers the light source, thanks to which the floor lamp emits dim light in the desired direction.
Retro floor lamp on a tripod with a diffuser shade emits light that is pleasing to the eye
Retro floor lamp on a curved thin leg - directional light and a stylish decorative element at the same time
If you have an old floor lamp without a lampshade, then in this video you will learn how to make a lampshade with your own hands.
Types of retro floor lamps
To choose the right floor lamp, first decide what role it should serve as lighting: general, accent or additional. This will make it easier for you to decide on the number and key features of floor lamps.
To make the right choice, do not forget to also take into account the required nature of the light and, of course, the interior style of the room. Table 1 below shows the classification according to the nature of light:
Table 1:
View of retro floor lamps | Features of the models | Application |
With diffused light | They provide floor lamps with transparent lampshades. |
|
With directional light | Models with a non-transparent metal or plastic shade. The leg is often bendable and, of course, a powerful lamp. |
|
With reflective light | The light source is directed at the ceiling or wall, which reflects the incident light. |
|
An equally important criterion is the direction of the interior design in which the antique floor lamp is supposed to be placed. The main styles in which retro lighting is used are given in Table 2:
Table 2:
Interior style | Suitable characteristics |
Loft | Metal models with Edison bulb |
Vintage | Floor lamps on a tripod, with colored and soft lampshades |
Country | Models with a wooden lampshade or with a small shade on a bendable leg, imitating a table lamp |
Scandinavian | Models with a round lampshade made of glass or fabric |
INTERESTING! Western designers actively use an interesting technique: two identical floor lamps are installed on two sides of the semantic center of the room (sofa, fireplace, table). This maintains the principle of symmetry and emphasizes accents.
Antique floor lamps on both sides of the sofa will help emphasize symmetry and accentuate the semantic center of the room
Distinctive features of neoclassicism in lighting
The main feature of neoclassicism is its lightness and ease compared to the scale and massiveness of the traditional classical style. This style is characterized by frosted glass for lampshades, sometimes chrome is used for fittings, the aging effect is actively used for decorative materials, and colored crystal is widely used.
Instead of a massive metal base, plasterboard moldings and ceiling moldings often serve as the base for a pendant chandelier. The availability of lighting items in neoclassical style is also important: cheaper materials are used, production technology is simpler.
In this regard, the emergence of neoclassicism provided a good opportunity to create a magnificent atmosphere and elegant interior at home with low material costs.
Crystal chandeliers - a classic within a classic
Particular attention should, of course, be paid to the legendary chandeliers - chandeliers with crystal pendants. Crystal is mainly used for pendant and ceiling chandeliers, and less often for sconces. Made by a skilled craftsman, such a chandelier becomes a real work of art in your home.
Warm light, reflected from the edges of the crystal, penetrates into all corners of the room, illuminating everything with a pleasant flicker. There are a great many types of suspensions, but they can be divided into conditional groups:
- peaks - elongated pendants pointed towards the bottom;
- drops - the name speaks for itself - slightly flattened or regular in shape;
- balls - round, multifaceted, single balls are often used at the very bottom of the chandelier to complete the product;
- figured pendants;
- beads - several crystal beads attached to a strong thread.
Important! When choosing a crystal chandelier for your apartment, be prepared for the fact that the smaller the pendants, the more details, the more care they require. Crystal parts should be washed in warm water with a small amount of detergent added separately from the rest.
How to choose lighting elements
When choosing a lighting style in your home, it is worth remembering that a classic-style chandelier, despite all its versatility, is not suitable for all modern styles. If you decide to choose today’s popular loft or high-tech styles to decorate your home, then you should mix the classics here with great caution.
But if luxurious Baroque and Empire styles reign in your apartment, then such a lamp will become a real anchor, which with its elegance will slightly restrain the chic and pretentiousness of these styles. Neoclassicism is also incredibly fashionable now, but in it, while observing all the features of the classical style, a certain antiquity characteristic of the good old classics disappears.
In any case, a lamp, be it a chandelier, table lamp or sconce, if it has the elegance of a classic style, can both highlight and decorate your design decisions and attract all attention to itself, leaving the entire environment in the background.
Antique table lamps
Antique table lamps are another component for organizing retro lighting. Such a lamp will complement the overall atmosphere of the room, and will also serve as a source of light for your desk, evening reading or handicrafts.
An antique-style table lamp is a functional element of the decor of a recreation area
You won't find boring straight legs in designer vintage lamps. All of them are like a piece of art: curved or forged, twisted or three-dimensional, made of natural wood or high-quality metal.
Vintage table lamps have shaped legs made from a variety of materials.
The advantages of classicism in choosing a chandelier
The main and main advantage of a classic chandelier is its undying relevance. For many centuries it consolidated its position. At any point in history, classics have been in fashion. Its versatility allows you to decorate the light both in the living room and in the bathroom or children's room.
This is also facilitated by the widest selection of lighting fixtures - for every taste, a wide variety of designs.
Progress does not stand still, and the process of producing chandeliers has been significantly simplified with the use of modern technologies, which has made classic chandeliers more variable - it has become possible to tint crystal in various shades, which allows you to fit it into any interior or make it a bright piece of decor in a pastel-colored room.
When choosing a chandelier for yourself in a classic interior, you must clearly think through: where it will hang, what interior items it will resonate with, what its role in the interior will be. Such lamps are very independent and do not require additional decoration, such as an elaborate painting on the wall.
And if the choice is made correctly, the result will delight you for many years, regardless of fashion trends and the passage of time. Such unique interior items as a classic chandelier become family treasures, and it will be great if your grandchildren will light the living room in their house with the same chandelier that once illuminated you. Enjoy the classics today and always.
How to choose?
Lighting in the living room can consist of several levels. In addition to the ceiling chandelier, sconces, floor lamps and LED strips are installed in the room, which are placed at different heights. Light highlights important decorative elements. If the lighting includes a complex system. Then you need to ensure that each element is combined with other devices. Thanks to this, integrity and harmony in the room are achieved.
In order for elements of lighting equipment to look organic in the living room, you need to take into account a few simple recommendations.
Installation of additional lighting
These include:
- In a room with a high ceiling, you can install several ceiling chandeliers. It is important to choose hanging structures of the same model. They should be different sizes so that they can be hung at different heights. Such chandeliers can be installed next to or in opposite parts of the room, as required by the design.
- If the living room has a small area, then lamps of the same model and size, but of different colors, are installed here. A good option would be to use contrasting shades. The technique is used only in suitable styles.
- Installation of absolutely identical chandeliers. Suitable for classic interiors. Identical models are installed in different parts of the room, which will fill the space with sophistication.
- Different lampshades can make a room bright and lively. Lighting fixtures with the same base and design type can be installed in the living room, but the lampshades installed on them are different. This will give the room a fresh and dynamic look.
- A small room should not have bulky structures or multiple light sources. Here it is appropriate to hang only one central ceiling lamp. It should be as simple as possible in order to fit seamlessly into the living room design.
- For rooms that are divided into functional zones, chandeliers are selected for each of them separately. Typically, a living room includes: a sitting area, a dining room, and a work desk. Each zone can be supplemented with other types of lighting equipment. Separation is done in large rooms.
- All lighting elements used in the living room must be combined with each other. This applies to ceiling lamps, sconces, floor lamps and even LED strips.
- The chandelier is selected based on the style of the room. The emphasis is on the design and color of the lamp.
Each zone has its own lighting
The classic option for the living room is to install a chandelier in the center of the room. When zoning a space, you can use 2 or more light sources. Each zone should have its own central lighting.
As a complement to the chandelier or instead of it, sconces or spotlights can be installed.
They affect the intensity of light. For the work area, it is better to choose cool shades of light. In a place where a person will rest and relax, you can install soft warm lighting. The main thing is that it is not too dark.
Additional spotlights
Some chandelier models are available with the function of adjusting the light intensity. Thanks to this, a person regulates the lighting himself. For example, when he is alone in the room, the lamp becomes more subdued, but when guests arrive, on the contrary, you can turn the intensity to maximum.