Few things have as much of an impact on a room's atmosphere as a stunning, recently installed chandelier. It's not merely a light! It's one of the best lighting accessories for home. It takes the decor of the room to an entirely new level. But for many of us, the idea of having one hung can be daunting. First, there's the thought of those electrical wires. Second, there's the thought of that precarious ladder.
In reality, once you are prepared and approach the project in a careful, methodical way, a chandelier installation is an achievable task. You don't have to be an electrician. You need to be detail oriented and patient as you walk through this process. I will take you on the entire journey from the first measurement to the last flick of the switch step by step. This guide is meant to help you gain the skills and confidence to tackle this project yourself (or at least find comfort in knowing exactly what is happening if you hire someone to do the work!).
Choosing the Appropriate Chandelier
Before you move forward with anything, you have to figure out which chandelier will be suitable for your area. This is more than good looks; this is about proportion.
● For dining rooms, the chandelier will be approximately 1/2 to 2/3 as wide as your dining table, this being when you aim to hang the chandelier so that its lowest point is between 30 and 36 inches (75 and 90 cm) from the tabletop.
● Things are a little more adaptable for foyers or living rooms. You must add the width and length of the room (in meters) and use the result in centimetres to get the approximate diameter of your chandelier. Assume, for instance, that your room is 4 by 5 meters.
● Now that you have these measurements, you can browse the wide selection of indoor lights available online and find the perfect fit.re in the middle and must light where the table is.
With these measurements in hand, you can now look for the ideal fit from the vast variety of indoor lights that sell on the internet.
Safety First Always
There is no more critical part to the procedure! For your safety, it is essential to turn off the power before you begin. Proceed to your fuse box/circuit breaker and switch OFF the circuit breaker for the room.
● Switch the switch to the OFF position.
● Check Safely: Now return to the room and try the light switch.
● Try to turn the old light on. If there is no light, you are safe to proceed. If the light does come on, you turned off the wrong breaker.
● Return to the box and shut off the master breaker to be safe.
Getting the Site Ready for Installation and Removing The Old Fixtures
● Unscrew the decorative nut or screws that are attached to the old fixture from the ceiling. Carefully lower the fixture downwards and disconnect the wires from the fixture. Here you should see three wires: live (brown or black), neutral (blue), and earth (green/yellow).
● Inspect the electrical box: It is important to check what the electrical box in the ceiling is rated to hold; it must meet the specifications to hold the weight of your new chandelier. Most standard ceiling boxes are rated to hold 22 kg of weight, but if your chandelier is very heavy, then you would need to examine getting a box that would be rated to carry heavier fixtures. If your chandelier weight is at or above the standard weight limits, now could be the time to schedule an appointment and call an electrician for the installation, and save yourself the installation process if you don't want to do it.
● Put the new fixture together. Make sure that every part is present. Read the manual. If there is a chain, it may require length adjustment. And, it's the best time to make the final adjustments, including modifying the colour of the lightbulb.
The most important component of the installation is the wiring.
Now you get to make your new indoor ceiling lights shine.
- Attach the mounting bracket. The new chandelier will come with a mounting bracket. Use screws to secure it to the electrical box in your ceiling.
- Hang the chandelier. If your chandelier is heavy, you may need two people. While one person stabilises the chandelier, the other can attend to the wiring. Use one ladder, or two, if absolutely necessary.
- Connect the wires.
- Live to Live. Take the live wire from the ceiling (generally brown or black in colour) and connect it to the live wire of your chandelier. Use a wire connector. Twist the wires together, ensuring there is a firm connection.
- Connect the blue ceiling wire to the chandelier's neutral wire. Twist them together and then fasten them with a wire connector until the connection is secure.
- Earth to Earth: This step is often overlooked but ensures your safety. Connect earth wire from the ceiling to the earth wire on the mounting bracket, or body of the chandelier. Otherwise, you have no safety in case of electrical fault.
- Tidy wires: Tuck wires tidily; don't allow too much slack, but leave enough to make connecting the wires easy.
- Using the mounting bracket or any one of the screws or nuts that came with the chandelier, secure it. Chuck in and fasten any ornamental glass or bulbs. Clean the crystals, turn the power back on, and flip the light switch. The chandelier should turn on.
- Walk over and flip the wall switch, if everything is done correctly, the chandelier will light up and become a stunning centrepiece for the room.
- Always have the electrical system handled and the fixture secured and supported by a qualified electrician. Your safety is always paramount.
These are the tools needed to carry out the job.
TOOL | PURPOSE |
Screwdriver set | To remove the old fixture and install the new mounting bracket. |
Wire cutters/strippers | To cut and strip wires for a secure connection. |
Voltage tester | A safety tool to confirm the power is off before you start |
Ladder | To safely reach the ceiling and work comfortably |
Wire connectors | To securely join the wires. |
Take a look at the various chandeliers available at our online lighting store.
Common Questions About Chandelier Installation
Q1: How will I know if my ceiling can support a large chandelier?
A: It is best to get advice from an electrical and structural professional.
Q2: If my ceiling has an uneven shape, can I still install a chandelier?
A: There are chandelier models that cannot be screwed on irregularly shaped ceilings. However, many come with chains and bars that can be used to install chandeliers whatever the angle of the ceiling is.
Q3: Can I install an adjustable light switch to my chandelier?
A: Although not necessary, a dimmer is a good add on, helping you set the mood in the room.