Modern Chandeliers

What counts as a modern chandelier today

The quickest way to tell a modern chandelier from a classic one is its outline. Straight bars, plain rings, open frames and simple shades read as modern, while scrolled arms, candle sleeves and cascades of drops read as traditional.

Most designs here are made with metal, and many add glass, crystal, alabaster or fabric to soften or catch the light. In a modern design the light source itself is often part of the look, and ours range from integrated LED to fittings that take E14, G9 or E27 lamps. A chandelier rarely dates on style alone; it looks tired when it is too fussy or the wrong size for its room.

Matching a modern chandelier to the style of your home

Modern is a broad word, and many of our designs lean industrial, mid-century, Scandinavian or art deco. Industrial pieces suit exposed brick, concrete and plain timber. Mid-century shapes sit happily with walnut, teak and long, low sofas. Scandinavian designs suit pale floors, white walls and rooms kept simple, while art deco suits velvet, marble and deep painted walls.

Period houses need more thought, because a stark design can fight with cornicing and a plaster ceiling rose. Many of our modern chandeliers carry traditional styling as well, which helps bridge the gap. Look for soft curves, a warm finish such as brass or a little crystal, since these sit comfortably with period detail. Centre the fitting on the rose, and ask a qualified electrician to check that an old lath and plaster ceiling will take the weight. For the full period look, see our traditional chandeliers.

Choosing a modern chandelier shape for the ceiling you have

Start with the ceiling height, because it rules some shapes in and others out. Where the ceiling is low, a semi-flush design sits close beneath it and stays clear of heads; we stock many semi-flush designs and a few flush ones. A few of our designs are up-down, washing the ceiling with light so a low room feels taller.

Over a long dining table or kitchen island, a linear chandelier spreads light along its length instead of pooling it in the middle, and we stock many linear and island designs. Sizes here run from small to extra-large, with anything from a single light to ten and more, so check the width and drop on the listing against your room before you choose.

Bare bulbs or a diffused glow from a modern chandelier

Decide early whether you want to see the light source or only its glow. Opal glass, frosted glass, alabaster and fabric soften the light and cut glare, and many of our modern chandeliers use them. Clear glass and crystal put the lamp on show and scatter sparkle, which looks lively but can dazzle. That is especially true over a dining table, where seated guests can see straight into the fitting; a diffused design or a dimmer keeps the light kind on the eyes.

Many of our modern chandeliers give warm white light, many give cool white, and many let you adjust the colour temperature, which suits a kitchen or open-plan room used for both work and relaxing. Many are dimmable and some are not, so check the listing before you plan a dimmer, and choose one suited to LED lamps. Where bulbs are on show, use one bulb shape and one colour temperature throughout so the fitting looks even.

Which modern chandelier finish suits the rest of the room

Many of our modern chandeliers come in finishes from silver, chrome and nickel through brass and gold to black, white and clear. Brass and gold warm a room and sit well with oak, walnut, cream and green; chrome, nickel and silver read cooler and suit grey, white and blue schemes. Black draws a crisp outline against a pale ceiling, while white lets the frame fade back so the light does the talking.

There is no need to match the metals in a room exactly. Pick one main finish for the chandelier and repeat it once or twice nearby, on a wall light, a mirror frame or the cabinet handles. Think about wear too: polished chrome and gloss finishes show fingerprints, so handle them with soft gloves during fitting, while brushed and matt finishes hide marks better over time.

How much looking after a modern chandelier needs

A plain modern frame cleans faster than an ornate classic one, but the material sets the real workload. Crystal needs the greatest care, since its drops gather dust and fingerprints that dull the sparkle and need wiping one at a time. A metal frame with opal or frosted glass needs little more than a dust and an occasional wipe of the shades, which makes it a practical choice over a busy kitchen table.

Alabaster is best cleaned with a soft, dry cloth unless the listing says otherwise, and fabric shades respond well to a soft brush or a vacuum on low with a brush head. Over a stairwell or a tall ceiling, the easier materials pay off, as the fitting is awkward to reach. Whatever you choose, switch the light off and let the lamps cool before you clean it.