Finding The Best Outdoor Candle Chandelier

When a friend of ours had a local general contractor build the family a wide deck on the back of their home lots of fun and excitement floated around the home. A built in outdoor kitchen was added, padded patio furniture was selected, and the white PVC railing was added around the edge. Decks are a super way to enjoy the outdoors while still having the convenience of being close to the house itself. One downfall for our friends was the exclusion of lighting. Wiring was on incorporated into the original plans. Believing that the family would only want to spend daylight hours on the deck, due to the cool evenings, made them over look the architect’s recommendation to install exterior wiring, outlets, and outdoor boxes. Soon after the covered deck was completed it became apparent that everyone enjoyed staying outside into the hours after sunset. So the question became, “What lighting options do we have without electricity?” The answer came in the form of solar outdoor lighting and outdoor candle chandeliers.

Chandeliers, many times only thought about for the inside of a home are also very good for the outside. For electricity powered units the chandeliers are specially approved by the UL rating system for outdoor wet or dam locations. Features are added to the fixture to help insure safety outside. Sealed circuitry and rubber covered switches are just to of the safety features built into them. But in the absence of electricity, eyes turn towards the candle variety.

Candle chandeliers range in weight, number of candles, shapes, and metal. Wrought iron metal chandeliers are very heavy. Some have a square appearance with decorative metal ‘threads’ of metal winding around them, mimicking the lights which hung from carriages in the yesteryear. Others are very light weight and can even be suspended from the center of a portable yard canopy or gazebo. Lighter weight ones typically have three or four candle holders.

So an outdoor candle chandelier was the light that was chosen to hang aloft over the covered deck. Weighing in at about 15 pounds, light but durable fixture was just what was needed to finish the deck. The family actually found it fun to light the candle and watch them as they flickered and the flame slowly made it’s journey to the end of the candle sticks.

The vintage beauty of a candle chandelier cannot be beat by any modern lighting system.  No one compares a candlelit dinner to silk lamp shades, nor a Jacuzzi framed with tea lights to halogen bulbs.  Similarly, candle chandeliers cannot be rivaled for their enchanting light and antique magnificence.  I didn’t need to tell you this.  What you might not know, however, is how many forms the candle chandelier has taken on.  Lighting designers seized the opportunity to take something already beautiful and personalize it to different style tastes.

Let your mind expand beyond the large luxurious candle chandeliers with dozens of candles and even more dozens of crystal prisms.  The modern chandelier is just as romantic and can create the intimate atmosphere perfect for small company, winter nights with a good book, and an inviting holiday dinner.  The traditional hanging candle chandelier is even competed with exquisite forms of tabletop chandeliers.

The Parisian candle chandelier, where the branches swoop down, out, and then cup upwards again to hold the candle is an elegant choice.  The shabby chic candle chandelier is a sweet takeoff.  A similar shape in the branches, but is generally much smaller, even tabletop size, and makes use of dangling crystals or beads.

A wrought iron candle chandelier is classic.  Wrought iron is usually black, and offers a dramatic and captivating effect with candlelight.  The iron can be welded into any form.   It can hold taper candles, be your perfect votive candle chandelier… or if you finally want to use those decorative pillar candles, an iron pillar candle chandelier may make your evening.

The dancing light of candles is unbeatable.  But if a wax candle chandelier presents a fear of fire hazards that is overriding, or uneven burning is bothersome, look into quality electric forms.  A faux candle chandelier doesn’t actually use wax candles; bulbs are housed in a design imitating a candle, but without the fear of fire hazards or a sudden breeze extinguishing that intimate light.  Almost any candle chandelier you like can be bought in an electric form as well.

Be sure to note that if you look into an outdoor candle chandelier—a brilliant choice for intimate party lighting—to consider all the safety precautions and directions that come with your chandelier.  These are generally smaller and lightweight, easily hung from a lattice overhang.

This is just a taste.  Candle chandeliers will turn the night into a different world.  Explore the possibilities!