The Once-Popular Lighting Feature That's Seriously Dating Your Dining Room

A dining room, site of family meals or formal dinners, is best illuminated by a combination of light sources. Windows provide natural light in the daytime, sconces or dimmable downlights enhance the ambience, and an overhead fixture ensures that shadows don't fall on the table and the people around it. The light above the table is a critical design element. If you have an open concept layout in your home, it defines the dining area. In a separate dining room, it can be the star without overwhelming the other elements. Crystal chandeliers were the design choice of decorators and homeowners who wanted to project an air of well-to-do opulence. But they've faded from style, relegated to the list of once-popular dining room trends that make your home look dated.

The wrong dining room lighting is not only a matter of mismatched styles, but it can also feel old and stuffy. Traditional crystal chandeliers are overly formal constructions of intricate designs dripping with strings of cut glass. They're better suited to a grand ballroom, or to a dining room large enough to seat twenty for a formal dinner. Modern design favors less fussiness. Cleaner lines, materials like wood and steel, and simplicity are preferred in contemporary chandeliers. As design aesthetics have changed, chandelier styles have evolved. 

Crystal chandeliers don't fit into most modern decor with their opulent jewels and formal demeanor. They dominate a room with their large scale, stealing attention from the room's furniture. Faux candlesticks with their flame-shaped bulbs can also make an older chandelier look cheap and tacky. For some, the simple perception of crystal chandeliers as light fixtures only found in older homes can make a room feel outdated. 

Aesthetics aside, a crystal chandelier can date your dining room because of its old technology. Modern chandelier design replaces a simple on/off switch with a remote control or a connection to your smart home's WiFi. LEDs take the place of traditional lightbulbs. Further, many contemporary chandeliers are made from non-toxic, renewable materials like bamboo and wood. Lowered energy costs are frequently a bonus when you replace an outdated crystal chandelier with new light fixtures, and there are several in-style options to choose from.

If you're thinking about replacing your outdated light fixture, avoid the mistakes everyone makes when buying a chandelier. Consider the style of the dining room first. Scandinavian and midcentury modern decor, with their geometric form and use of natural wood and fabrics, are complemented by simple pendants in solid colors. A Bohemian interior calls for a light fixture with a combination of materials and textures. In an outsized dining room, try hanging a large, rectangular metal chandelier or one with radiating arms.

There's no shame in standing by your crystal chandelier. Tweaking the design or giving the chandelier new life with a color swap may be all you need to do. If your chandelier's lights have shades, change them out for something more contemporary. Paint the metal parts to bring it up to date, remove some of the crystals for a more minimalist look, or change the color of the paper coverings on faux candles.