Has this ever happened to you? You're shopping at a local art gallery and you find an absolutely beautiful painting, one you would happily gaze at every day for the rest of your life. You pay what it costs without a second thought, you rush home with it -- and then you realize that you have no idea where you should put it.

Many of us have endured such painful moments in our searches for the perfect painting, furniture, wallpaper or lighting -- including chandeliers. Here are some useful tips for making sure your next chandelier will not just look appropriate for its intended space but will actually emphasize and enhance the current beauties of your home.

Keep the style in mind - It's a tricky business to match up a modern chandelier with a Victorian sitting room, or an Art Deco living room with an elaborate old-fashioned crystal chandelier design. The safe move is to select chandeliers that reflect the same style and/or era as the rooms they illuminate. A bold combination of old and new, however, can make a dramatic effect when employed with taste and tact. If you're not an expert on such matters, by all means consult one before making the purchase!

Position with care - If your dining room table, reading area, or other part of the room to be lit sits off to one side or corner of the room, you may want to consider whether you can easily hang a chandelier directly overhead. Chandeliers usually throw light evenly in all directions, and that lovely effect can be spoiled if you hang it too close to a wall just to line it up with the furniture. Move the table and chairs to a more central position and re-evaluate. Pay attention also to the length of chain from which the chandelier hangs. Too long a chain will leave your guests ducking or feeling claustrophobic, while too short a chain might leave them in semi-darkness. Allow at least 30 inches between a table surface and an overhead chandelier to leave room for a nice centerpiece.

Complement the chandelier with other lighting - Resting all your hopes for illumination on your chandeliers will inevitably place limitations what sizes and styles you can pick from. Instead, think about complementing the chandelier’s wattage with other, smaller overhead lights, such as including recessed ceiling lights and wall sconces. Attach these lights to a dimmer control, and you'll enjoy precise control over your light levels no matter which model of chandelier takes center stage in your home.

Size for success - An oversized or undersized chandelier for the space can create many of the same issues as an improperly positioned one. At the same time, however, it's important to realize that a good deal of a chandelier's perceived size lies in its decorations. Ornate stems or other designs jutting out from a relatively small chandelier can give the impression of a larger piece. And just because a space is small doesn’t mean that it couldn’t use a chandelier – bathrooms and even closets are often outfitted with mini-chandeliers! 

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Kingdom Lighting sells antique and modern crystal chandeliers, table and floor lamps, and wall sconces at amazing wholesale prices.