Several years ago, I began decorating chandeliers in the kitchen and dining room for the seasons, holidays and special occasions.
Whether part of a themed tablescape or not, a decorated light fixture adds a lot of impact to a room.
It can also complement and extend a centerpiece upwards.
Or replace the centerpiece altogether; opening up space for serving pieces and a less crowded table.
Unlike centerpieces that look great in photographs, a decorated chandelier doesn’t impede conversations by blocking the view of table mates.
See how easy it is to decorate a chandelier for fall or a Thanksgiving gathering. Just follow my simple three-step process.
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An Overhead View
What follows outlines and illustrates how I created the fall chandelier design. Use it as a basis for your own custom look.
Design Note: Consider the architectural structure, size, and number of arms of the light fixture in your design. and when choosing materials.
3 Easy Steps to Decorate a Chandelier:
- Prep light fixture, gather materials on tabletop
- Wrap garlands around fixture
- Add embellishments: silk flowers, ornaments & bows
Here’s what my kitchen chandelier looks like, without any decoration. It’s a neutral, grey color with six arms and soft white shades.
What kind of light fixtures do you have?
Step 1 : Prep Fixture & Gather Materials
First, spread newspaper or some other layer on the table to protect the surface. However, In the pictures below, there is no newspaper covering the glass kitchen table. This was just for photographic purposes.
If your chandelier has shades, remove them and place out of the way. Keep them clear of the table area while decorating.
Now’s a good opportunity to dust the fixture with a feather duster or soft cloth. Gently clean shades with an unused, soft-bristle paint brush.
Next, gather decorating materials underneath the light fixture for easy access.
Decorative Supply List
To replicate this design, you’ll need the following materials:
- 2 silk leaf & plastic stem garlands (Dollar Tree)
- Grapevine garland (Olde Allegheny Shoppe)
- 12 floral and leaf bunches (Michaels)
- Ornament hangers or ribbon (Michaels)
- 6 pinecone ornaments (Marshalls, TJ Maxx and/or Home Goods)
Design Note: Adjust quantities of decorative elements, based on the size and structure of the light fixture.
Another option is to also embellish the chandelier with large bows made from seasonal ribbon.
Step 2: Wrap Chandelier with Garlands
Use a step stool to reach over the table and decorate. If you’re like me — without the height or wingspan of a basketball player — it’s a practical necessity. As if decorating a chandelier is practical or necessary LOL!
Grapevine Garland Supports Floral Inserts
Create a supportive structure for floral embellishments. A stiff grapevine garland works well. Simply lay the grapevine over the arms of the fixture. Then, twist or wire the ends together.
My grapevine garland is embellished with candy corn. It was also used for the chandelier in Spooky Halloween Tablescape.
Design Note: To replicate the design of the Halloween chandelier, the decorating process is the same, but using different embellishments.
Weave Leaf Garlands
Silk leaves, on a pliable plastic stem, makes for easy weaving around the fixture. The plastic also protects the chandelier from scratches.
Begin by wrapping the first garland around the center chain or pole. Start at or near the ceiling. If needed, pipe cleaners may be used to secure the garland in place.
Continue by weaving the garland around and down the center of the chandelier.
The second leaf garland starts where the first ended. Wrap it from the center out; around the arms of the light fixture.
Now, you are ready to add embellishments to complete the design.
3. Add Embellishments: Florals, Ornaments & Bows
First, insert faux leaf bunches around the light fixture. Lay one bunch between each arm, on top of the grapevine.
Next, add fall floral bunches around the chandelier. Place them on top of the leaf clusters.
Here’s what the chandelier looks like after the embellishments were added. It should look nice and full around the middle.
Design Note: An important consideration in choosing the volume of florals, is the amount of space between the arms of the chandelier. You also don’t want anything touching light bulbs.
Another option is to only embellish the chandelier with flexible garlands, reducing the overall expense — and weight.
Pinecone Ornaments Dangle & Sparkle
Finally, add shatterproof pinecone ornaments around the bottom of the chandelier.
Shiny pinecones compliment my copper twig flatware. The rest of the package is used to Decorate the Dining Room Chandelier for Fall.
Gold ribbon Christmas tree ornament hangers are used to suspend the pinecones. They eliminate the risk of scratches or chipping paint on the light fixture.
Extra pinecone ornaments also made for nice guest favors at each place setting of Cornucopia Takes Center Stage on Thanksgiving Table.
Here’s what the chandelier looks like when finished.
What do you think?
After Thanksgiving, all the garlands, florals and ornaments are packed together in the same box. That makes it easy to install the next year.
To Bow or Not to Bow?
Another embellishment you might want to consider is adding seasonal ribbon and bows.
Originally, I had two large burlap bows attached in the center of the chandelier near the ceiling. But, I decided they were overkill and removed them.
Compliment Tablescape, Centerpiece
The fall-decorated chandelier compliments Casual Thanksgiving Tableware Decorates Home, and other settings.
I usually decorate the fixture shortly after Labor Day, enjoying the fall motif all season. For Halloween, I make a number of modifications. That includes adding bats, spiders and black roses. Or a skeleton in, Jaw Dropping Halloween Chandelier.
I have used the same 3-step process for a variety of designs and light fixtures; ranging from basic to elaborate. The steps are easily applied to decorating chandeliers for all seasons, holidays and occasions.
For more ideas and inspiration, bee sure to see:
- Decorate a Dining Room Chandelier for Fall
- Peacock Ornaments Decorate Chandelier at Christmas
- Quick and Easy Lucky Leprechaun Tablescape
- Bee Decorated Chandelier Compliments Birthday Table
- Alice in Wonderland Table
- Haunted Halloween Tablescape
Do you decorate a chandelier or two at your home?
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Deb, I love your blog, you have so many cool ideas… I am so excited to be one of your subscribers !!!
Thank u Marion! From a talented crafter like yourself, I take that as a very high compliment.
I often decorate my chandy, really adds a fun touch. I LOVE the giant candy corn you used, adorable!!
Me too. It often does double-duty as a centerpiece for my small, round kitchen table.
I love the idea of using a decorated chandelier to replace a large centerpiece. Thanks
Hi Kathy! Since the nest became empty and we replaced the larger, oblong table with the more intimate round one, I’ve started going vertical with my tablescapes — now even in the dining room! See several other decorated chandeliers for other seasons at; <Decorating with Red Heart Ornaments for Valentines Day“>, Peacock Ornaments Decorate Chandelier at Christmas, and Alice in Wonderland Table.
I am a sucker for candy corn anything! Adds such a whimsical touch! Cute idea!
Thanks Audra. Mr. Buzz is such a candy corn addict that I have to hide it or he’d eat the entire bag in one sitting!
I love seeing chandys all decorated for fall and the holidays! Your’s looks so bright and festive for fall. Love the pinecones! Thanks for sharing at All About Home!
Thanks Amber! I’ve run out of room for displaying all my seasonal and holiday decor, so going vertical on the chandy provides more “real estate” for decorating and a creative outlet, LOL!
That looks beautiful; I love the addition of the pinecones. Pinned.
Thanks Joanne! Who would’ve thought I’d find pinecone and acorn Christmas ornaments in January clearance to save for the next fall?
Love your fall Chandelier!!
Nice to “meet” you Pamela and thanks for stopping by. You might also enjoy, Bee Decorated Chandelier Compliments HapBEE Birthday Table and Peacock Ornaments Decorate Chandelier at Christmas.
Debbee, such a lovely chandelier… and I think the acorn garland is SO cute! Perfect for the light fixture!
Thank you Julie! It’s finally cooled off here, and tomorrow I plan to decorate the fixture to enjoy through Thanksgiving when we are expecting a crowd.
What a fun and awesome idea! Thanks for linking up to Creative Compulsions!
Thanks Michelle. I just finished a new Halloween tablescape that includes decorating the chandelier. It’s a bit over the top!
Adorable! I love the fall colors, especially the candy corn lights!
Thanks Sylvia! Getting ready to share how I’ve swapped the pinecones with some embellishments for a Halloween tablescape and dinner party.
Deb, love how you have decorated your chandy!! I do some decorating of my DR chandy but since it is a crystal one with a lot of hanging crystals, I can’t do too much…Love yours!! Hugs, Debbie
Thanks Debbie! What I originally worried was a bit boring grey chandelier has worked out really well — in terms of it being a neutral palette and easy to embellish for different seasons and occasions. It’s also in the kitchen-family room area, so it’s not so fancy.