Ah, the great outdoors. We love nothing more than closing out a weekend with a long, low-‘n’-slow BBQ culminating in a family gathering that begins with pulled pork and clinking glasses and ends with toasting ‘smores over a blazing fire. In the last ten years, outdoor living has become a “thing” throughout the land, and we can’t applause enough.
As outdoor kitchens, dining spaces and conversation pits have grown to be the new normal, we were thinking about how to cap off your outdoor oasis and make it just right… and our lighting experts found just the thing. Outdoor Chandeliers live in the sweet spot combining gorgeous aesthetics with a necessary function. Just because you choose to enjoy the cool breezes and fresh air doesn’t mean you have to go full utilitarian – a beautiful outdoor chandelier literally caps off your favorite outdoor living space.
What’s the difference between “a” chandelier and an “outdoor” chandelier? Other than the obvious (one of the two is outside of your home), there’s a very important safety difference. Outdoor chandeliers are rated by the U.L. (short for Underwriter’s Lab) for their ability to withstand moisture, a significant specification you need to pay attention to when selecting any light fixture for potentially wet surroundings.
Water comes in many forms… not just rain, but fog and high humidity as well. In the lighting world, fixtures built to withstand different forms of water are designed as either “damp rated” or “wet rated”. Damp rated fixtures have some protection to keep the airborne water from reaching the fixture, making it perfectly safe to have that fixture under a covered area (like a porch or covered patio). Wet rated fixtures have gaskets and other engineering marvels in place to keep the water out even in direct contact (think landscape lighting that is face-to-face with whatever Mother Nature can throw at it). When searching for the perfect outdoor chandelier, select damp rated for covered areas or wet rated for fixtures that may be exposed directly to water.
Here at Bailey Street Home, we know that inspiration to get up and start a new project is sometimes hard to find, so we’ve asked our lighting experts to collect their favorite outdoor chandelier ideas in one place. Browse the aisles of this article to see amazing uses for an outdoor chandelier – and to spark the “we can do this” drive to update your outdoor space.
You’ll find the frame of the BSH Dove Valley 159-BEL-2020647 crafted from metal but finished in a fantastic Weathervane finish to give it the decidedly rustic wood look, surrounded by a dark metal ring with six candelabra bulbs enclosed in clear glass cylinders. Rated for damp locations (like under a covered patio), it’s perfect for rustic and transitional decors.
Some of the best porch chandelier ideas come from unexpected places. Inspired by artwork at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the BSH Solaris 49-BEL-2557169 is the perfect marriage of form and function. This versatile design fuses sweeping arms with a sculptural sphere-shaped wrought cage to create a piece that is perfect for your rustic, boho, modern or transitional vibe.
Constructed of sturdy cast aluminum, the BSH Meadowsweet Mount 81-BEL-3088152 may be the perfect modern outdoor chandelier. Intersecting spheres of Oil Rubbed Bronze enclose a sleek pillar of etched opal glass to create a design as at-home in a country setting as it is an urban loft.
Check out our full collection of outdoor chandeliers and remember that only Bailey Street Home offers you an amazing array of products, most ready to ship the next day, and all at the lowest prices you’ll find on the Internet.
If your outdoor chandelier ideas include large, covered spaces, the BSH 71-BEL-618911 extra large hanging lantern may be the right chandelier for you. Coming in at a massive 41” in height, this stunning chandelier is sure to be the centerpiece of your outdoor space.
Our experts put the BSH Royston By-Pass 81-BEL-3088198 coastal outdoor hanging lantern near the top of their patio chandelier ideas for its sturdy construction (cast aluminum craftsmanship means years of reliability). We love the distressed black (also in Aged Zinc) finish accompanied by clear seedy glass that throws whimsical shadow spots on your outdoor space.
Our experts think that the use of exposed bulbs in outdoor chandelier lighting brings an honesty to the presentation of our favorite fixtures, and the stylized bulbs (not included) in the BSH Tulip Rowans 159-BEL-2020675 outdoor chandelier just make it pop. The bold English Bronze ring is capped by eight cylindrical glass shades, protecting the bulbs from the elements and bringing untethered light into your outdoor oasis.
Elongated dining spaces just scream for a linear chandelier, and your outdoor dining area is no different. At 40” wide and including six lamps, you’ll find the size of the BSH Harris Leaze 81-BEL-416006 outdoor linear hanging lantern to be just right. Aluminum construction provides the strength while the Oil Rubbed Bronze finish (also available in Museum Black) and angular details bring the beauty to this ideal outdoor chandelier.
There’s something about the BSH Hilary Glen 147-BEL-2279395 outdoor linear chandelier that draws one’s eye… the Weathered Zinc rectangles enclosing the squared clear seedy glass shades just seems pleasing – like all is right with the world. At home in either a transitional home or modern farmhouse setting, you’ll love how it helps to define your outdoor space.
The light cast from the central suspended lamps covered in seedy glass casts amazing shadows… both the glass (with whimsical dots) and the cage (with strong vertical lines) will delight your guests with shadow play. The BSH Stockwell Mount 81-BEL-3088231 large outdoor chandelier is perfectly suited for outdoor patio use, but we see this as a fantastic gazebo chandelier.
We love how the BSH Nursery Celyn 147-BEL-3330040 outdoor linear chandelier takes the classic X-frame design (typically seen in farmhouse installations) and imprints a modern twist on the rustic lodge look. The Black and faux Bamboo finish highlights the clean lines and geometric impact, creating a warmth and comfort your guests will adore.
The Bailey Street Home Goodwin Circus 2499-BEL-4907689 features a frosted glass diffuser to create a soft hue of light. The cut-conical shape and white linen fabric shade are ensnared by an oil-rubbed bronze (also available in natural antique brass and satin nickel) wire frame to create this unique pendant light.
Sporting chiseled angular lines, our final favorite piece was inspired by the calving icebergs of Antarctica. You’ll find the facets of the BSH Falcon Orchard 49-BEL-692484 outdoor chandeliers reveal a smaller and narrow bottom section with a larger, broader top piece. Pairing the Black Charcoal finish with white opal glass panels introduces a touch of sculptural modernist style into your outdoor oasis.
Our lighting experts have done it again – providing you with twelve amazing inspirational ideas for using an outdoor chandelier to imbue your outdoor living areas not only with illumination but infusing an amazing style along the way. Again, just make sure to select a damp-rated or wet-rated fixture (depending on your needs) to safeguard your family and friends.
