In a previous blog post, we discussed the steps necessary to hang a chandelier.  As it turned out, hanging a chandelier is not nearly as intimidating or difficult as it might first appear!  Today we will dig into the details of exactly which residential electrical supplies you will need to tackle your own chandelier installation.

Safety First

Any do-it-yourself electrical guide would be remiss without considering safety first.  While learning how to hang a chandelier is not an overly complicated process, there are a few safety considerations to have in mind.  First and foremost, never work on a live wire!

Most electrical accidents are a result of amateur electricians forgetting that the circuit they are working on is transmitting energy.  Always turn off switches and breakers to be sure you don’t accidentally work on a live wire.

In order to insure you the electrical safety of your work environment, we recommend these awesome heavy duty OTC Hybrid Electrical Safety Gloves:

Hybrid gloves are the first line of defense for contact with any energized components and can mean the difference between a potentially life-threatening electrical shock and a safely completed job.

Quality Tools

In order to hang a chandelier, you will need the following tools:

1. Adjustable wrench
2. Heavy duty pliers
3. Nut driver
4. Screwdrivers (Philips and slotted)
5. Wire stripper

Our favorite tool kit is this 28-Piece Electrician Tool Set by Klein that comes complete with all of these required tools and more:

We like Klein’s electrical tool kit because of the variety it provides.  They didn’t hold back and include nut drivers, pliers, and screwdrivers of all sizes and purposes.

Electrical Supplies

One of the best parts of hanging a light fixture is that it doesn’t require a complicated, expensive list of electrical supplies.  In fact, we will only need three supplies to hang a chandelier!

1. The chandelier
2. A heavy chandelier fixture brace
3. Twist-on wire connectors

The chandelier

The perfect chandelier for your space will be a function of the area’s dimensions and the “style” of the room.  In our previous blog post, we discussed exactly how to decide on a chandelier for your home.

It’s hard to beat Direct Buy Lighting’s chandelier department in price or selection.  They’ve got several thousand pieces to browse through and are sure to have the perfect light fixture for your needs.

A heavy chandelier fixture brace

Westinghouse’s Heavy Chandelier and Fixture Brace is the go-to brace contractors use to hang a chandelier:

This fixture’s patented design supports chandeliers of up to 800 pounds!  We really like this particular brace because it also comes with the threaded rod, electrical box, nuts, washers, and screws needed for installation.  There’s nothing worse than finding yourself unexpectedly without small parts that the manufacturer didn’t include.

Twist-on wire connectors

Wire connectors are an essential part of any residential electrical supply closet.  Our favorite is this 75-pack from GE at a great value:

These connectors give quick, easy connections that will make hanging a chandelier a breeze.

That’s it!

With a mind for electrical safety and these three residential electrical supplies, you’ll be hanging a new gorgeous light fixture in no time.