Great DIY Tips and Hints for Installing Ceiling Medallions

Ceiling medallions installed along with a chandelier light fixture are a great way to add some architectural elegance to your home. A lot of newer homes built in the last decade don’t have a lot of accents within the rooms, so this is an easy and low-cost way to add some. The medallions, which are being manufactured today, are very light weight and made mostly out of plastic. The older style used to be made out of plaster. While these are still available for ease of installation and safety the newer plastic types are recommended for installation. An important consideration in a ceiling medallion project is to properly size the medallion to the lighting fixture that it will be used with. You generally want to select a ceiling medallion with the same approximate diameter as the light fixture where you are going to install the medallion.

The process of installation is really easy if you follow these steps:

First – turn off the breaker or electrical power to the lighting fixture. Test the fixture with an electrical tester to ensure that the power is indeed off before you begin to disassemble the fixture.

Remove the mounting plate of the lighting fixture.

Unscrew the wire nuts, pull the wires apart (making note of their locations so you can reconnect them later). Disconnect the lighting fixtures suspension chain and remove the fixture.

Next thread the wires through the hole in the very middle of the medallion. Make sure that when you do this that the decorative side isn’t facing up towards the ceiling.

Reconnect the electrical wires – being sure to put them back just as you originally disconnected them. Reconnect the fixture to its chain.

Put a ring of adhesive on the back of the medallion. You can use a good constriction adhesive (like liquid nails) or even adhesive caulk. Make sure that you don’t put too much adhesive on – or this will leave a noticeable gap around the medallion. Also make sure that you don’t put too much, because it will have a tendency to leak out around the medallion.

Press the medallion to the ceiling, making sure to keep the hole centered in the medallion. Using the provided screws or nails, attach the medallion to the ceiling.

For a finished look caulk the edge of the medallion, and fill in the screw holes with a tiny amount of Spackle. When dry, you can paint the medallion.

For safety – make sure that the lighting fixtures electrical connections are put back correctly; otherwise-personal injury or fire can result. If you have any questions about any electrical connection, it is best to consult a licensed certified electrician. Also be sure to check on local building codes. Some codes require that the electrical junction box above the light fixture be accessible at all times. If you live in an area with this requirement – just select a medallion that has a bigger center hole – so as not to cover the electrical junction box.

When finished enjoy your new bit of style with your new ceiling medallion.