Hanging a chandelier is always a challenge, even for someone who hangs lights all day long! A chandelier is a large investment, and should be treated with respect and care. If you are hanging your own, I will assume you've installed basic lighting before :) If you haven't, stop  and call an electrician right now! A chandelier is not a starter project!

Step one: check your ceiling junction box.

Is it in good repair and securely fastened? If its doubtful,  wobbly, and or plastic, replace it or have it replaced. A deep secure metal box is the ideal (deep to accomodate some extra wire and the connection hardware.) You can install a chandelier to a shallow ceiling fan pan but will need to make adjustments, and probably have to purchase some replacement hardware.

Is it centered, where you want it? If you are going to move the junction box, this is the time to do it. You may be able to cover the repair area in the ceiling with a decorative medallion

Step two:Get the right tools. 

The basics are good screwdrivers and nutdrivers in a variety of sizes,measuring tape, wire strippers, pliers,  a sturdy ladder rated for electrical work and a working platform for your tools and parts that you can easily reach . A helper on the ground is always useful to "go-fer", to help steady your ladder if necessary and to pick up the small parts your will inevitably drop!

You will also need a specialty tool for opening and closing the links on the chain...Chain pliers. Not to be confused with the kind jewellers use, this is an invaluable tool for chandeliers and any light fixture featuring chains for support

use the tip for gently prying open the links, and the inside "jaws" (behind the spring) for closing them .

You also may want to supply your own good quality wire nuts. Manufacturers often do not supply adequate ones.

Step three: Measure your height

Decide approximately how low you want your chandelier to hang. Now measure your chain (you can add or subtract a link or two in the final adjustment), and attach it to the fixture. Thread the lamp cord or wire and ground wire through this neatly without twisting or kinking it.Do not cut your wire unless your absolutely must, this allows you to adjust or move the fixture at a later time. If you have a lot of excess(say over 18" ), you may want to clip it off, but once cut remember , you can't grow it back!

Step four: Measure your depth

This is trickier, but you are measuring (usually visually more than anything), to make sure your threaded rod or nipple is going to fit inside the junction box, once everything is assembled. This is usually more of a consideration where you have a shallow fan pan to install to. If the fan pan is only 1/2" deep, and the nipple is 2" long, you will probably need to get a shorter nipple to have everything fit, unless your canopy is quite deep. Its a bit tricky to estimate, since you still need the nipple to be long enough to extend through the canopy a bit, so your screw collar (the loop that fastens to the last link in your chain) has something to thread to.

 Step Five:Read the directions

Learn which pieces are to be installed first (usually, the support bracket, with the threaded rod or "nipple", followed by the assemblage of the stripped down light fixture itself (no glass,  bulbs, pendants or fiddly bits, they come later!) ...that is the light body, the chain with the lamp wire threaded through it,  the bushing, the canopy and the screw collar. Ideally this stripped down assemblage goes into place and can easily be supported while you attach the support bar to the junction box, and make your wire connections (If you haven't worked with lamp cord before, the "ridged" side is neutral) If all goes well you can tighten up your connections and install the canopy and bushing at this point. Don't push or force anything, if something feels tight or "off" investigate and see what the problem is. Make certain you haven't got a wire pinched somewhere.

Next will come your candle covers(if you have this style) followed by crystal and "fiddly bits" and finally bulbs. Again, refer to your directions (I hope they are decipherable!)

Take a look and make any final adjusments. This is where you can add or subract a chain link if necessary, just tuck any excess lamp cord into the canopy.

Hey, I hope my pointers help you hang your gorgeous new fixture! Please contact me if you think I've left anything out, and thanks for reading !