How to Choose a Dining Room Chandelier in the Proper Size

Choose a chandelier that complements the proportions of the room.

Chandeliers in the dining room must both light the table properly and shed enough light to illuminate the rest of the room. The size and style of light fixture can also set the stage for your dining room, giving a sense of your decorating style and personality. A few simple measurements are all you need to choose the right size chandelier based on the dimensions of your dining room and its table.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Measure the diameter or width of the dining room tabletop. Your chandelier should be half of that measurement. For example, if your table is a 60-inch round, your chandelier should have a diameter of 30 inches. If the table is a rectangle with a width of 36 inches, choose a chandelier that is 18 inches in diameter.

2. Determine the height of the dining room ceiling. Designers recommend 2 1/2 to 3 inches of chandelier height for every foot of the room's height. If your ceilings are 10 feet tall, your chandelier should be between 25 and 30 inches tall. The bottom of the chandelier should fall approximately 30 inches above the top of the table to properly light the room and the table.

3. Choose a chandelier that matches the style of the table. A heavy table requires a bold chandelier, while a glass-topped table needs an airier light fixture.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan to hang two chandeliers above your dining room table, they each should be 1/3 the width of the table.

References

• Lighting Inside Out; How do you determine the proper size chandelier for a dining room?; Karen Long
• Decorating Studio; Choosing the Right Size Chandelier; Susan Welch Heeney
• Smashing Stained Glass: How to Choose a Chandelier