What Size Chandelier is Right for Me?
A chandelier can add ambiance and drama to any space, but selecting the right chandelier can be tricky. Smaller chandeliers can get lost in larger rooms, while large chandeliers can overwhelm. The right chandelier will be proportional to the height and width of the room.
But personal taste and light from other sources will also play a role in choosing the right chandelier for your space. Here are three steps to find the right chandelier (and placement)...
1. Determining Chandelier Width
2. Determine Chandelier Height
3. Determine Chain Length
Determining Chandelier Width
Before choosing a chandelier, measure the length and width of the room. Once you have these measurements, add them together and convert the measurement from feet to inches. Done? Perfect! The converted sum is the ideal width or diameter of your chandelier.
For example, if your dining room is 12’ x 18’ a chandelier that is 30” in diameter is the best fit for your space. This will apply regardless of the shape of the chandelier.
Confused by what size chandelier is right for your space? Don’t worry, Axiom Power can help! Give us a call today: (813) 308-9328
Sizing Based on Table Size
You can determine the width of a chandelier by the size of your table. If you have an open floor plan and want to make the chandelier a centerpiece to the room, the length should be at least one-half, but not more than two-thirds of the length of your dining room table.
If you have ceilings that are higher than the standard eight feet, you want a chandelier that is one foot less than the width of the table, which ensures six inches of clearance on either side.
Two or More Chandeliers
If you have a large dining room, you can hang more than one chandelier over the table for ultimate drama. To do so, divide the table width by the number of chandeliers plus one, and use the sum as the diameter for each chandelier.
Determine Chandelier Height
To determine the correct chandelier height, follow these tips:
Measure the height of the ceiling, from the installation site to the floor. Ensure that you are installing the chandelier at least four feet away from any walls.
For every foot of height, estimate 2.5” to 3” of chandelier height.
Multiply the ceiling height by the estimated chandelier height
Convert the measurement to inches
Let’s take for example if your dining room has an 8-foot ceiling, a 24-inch chandelier is the best size for your space.
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Determine Chain Length
If the ceiling in your space is less than eight feet high, you should hang the chandelier 30” to 34” from the tabletop to the bottom of the chandelier. If you have a ceiling that is higher than the standard eight feet, we recommend a clearance of 36 to 40 inches. To calculate chain length:
Measure the ceiling to the tabletop in inches
Subtract the recommended installation height
Subtract the chandelier height in Step 2
This number is your chain length!
Chandelier Placement By Room
Now that we have discovered what size chandelier will be the right size for your space, let’s take a look at how you should mount them room by room.
If you are hanging a chandelier in another room, other than your dining room, it is recommended that you allow for at least seven feet of clearance from the floor to the bottom of the chandelier.
Here are some other placement guidelines to follow:
Open Floor Plan
Centering a chandelier over a living space can add amazing light and drama. Hang one in the living room over a coffee table, the dining table, or even the kitchen island. Use the measurement of the space to get the correct diameter for the fixture.
Living Room
In the living room, a chandelier looks great over a coffee table. The most important thing to consider is whether or not you will be using the chandelier as a primary source of light or not.
Long Hallways
Add depth to a long hallway by installing a chandelier. Generally, you want to center it in the middle of the hallway, and if you plan on installing multiple chandeliers, they should be spaced at least eight to ten feet apart.
To determine the size of the chandelier for a hallway, take the width of the hallway, where each foot is equal to 2-2.5 inches in diameter. If your hallway is five feet wide, you want to install a chandelier that is around 10-12 inches.
Bathroom
A chandelier looks amazing centered over a tub, and you should plan to allow at least eight feet of clearance from the edge of the tub to the ceiling. To determine the size of a bathroom chandelier, a general rule is to size it to one-third of the length of the tub.
We recommend installing a non-electrified chandelier over a tub for safety reasons.
Foyer or Entryway
This is where first impressions are made when walking into your home! Center a chandelier over a foyer table in the middle of the space. You can determine its size by either the size of the table or the size of the room. You can be as dramatic as you want!
Two Story Foyer with Staircase
For larger homes with foyers that open up to the ceiling and a staircase, a two or three-tier chandelier will offer the best visual results. Generally, the chandelier should be hung slightly lower than or at the top of the staircase.
Add Drama to Your Home With a Chandelier
While installing a chandelier in your home can be a DIY project, why stress when Axiom Power is just a phone call away? We are pros at installing unique features inside homes, and are ready to help you with your chandelier installation project!
Add drama to your home with Axiom Power! Call Greg Bennett, our residential electrician to schedule an appointment today: (813) 308-9328