Find the Right Chandelier for Your Dining Room
Dine under your dream chandelier.
Finding the right chandelier light fixture for your dining room is one of our favorite parts of the decorating process. Chandeliers are designed to bring the dining room together and illuminate a space where you will eat meals and drink wine with those you love. Keep reading below to find details on sizing and placement tips for your dining room chandelier as well as dining room chandelier trends and inspiration.
How to Choose a Dining Room Chandelier
Dining Room Chandelier Trends & Inspiration
How to Choose a Dining Room Chandelier
Before making your final chandelier decision, it’s important to consider both logistics and decor options. Below we’ll take you through everything to consider when shopping for a chandelier, including size, placement, added features, and design.
1. Choose a Size
Finding the right chandelier for your dining room requires you to take note of the size of your space and your table in order to determine what size chandelier will work best. Here are a few rules to follow:
- Standard chandelier sizes are as follows: mini (less than 14" wide), small (15" – 20" wide), medium (21" – 26" wide), large (27" – 34" wide), and oversized (greater than 35" wide).
- Measure the distance between your ceiling and table top to determine the appropriate hanging length of your chandelier. Hanging length is grouped into five standard maximum lengths: less than 24", 24" – 47", 48" – 71", 72" – 96", greater than 96".
- Your chandelier should be 12" narrower than the dining table surface.
- Make sure there’s at least 4' of distance between the chandelier and the walls.
- There should be 30" – 35" of space between the chandelier and the dining table.
- If your table is longer, consider hanging two chandeliers that are anywhere from 14" – 26" wide at each end. Any fixtures 27" – 35" and up is considered a large chandelier and should be styled on its own in the center of your table.
2. Consider Placement
- If you have a round, square, or shorter rectangular table, a medium, large or oversized chandelier fixture will be able to illuminate the space on its own. Make sure you hang it in the center of the table so the light spreads evenly.
- A chandelier should illuminate the center two-thirds of your dining room table, so it’s important to take your table size into consideration. For a longer table, consider using two smaller chandeliers to light your space. Not only will two chandeliers create a well-lit space for your dinners, but it will also create balance over a long table.
3. Find a Design & Style
Statement: Statement chandeliers are designed for all interior design styles and are known for their bold silhouettes. Crystal chandeliers and intricate geometric designs are some prime examples of a statement chandelier style.
Lantern: Lantern fixtures provide a protective casing, usually glass, around a set of standard bulbs or candlestick bulbs. The most popular shape is reminiscent of an antique street light, but there are lantern fixture shapes that are cylindrical or rectangular. With its clean lines and crisp shapes, this style fits best into a modern or traditional space.
Sputnik: The sputnik style is a mid-century modern design that looks like a burst of light. This fixture has a single core with multiple arms branching out into globe lights or bubble lights.
Shaded: Shaded chandeliers have a classic traditional silhouette that features multiple cascading arms with candle-style bulbs on the ends. Shades provide a softer light that’s focused downward, making them a great choice for dining rooms.
Candle-Style:Candle-style chandeliers can be any style fixture that features a candle-style lightbulb. This style is great for traditional or rustic aesthetics.
4. Look at Special Features
Dimmable: The dimmable feature is ideal for your dining room chandelier – some dinners may call for mood lighting that only a dimmer can provide.
High-Ceiling Compatibility: Working with a high ceiling? Look for chandeliers that are compatible with high ceilings and/or are adjustable, so you can customize your chandelier light to fit your dining room.
Dining Room Chandelier Trends & Inspiration
Now that you have the basics to find your perfect chandelier light, it’s time to get inspired by these chandeliers for dining room spaces. These are some of our favorite ways to style chandelier fixtures.
1. Match Materials
Create cohesion in your space by matching your chandelier fixtures with other decorative items around your dining space. If you’re going the rustic route with rattan and wooden decor and furniture, complete the look with rattan or bamboo shades, like the set of chandeliers above. Metallic chandelier finishes go great in a glam space and glass, frosted or translucent, go great in a modern or contemporary dining room.
Between the shape, material, and features of a chandelier there are so many options to choose from. Simplify your styling experience by choosing a chandelier in an alternative style to your home's decor. If your dining room leans traditional, opt for a large modern chandelier with round bulbs and a sputnik-style design to keep things fresh and transitional. Similarly, we love traditional-style chandeliers because they create a stabilizing focal point in an eclectic or modern dining room. Opt for a drum-shaped chandelier in a metallic finish like brass or gold to add a burst of subtle sheen.
Keep in mind that when it comes to lights for dining rooms the chandelier should always be placed above the dining table. The chandelier serves as a lighting fixture for your dining table, so make sure you place your table wherever your chandelier will hang. If you’re planning on hanging a large or oversized chandelier, choose a table shape that complements its size. We love how this large globe chandelier is balanced out by this round table and makes the fixture’s center placement clearer.
There are so many chandelier shapes to choose from that taking a look at a bolder fixture could lead you to your new statement dining room piece. Geometric fixtures are having their moment, and it’s easy to see why. These chandeliers add drama, flair, and visual interest, making it the perfect transitional light fixture to elevate any style dining room. We love the tiered option featured above because of the interesting visual effect the light creates.
Master the art of transitional interior design by using your chandelier light fixture to introduce a new finish to your dining room. If your space leans traditional or modern, with clean lines, neutral colors, and natural materials, add a touch of glam by choosing a gold chandelier. This gold metal chandelier provides a touch of shine and luxury. Alternatively you can choose a matte black metal chandelier to create balance with reflective glam furniture. Or choose a chandelier with a silver finish to complement a bohemian dining room.
Ready to illuminate your dining room?
