Pick the Perfect Chandelier—for Any Space
Rules of thumb for choosing and hanging a statement-making light fixture.
There’s no better way to add a dose of glamour to a room than with a gleaming, multi-light chandelier. But getting the right one—and hanging it just so—isn’t always so straightforward. Here, we're breaking down the basics so you can get right to the fun part: Picking a fixture that most speaks to you.
1. Consider function and form.
While it’s easy to be romanced by a chandelier’s form, it’s important to make sure it works for the space—and your lifestyle—before bringing it home. To narrow your options, consider this: Will you rely on it to illuminate a space for working or dining, or will you have an alternate source of lighting? If good light is a priority, you may prefer a fixture with exposed, candelabra-style lights or full-sized bulbs rather than those with just two or three small ones, or in which decorative details block the light.
If your room already has ample illumination, however, fixtures with filament bulbs or heavier ornamentation may be just the ticket.
2. Make sure it’s large enough.
For a chandelier that hangs in the center of a living room or entry, the room dimensions will determine the best size. To find the approximate right height for the body of the fixture, multiply your ceiling’s height in feet by two and a half or three and convert it to inches. For example, a room with 10-foot high ceilings can accommodate a chandelier that’s 25 to 30 inches tall. To get an approximate diameter, add the length and width of the room in feet and convert it to inches. A 12x12 room, for instance, can accommodate a chandelier that’s about 24 inches wide.
For a chandelier that hangs above a dining table, however, take your cues from the furniture. Aim for a fixture that’s about half to two-thirds the diameter of a round dining table, and two-thirds to three-quarters the width of a rectangular or oval table.
3. Hang it at the right height.
Few things throw a room out of balance like a too-high or too-low chandelier. For a living room, hallway, or entryway where people will be walking underneath the chandelier, be sure to hang it so the bottom of the fixture is no lower than seven feet from the floor. In dining rooms, a general rule of thumb is to hang the chandelier so it hovers 30 to 34 inches above the table. The closer the chandelier hangs to the table, the more intimate and dramatic the space will seem.
