How to Choose the Right Size Chandelier
Are you shopping for a chandelier but don’t know what size fixture to buy? Luckily, there are some simple formulas to use in choosing the right size chandelier. The following formulas are very simple but should be used more as a guide than anything written in stone. Other factors should always be considered when choosing the right size chandelier.
Ceiling height, of course, should always be considered. A chandelier installed in a two-story foyer is going to look smaller than one placed in a room with 8′ ceilings. And the higher up it is, the smaller it will look.
You should also consider the style of the chandelier. A chandelier that is particularly ornate or just “heavy-looking,” even if smaller than you were thinking of, may just work in a larger room. Of course, the opposite is also true. A chandelier that is very light and airy looking could be used in a smaller environment even if first thought to be too big.
So use the following formulas but remember to consider everything when choosing the right size chandelier for your specific room and use.
Formula # 1 – Add the dimensions of the room together, then use this number in inches for the width of the chandelier. In other words, measure the width of the room and the length of the room. Add these two measurements, in feet, together. The sum of the two measurements, in inches, is what the width of the chandelier should be.
Ex: A room that is 14 feet by 12 feet would call for a chandelier that is 26 inches in diameter (14 + 12).
Ex: A room with the measurements of 20 feet by 16 feet would need a chandelier that is 36 inches in diameter (20 + 16 = 36).
Formula # 2 – A second formula says to measure just the width of the room. The chandelier should be 2 inches in diameter for every foot of width.
Ex: A 10 foot wide room would call for a chandelier that is 20 inches in diameter (10 x 2 = 20).
Ex: A 14 foot wide room would call for a chandelier that is 28 inches in diameter (14 x 2 = 28).
Formula # 3 – A simple formula for choosing the right size chandelier over a dining room table states that the chandelier should be half the width of your table. For example, if your dining room table is 48 inches by 60 inches, the chandelier should be approximately 24 inches (48/2 = 24). If you have a round table that is 60 inches in diameter, the chandelier should be approximately 30 inches in width (60/2 = 30).
The chandelier should be centered over the table with the bottom of the fixture 30 to 36 inches above the top of the table.
Formula # 4 – If you have a very large, long table it may be better to have two smaller chandeliers – one at each end of the table. This formula states that the chandeliers should be approximately 1/3 the width of the table. For example, if your table is 60 inches wide by 120 inches long, a chandelier that is approximately 20 inches in diameter centered at each end of the table would be correct (60/3 = 20).
The chandeliers should be centered over each end of the table with the bottom of the fixtures 30 to 36 inches above the top of the table.