How to choose the right size chandelier.
What Size?
Follow this simple formula as a guide: Measure the length and width of the room and add the two numbers; the sum is the approximate diameter of the chandelier. For instance, if the room is 11 x 16, then 27 would be the optimum chandelier diameter. Bigger can sometime be better, but smaller almost always looks puny.
For a dining room, consider the width of your table, too. Aim for a chandelier diameter about 12 less than the table width.
HOW TALL?
Measure the distance from floor to ceiling.
For a living room, bedroom, or other space where you may be walking beneath the chandelier, allow 6 ½ to 7 clearance from the floor to the bottom of the chandelier. Add about 4 for hanging hardware. Subtract that total 10 ½ to 11 from the ceiling height to get the approximate height of the chandelier.
For a dining room, add the height of your table, the distance between table and chandelier (30 to 36), and about 4 for hanging hardware. Subtract the total from the room height the result is the optimum height of the chandelier.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
In a two-story entryway, remember the chandeliers primary purpose is to illuminate the first-floor space. Go for a slightly larger design and position it no higher than halfway between floor and ceiling; in a smaller entry, you should still aim for 7 to 8 above the floor. Take note if the fixture needs to clear the height of the opened front door.
