Elevating Your Space with the Right Lighting: A Guide to Chandeliers

Why Lighting Matters

If you had the money to invest in your space, one of the most transformative elements would be lighting. Interior designers create entire plans based on lighting alone. I’m going to talk about chandeliers and help you choose the right size for your space.

And this applies even if you’re a renter who thinks you can’t have a chandelier in your apartment because it’s not hardwired. These days, you can find lighting that doesn’t require hardwiring. Many chandeliers and over-table lighting fixtures can be swagged from a plug, giving you more flexibility than ever before.

You can add statement lighting to any room. I’ll guide you through selecting the right size chandelier for various spaces: dining tables, bedrooms, living rooms, foyers, bathrooms, and even offices.

Lighting Basics: Creating the Perfect Mood

Here’s a crucial design principle: every room needs three sources of light—ambient light, task light, and accent lights. If your space lacks these, adding a well-chosen chandelier can help you achieve the perfect lighting balance.

Chandelier Styles for Every Aesthetic

If you’re envisioning only crystal chandeliers, think again. There’s a chandelier to fit every style: rustic, modern, traditional, transitional, and boho. The key is finding the right size for your specific space.

Dining Room Chandelier Sizing Guide

Let’s start with dining rooms, the most common location for chandeliers. Here’s how to determine the right size light fixture for your dining table:

First, look at your table’s length and width. If your dining table is 30 inches wide, subtract 12 inches from that measurement. This means you can choose up to an 18-inch-round fixture, which allows six inches on either side for comfortable movement.

When selecting a chandelier, always lean towards a slightly larger fixture rather than a smaller one if you’re between sizes. The shape of your chandelier should complement your table’s shape. This doesn’t mean a round table requires a round chandelier, but a long rectangular table should not be paired with a small round chandelier.

Height is crucial too. Over a dining table, hang your chandelier 30 to 34 inches above the surface. This creates a more intimate table setting. For longer tables, consider two fixtures instead of one, similar to lighting a kitchen island.

Bedroom Chandelier Placement and Sizing

Moving to bedrooms, chandelier sizing follows a different approach. Add the room’s width and length together—for a 12 by 12 room, that’s 24 inches. Choose a fixture at least 24 inches in diameter. The chandelier’s height depends on your ceiling height, but avoid hanging it below 72 inches.

Ceiling height impacts chandelier placement and size. A good rule of thumb is two to three inches of fixture height for every foot of ceiling height. With a 10-foot ceiling, aim for a chandelier around 20 inches tall. This isn’t an exact science, but it helps ensure proportion.

Living Rooms and Foyers: Chandelier Sizing

The same principles apply to living rooms and foyers: measure the room’s length and width, and use that as your minimum fixture size.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Frequently Asked Questions

Overhead Lighting Challenges

What if you have no overhead lighting? Renters, rejoice! Use a plug-in fixture and swag it above your table. Those small ceiling hooks can be easily covered later. Alternatively, add accent lighting with table lamps, rechargeable fixtures, or wall sconces.

Open Concept Spaces

In an open-concept space, you can absolutely use multiple chandeliers. Consider separate fixtures for dining and living areas, keeping them in the same material family—like matching brass fixtures—but they don’t need to be identical.

To Shade or Not to Shade

Do chandeliers need shades? It’s a matter of personal preference. Many people enjoy shades at dining tables to soften the light, but it’s not a requirement.

Final Thoughts

The great news is that chandeliers now come in every price point, size, and style. If you’re looking to upgrade your lighting, a chandelier might be the perfect solution.

Do you have questions about choosing the right chandelier size for your space? Drop them in the comments!