Center a living room chandelier over your coffee table for best results. When hanging a chandelier or pendant light in your main living room or family room, the fixture will look best if centered over the coffee table since sofas and chairs are usually grouped around this piece of furniture.
A chandelier or other low-hanging fixtures should be centered over the dining table, not centered in the middle of the room. For example, if you have other furniture in the room, your table may not be exactly in the center of the space – and that's okay.
Instead of moving the fixture, change the electrical wire that allows the fixture to hang to a longer length and swag the fixture so it's positioned over the table.
Interior design guidelines recommend hanging your chandelier between 30 and 36 inches over the table surface in a room with a ceiling height of eight feet. You can add three more inches per foot for higher or vaulted ceilings.
But we promise to make the math manageable with our simple ratio: 2.5 inches in fixture height per 1 foot of room height. This means that for a standard eight-foot-high ceiling, you'll want an option with a fixture height of about 20 inches. Note: For some visually-light chandeliers, you can up the ratio to 3:1.
If your chandelier is hanging over a table the rule would be to start with 30” over the table at 8' and add 3” for each additional foot.
A handy rule of thumb is that a chandelier should be 12 inches narrower than a table and have at least 48 inches of space from each of the room walls or edges. Hang a chandelier approximately 30 to 34 inches over a table with an 8 foot ceiling height.
Similarly, interior designer Susan Sutter suggests that 'ideally, the bottom of the light fixture should hang 30-36 inches above the standard 30 inch high table top, being sure the bottom of the light doesn't block anyone's view.
Contemporary crystal lighting is not your grandmother's chandelier. Gone are the days of stuffy, outdated fixtures. Our crystal lighting embraces sleek, modern designs that blend seamlessly with any decor style.
In the lighting industry, there's a general rule which is: The bottom of the fixture should hang between 30”-36” above the dining room table for an 8-foot ceiling. If you have a higher ceiling, then you should raise it 3 inches for every extra foot of height.
This means implementing a 7-foot rule: the bottom of the chandelier should be at least 7 feet (84 inches) above the floor. When installing the light, step back and look at how it takes up space in the room; some people prefer to leave 8 feet of clearance above the floor, to give the room a more open and spacious feel.
Another key reason of why are ceiling lights not central also is to obscure shadow appearing on the curtains when someone is undressing in the inside of the room. This is the main and primary reason why usually old houses lights were wired and positioned at the corners of the windows.
If hiring an electrician, drywaller, and painter is our of your budget (or your landlord won't allow it), it's okay to choose a light fixture with a cord or chain and swag it to meet your needs!
Whether it's gracing the entryway, brightening up the living room, or adding charm to your dining space, installing a chandelier can transform any room.
Additionally, facing the lights upward reduces glare and harsh shadows, contributing to a more comfortable dining experience. 2. Facing Down: On the other hand, chandelier lights facing downward provide more direct and focused illumination onto the dining table.
Tall Ceilings
For a more specific measurement, start with seven feet and add three inches for every foot over an eight-foot ceiling height. Adversely, for ceilings under 10 feet, hang your light fixture with a seven-foot to 7.5-foot clearance below.
In the coming year, bold and sculptural chandeliers will maintain their popularity. Available in various shapes, colors, and sizes, the oversized and sculptural designs, featuring unique, curved, abstract shapes or cascading tiers, not only cast light dramatically around the room but also double as pieces of art.
If your home has a traditional or classic design, a crystal chandelier may be a better fit. Its timeless elegance can complement the grandeur of traditional architecture. On the other hand, if your home has a modern or contemporary design, a glass chandelier may be more suitable.
If your style leans towards a more formal and symmetrical approach, centering the table under the light fixture may be the ideal choice. However, if you prefer a more eclectic or contemporary style, an off-center placement can add an element of visual interest and sophistication.
The recommended installation height above a tabletop, bar-height countertop, or kitchen island is 30 to 36 inches between the top of the table and the bottom of the light fixture.
In most cases, the bottom of the chandelier should hang approximately 30 to 36 inches (76 to 91 cm) above the tabletop.
As a general rule of thumb, the chandelier should be positioned about 30 to 36 inches above the table surface.
Standard Height Recommendation
The generally accepted rule for hanging dining room chandeliers is that the bottom of the fixture should hang between 30 and 36 inches above the top of the dining table. This range assumes you have an 8-foot ceiling.