Sizing Your Chandelier for the Dining Room
To determine the proper size chandelier for a dining table, choose a chandelier with a diameter that is 50% of the table width or greater. This assumes the table is sized appropriate for room.
It should be hung with the bottom of the fixture 30” above the tabletop for an 8’ ceiling. Go up 3” for each additional foot of ceiling. For ceilings nine feet or higher, consider a two-tier style chandelier to fill the space from the fixture's top to the ceiling.
Pro Tip: In most cases, the bottom of your chandelier should sit approximately 30"-32" above the table top.
To size a chandelier for your dining room, or to be the focal point of your space, measure the length and width of the room and add those figures together. The sum, converted to inches, will equal the diameter of the correct-sized chandelier.
Example: 14'+20'=34' - Change result to inches, which gives you a 34" diameter chandelier.
Sizing a Chandelier for the Foyer
Starting with the information from the section above, these other guidelines apply.
Make sure the bottom of the fixture does not hang more than 7’ from the floor. If windows are present, center the fixture in the window so it can be seen from outside.
"Placing a chandelier that is too small in a space is likely the biggest mistake because it's very noticeable," says Joe Rey-Barreau, educational consultant for the American Lighting Association (ALA) and assistant professor of interior design at the University of Kentucky. "Great designers, therefore, tend to make their decisions on fixtures that may appear slightly larger than might be appropriate. It's generally always best to make the mistake on a fixture being too big than too small."