Choosing the right size Chandeliers

Small, Medium or Large Crystal Chandeliers?

For Crystal Chandeliers, one size does not fit all. Chandeliers are designed to float in a room as an important part of the decor. Too large and this fixture will overpower the space. Too small and it will look out of place.

"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."

To make sure your chandelier is the right size for the room in which it will hang, consider the following questions.

  • How high is your ceiling? Taller ceilings demand larger fixtures, such as a Waterfall crystal chandelier.
  • What is the size and shape of your table or island? The chandelier should complement, not overpower, anything you plan to suspend it over.
  • How big is the room you are trying to illuminate? Again, be sure the chandelier is not too big or too small for the room.
  • What is the form and design of the chandelier? Light, airy fixtures tend to look larger.

 

Measuring for the Right Size Crystal Chandelier

To determine the proper size crystal chandelier for the foyer, add the dimensions together. For example if your foyer is 12ft. by 16ft., add the 112 plus 16 to get 28. The proper size chandelier would then be 28” diameter. This works for any room. Make sure the bottom of the fixture does not hang more than 7ft. from the floor. If windows are present, center the fixture in the window so it can be seen from outside

To determine the proper size crystal chandelier for a dining table, choose one with a diameter 12" less than width of table. 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 8ft. 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.