Choosing a chandelier to fit your room proportionately is key to that balanced eye-pleasing look!  Here are some easy tips on how decorators do it!

Chandelier Width...

How big is your room or foyer?

• In general, if the room is 10' by 10' or smaller, a 17" to 20" wide chandelier would look right
• If the room is about 12' x 12', a 20" to 26" wide chandelier would look right
• If the room is about 14' x 14', then a 24" to 36" wide chandelier would look right
• Try this technique too - add the width and length dimensions of the room together.  Example, if your room is 8' x 10', then the chandelier diameter should be approximately 8" + 10" = 18" wide.

Chandelier Height...

How high is your room?

• Chandeliers should have a minimum of 7' from the floor to the bottom of the lamp unless they're hanging over a table.  If you're brave you can lower to 6' 1/2" but don't have the Globetrotters over to dinner.
• For the height of the chandelier, allow 2 1/2" to 3" for each foot of a room's height.  Ex., if a ceiling is 8' tall, then use a 20" to 24" tall chandelier (8' x 2 1/2" = 20", 8' x 3" = 24")
• If you have a really tall ceiling, hang the chandelier higher, and consider using a taller chandelier

• The bottom of a chandelier should hang about 30" above the table surface
• A chandelier hanging over a table should measure about 1/2 of the width of the table to look proportionate.  Any wider than that and your dinner will be a real knock-out! 

Long table needing two chandeliers?

• If you're hanging 2 chandeliers over a big long table, choose chandeliers that are 1/3 the width of the table.  Then, split the length of the table in half and hang each lamp centered over each end.

Using a Ceiling Mount lamp over a staircase?

• The bottom of the lamp should have a minimum 7' clearance to the steps.  This will make sure it's not lights out BEFORE your guests go to bed!

Brightness

• Something else to consider is the total wattage of your chandelier - using a dimmer switch is best, but as a general rule, use maximum 200 watts for smaller rooms and 400 watts for big rooms.  To calculate the wattage of your lamp choice, just add the number of bulbs the lamp holds by the wattage per bulb.  Try reducing the wattage on each bulb until you get the right balance between brightness and temperature comfort. 

Hope this information helps!   Any other questions just email me!