How To Hang a Chandelier

At Madison Lighting, we know that choosing a chandelier and hanging it takes quite a bit of planning. We’ve placed them in a lot of dining rooms and kitchens, we’ve installed them in bedrooms and baths, and we’ve added them over conversation areas in living rooms. For a chandelier that hangs perfectly over a dining room table:

• Suspend it 28 to 32” above the tabletop.
• Locate it 12” in from the edge of the table to avoid hitting your head.
• What’s the right proportion of the fixture in your room? Our rule of thumb is 2.5 to 3” for each foot of ceiling height. An 8-foot ceiling prefers a chandelier that is 20 to 24″ in height.
• What about the diameter? Add the height and width of your room together and treat the sum as inches. A 15×18-foot dining room would look great with a chandelier that’s 33” in diameter.

Now that you know the “rules,” remember that your personal style guides the effect you’re trying to make. An example? Two chandeliers over a worktable or a long, rectangular dining table has a “why not?” attitude that can be very appealing. Linear fixtures over a rectangular table can be longer than the 33” suggested above, especially a frame-fixture, because that open airy look seems to take up less mass. If you’re looking for new chandeliers for your home, then visit our lighting showroom today!