What Size Chandelier?

8 years ago

My Mom gave me a chady for Christmas for the dining area in the new house. House is in ski country and style will be mountain modern (mix of modern and rustic). We will probably be doing an antler chandelier from RH and they are on sale right now.

Aspen Chandelier

Dining table is 44" wide and 66" min or up to 102" with leaves. Probably will keep it at 44" x 90".

greatroom floor plan:

Dining and living area will be vaulted probably up to 14-15'. I'm thinking the 40" diameter chandy will be fine. Thoughts?

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User

8 years ago

Sizing chandeliers confuses me. This is a timely post for me as I am also looking for a chandelier for my dining room which has a vaulted ceiling,

What I have read is two things. Diameter of chandelier should be half the width of your table or you add up the room size, length plus width and get your size that way. But those two measurements can be drastically different, i.e. in my case 22 inches or 28 inches. I am assuming the chandelier can be any dia between those two measurements.

I cant read the measurements of your room, but just going by your table width I think 40 inches is too big if you plan on leaving your table at 44 inches.

Regarding the height, with ceilings at 14 to 15 feet, I think 25 inch height might be too short. My ceiling is at 12 feet and I am thinking I need something around 30 inches tall. I could be all wrong in this. I am interested in hearing from others,

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Comments (11)

busybee3
8 years ago
i would guess that that size would be fine since your whole area is so large and open and will also be vaulted... i think anything too much smaller might look too small.

the only thing you will have to worry about is the ht that you hang it- the width for the table guideline is at least partially to prevent people from hitting their foreheads on the chandy when sitting down at the table- you will have to carefully measure so that it's hung high enough so that won't happen with that width.
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lascatx
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I think a 40 inch fixture is too large for a 44 inch table. You would have to hang it pretty high above the table and I think that would look awkward. You have a long narrow space with high ceilings -- a rectangular fixture or two smaller chandeliers might be a better fit. Could you use the antler fixture in the LR and a different fixture in the DR?
ceezeecz
8 years ago
I also think that is way too large for a 44 inch wide table. Your table is the same width as mine and my fixture is 25 inches wide and 30 inches above the table. To my eye that looks just right. If it's too wide people will instinctively feel they'll knock it with their head.
User
8 years ago
Since it seems your room is so linear, I might opt our for one that's rectangular--i.e., longer but narrower.
busybee3
8 years ago
25 or even 36" would look too small in that area, imo! and hanging a large chand a little higher would look nice and probably better in a room with vaulted ceilings!

but, a large linear chand would look ok too if you like that style.
ceezeecz
8 years ago
Oops, I forgot about the vaulted ceiling. Bigger and higher would look better.
mojomom
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all! I've searched Houzz for example s and have found many that break thr "rule" of half the with of the dining table, that look great especially in a larger area. However, I do agree that with the ceiling height, I might need to go with something taller. Here is another idea, still 40" wide, but 50" tall,
followed by Houzz pics of wider diameter chandys over a regular width tables:

Transitional Dining Room · More Info

Custom Residence · More Info

Farmhouse Dining Room · More Info

Timber Frame in the Mountains · More Info

West Hills Remodel · More Info

We can't move the chandy to the living area because DH wants a ceiling fan and we've found one we really like
This is kind of the look we are going for in the living area with the fan I stead of the porcupine chandy.

Fireplaces · More Info
Annie Deighnaugh
8 years ago
The rule of thumb I use is fixture at most should be the width of the table less 12", so a 44" table can take a 32" wide fixture. The point is to have it narrower so if someone is standing up at the table and leans over some, they won't hit their head.
busybee3
8 years ago
i think a taller chand is a good idea, tho i'm not sure i'm a fan of the tiered antler chand... i think it loses some of its 'antlery' impact or something ... maybe it looks better in person...

there are so many modern/rustic choices out there... the fan you've chosen is very nice looking- more modern than rustic to my eye- and lots of chands would look great with it!

and, yes, guidelines are simply guidelines... what someone chooses really depends on their particular space and the look they're going for! and, no heads will be bumped if hung properly!
lascatx
8 years ago
What is the height the fixture will hang from? Is the ceiling angled to the center at 14-15' or to the kitchen at 14-15 feet so that they spot it hangs from may be no more than 12 feet? That makes a big difference.

Yes, some large fixture at or near the width of the table are being shown, but do notice that they are hung higher over the table to compensate for headroom when standing at the table, sitting or standing (when many people will lean in a bit), much less setting the table, serving or placing things on the table. The most common DR table height is about 60" or 5 feet, maybe a few inches higher. That puts the bottom of the fixture at or near eye level for most folks. With a taller ceiling and a larger fixture, you may want to raise that by a foot, give or take depending on the fixture and ceiling height. If you go to 6 feet and te fixture is 5 feet, it will make a huge diffference whether it hands from 12 feet or 15 feet (one foot of chain or 4 feet of chain).

I would probably stick to the single level, and if this is a spot that is still being built, I wouldn't buy the fixture until the walls and ceiling are in place and you can be sure of heights, widths, etc.