Conflicting answers re: chandelier vs. table size vs. room size

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I'd appreciate some help regarding the size of a chandelier. There are similar advice threads all over, and I've tried to do my research without bothering people, haha, but the threads are giving me conflicting advice re: measuring the chandelier to the size of a room vs. the size of the table.

I have a living and dining area in an L shape. The living room portion is about 14 feet by 15 feet. The dining area portion is about 9 by 9, not including the additional open walkway to the side of it (I guess about 3 feet wide), but the living/dining obviously flow into one another - they are very open to each other.

The "room size proponents" say that the 9 by 9 measurement would require an approx. 18 inch chandelier above the table, and with the walkway added in (9 by 12), would require approx. 21 inches. However, the table we have is a 54" round, which the "table size proponents" say should have between a 36 and 42 inch chandelier. Obviously the difference is extreme between the two schools of thought. We have an 8 foot ceiling.

I'm uploading three pictures. The first two are the table and chairs that we have just purchased. We will probably be adding a 5th chair around the table. The rug is just there until we get one that fits the space and table, and the little pantry will be gone as we are redoing our kitchen, so ignore them please :) the current chandelier was the one installed by the old homeowners when they moved out.
No idea of the size offhand. The third pic is old and dark but you can see the area where the table goes on the left, and the L shape of the room, along with the walkway I'm talking about (and my little pup).

The chandelier we are looking at is a 32" round orb. Do you think this is too large? Too small? Too tall? (Please say no because I love it haha) Thanks so much!!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

lissapsu38
Original Author
6 years ago
bump :)
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
As an electrician for more than 25 years, hanging thousands of chandeliers, I can tell you that those formulas rarely work. Like most formulas made up by the design industry, they only work for a limited range of room and table sizes... based on what someone decided was the perfect size of table in the perfect size room in a McMansion... where you have a high ceiling and 5' between the table and wall.

I can literally walk around any house and make up formulas about anything that appears to be just right for that house. ...A door height should be 84% of the height of a wall... There should be 14 steps between floors. (13 steps used to be such a universal rule of thumb that it became an unlucky number - think about the number of steps up to a 1 story gallows.) BUT, neither of those formulas would hold true for a house with 10' ceings.

In other words, they are not true mathematic formulas in the scientific sense. They are just quite literally coincidences of what people found for a particularly large dining room.

One thing I find through years of experience is that the chandelier should not be so close to the edge of the table or so low that someone feels like they may hit their head on it when leaning in while standing up to move the chair. A larger chandelier usually ends up higher, and that means higher ceilings. A smaller one can be lower. (The decorator's rule of thumb is 30" above the table, but I have raised nearly every one that I have installed that low to suit the taste of the homeowner - a few skinny pendants) I have found that most people prefer the chandelier low enough to catch their eye, but not low enough to obstruct their vision horizontally. (An orb, being fairly "airy" can often go a little lower than a chandelier with lots of Bling) With round tables, this usually means that most people feel comfortable with the chandelier about 11" from the edge of the table. With long tables, it is common for people to feel the need to fill up the space more, so the fixture tends to crowd the narrow sides of the table more.
lissapsu38 thanked User
Related Discussions
island measurements vs. size needed for stools
Q
Comments (10)
Island/Peninsula Seating.... Linear Seating Space: Allow 24 linear inches per seat regardless of counter height Overhang: Table-height seating (30" high): Minimum 18" overhang Counter-height seating (36" high): Minimum 15" overhang Bar-height seating (42" high): Minimum 12" overhang Corner Seating...if you have seats on adjacent sides, be careful that you don't overlap the leg room/overhang. Each seat needs its own leg room. So, if you have a 15" overhang on a side and a seat on the end, then the seat on the adjacent side starts 15" in from the end with the other seat so there's 15" of leg room for each. Like this: Is this what you're thinking of? If so, you should have more than enough room for 3 seats on the long side, but not enough for 4. However, I would encourage keeping that extra space for the long end b/c with legs it will not be as easy for people sitting at the outer seats to get into/out of the stools/chairs (legs get in the way) so that extra room is a real help!
...See More
Chandelier size vs dining table?
Q
Comments (2)
Thanks a bunch! That link helped :) I think we love the chandelier so much we will be getting a table that suits it LOL
...See More
Garage Door sizes- Two doors vs One wide
Q
Comments (51)
Depending on layout and available space, one may need to opt for one or other option. I remember always wanting a home with side entry garages but due to lack of space on the left, ended up building front entry snout garages in our home in NJ. Subsequently I initially designed our next home in PNW with side garages but so glad I did not entirely pursue that dream. Main two double garages with two 18' glass/aluminium doors will flank front left with an additional side entrance double garage with 40' of hard standing, for my hobbies etc. Coming home late in the evening on a dark rainy night in the PNW, the last thing one would want is try to negotiate a 90degree turn in a large suv; sure I would do it but probably drive my DW mad.
...See More
Desperate for advice re: sofas vs sectional in open-concept room!!
Q
Comments (11)
I'm not a fan of sectionals. I have a problem with sofas--my family teases me.We tried three different sectionals in the past ten years and ultimately ended up with a sofa and two armchairs. IMO, a sofa and two armchairs is perfect in most living rooms. I liked the idea of a sectional, but people tend to prefer an armrest and a convenient place to set a drink. As cozy as the corner seat sounds, they're just awkward. You're sacrificing the armrest and end table for two seats to gain one awkward seat. If you want to kick up your feet while sitting on the sofa, ottomans are a much better way to go.
...See More
lissapsu38
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Fred. Really appreciate your thoughts and insight.

Conflicting answers re: chandelier vs. table size vs. room size

Comments (3)

lissapsu38
Original Author

User

Related Discussions

lissapsu38
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Conflicting answers re: chandelier vs. table size vs. room size

Comments (3)

lissapsu38Original Author

User

Related Discussions

lissapsu38Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lissapsu38
Original Author

lissapsu38
Original Author