If you have a rectangular table you can choose different shapes although I think its nicer to choose a rectangular. For a round table I recommend a round chandelier. Measure only the leaves that are typically there. If you are looking for unique lighting ideas, in Galilee lighting we make unique lighting made of hand blown glass in beautiful styles. We specialize in custom lighting. We invite you to visit our website to view our unique lighting collections. If you would like to receive our catalog by email and get more ideas, contact Sales@GalileeLighting.com or visit www.GalileeLighting.com We offer free design consultation, to design the perfect size of chandelier for your space. Call us at 305-807-8711

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.

Thank you for your comments. I notice in the pictures, the rugs hangover a little bit on the side. So if my sectional is almost 10 feet long, I guess I am going to need a larger rug then? Like at least 12 feet on both sides?? It's the size that has me stumped I guess! I would like for the whole sectional to fit on a rug, but with the floor outlets that we have, that won't be possible unless we cut holes in the rug or find another solution. We did order this swivel chair in the navy fabric, but the plan is to put it in our reading nook which is off to the right of the living area. I am not opposed to putting it in the living space if it will work. We will see. Not a necessary purchase right now, but I want so get a couple of ottomans that I can store under the sofa table to give extra seating when necessary. I want new occasional tables as I feel like our current ones are too traditional. Someone suggested a round coffee table, but I can't find a lift up coffee table that is round that I like. I work at the couch a lot so lift up is necessary. So here are come ideas I have. Coffee Table and Sofa Table- Liberty Furniture Heatherbrook I did find some circular small side tables I liked, but I don't know what if any of these "work." Thank you for your guidance. I don't know how to put things together and I don't want people walking in my home and go "what was she thinking?"

A nice rule of thumb to go by is get a light that is half the depth size of your table. So since your table is 46", you would want to get something that is about 23". The size of chandelier that Schonbek mentioned is a good size. Good luck!