Choosing the right size chandelier

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   When deciding what light fixture to purchase, just remember “size always matters.”  And remember “The Golden Rule”, you never want a fixture that looks too small.  This is one of the biggest mistakes one can make.  For ambient lighting, measure the length and width of the room, then add together and convert to inches, and that’s the ideal size for a light fixture.  For example, a room 8' x 10' (8+10= 18 ÷12= 1.5 or 18”).  So an 18” wide fixture would be ideal for an 8x10 foot room.  For calculating the proper size pendant for your kitchen island or bar area, measure the length of your island/bar. Then, decide if you like the look of 2 or 3 pendants. If choosing 3 pendants, the pendant size can be smaller, but if you choose 2 pendants, you can select a fixture that is a bit larger. After measuring the island/bar consider the amount of space needed between each pendant. A good rule of thumb is to space pendants about 29-30” apart. Calculate what size of pendants would fit above your island/bar by leaving 6 inches of clearance on both ends of the island/bar so the pendant does not extend over the edge of the counter.   For dining room lights, look for chandeliers that are about 2/3 the size of width of the dining room table.  When hanging the chandelier, allow 30-34” above the table.  If your ceiling is higher than 8', add 3” for each additional foot.  For example, if you have a 10' ceiling, allow 6 additional inches, therefore hanging the chandelier approximately 36-40” above the table.