Deciding the right size for your chandelier is not the easiest job. The details of a chandelier that’s too small can easily get lost in a large space, while a huge, ornate one might overpower a small room.
Your dilemma isn’t be unique. Balancing illumination and running costs with size has been a challenge not just for homes, but for large, public places, as illustrated by the history of the chandeliers at the Brighton Dome.
Determining the size
While there are plenty of chandelier size calculators to be found on the internet, they’re not necessarily going to come out with the right size for the style of chandelier you choose.
What does your chandelier look like? If it’s ornate and heavy-looking, you should adjust the ideal size to be a little smaller than calculated. If it’s a design that looks simple and lightweight, you can get away with a slightly larger diameter without it looking too overwhelming.
A quick estimate of diameter and height
One quick and easy way to estimate how wide your chandelier should be is to measure the length and width of your room in feet, add one length and one width together, and then convert the result to inches. For example, in a room that is 15′ x 12′, the diameter of the chandelier should be 27 inches, give or take one or two inches depending on the style.
Ceiling height should also be taken into consideration. Generally, your chandelier should have about seven feet of clearance off the ground, and for ceilings over eight feet, an extra three inches of hanging length should be added for each foot in height. Also if your thinking of having it in an attic space to create an extra room in your house with a suave and sophisticated feel you will want to check out a Roofer Gloucester company at sites such as gloucester-roofer.co.uk/.
For dining rooms where the light will be hanging over a table, the fixture should have between 30 and 34 inches of clearance from the tabletop, with a diameter between one half and two thirds of the table’s diameter.
The dimensions of your room will have an impact on the style of chandelier you ultimately choose. If you’re looking for chandeliers in the UK, glass lighting specialists can produce chandeliers to match requirements.
These guidelines cover the basic estimates on the ideal size for your chandelier, but you should contact a glass lighting specialist for expert advice.
