Many of my clients have mass produced suburban homes with generic light fixtures of basic quality.
There is nothing wrong with these light fixtures, but almost everyone in their neighborhood has the exact same ones.
They are not special. They are not memorable. They provide light, and that is about it.
In order to customize my clients' homes, I suggest replacing their basic light fixtures with nicer ones that better reflect their personal style.
Since dining rooms are typically one of the first rooms seen when entering a home, that room is a great place to make a statement about your personal design style using lighting.
A dining room light fixture can set the mood for the interior design of your entire home.
Replacing a dining room light fixture with a statement chandelier is a little upgrade with a huge benefit. It is relatively little cost compared to remodeling, but instantly increases the design style of the home
Changing a light fixture only requires a small amount of time and very little mess, however can completely change the feel of a dining room (and some homeowners are skilled enough to DIY install it themselves).
There are millions of different chandeliers in different styles, finishes, shapes, and sizes, so there is bound to be one that is perfect for your home.
When selecting a chandelier for your dining room, there are several factors to consider.
Size
You should consider the size of the chandelier that you need for your dining room before you start looking. There are many ways to calculate the correct size, however all sizing guides are just estimates, so feel free to go a little smaller or larger than suggested.
One way to calculate the correct chandelier size is to measure the length and width of your dining room and round those numbers to the nearest foot. Add your length and width together, then that number should be the width of your chandelier in inches. For example, a 12 foot by 14 foot dining room would require a 26 inch wide chandelier.
Another way to calculate the size of a chandelier is to have the width be 3/4 the width of your dining table. If your dining table is 72 inches by 48 inches, then your chandelier width should be 36 inches wide. If you have a round dining table that is 60 inches diameter, then you probably want a chandelier that is around 45 inches wide.
Yet another way to size a chandelier is to have it be 12 inches less than the width of your dining table, but at least 4 foot away from any wall.
These chandelier size suggestions work for a round or square chandelier, however not for a rectangular chandelier. For a rectangular chandelier, select one that is has a length approximately 1/2 to 3/4 the length of your dining table. Rectangular chandeliers only look good with a rectangular table - do not use them with a round table.
Also consider the height of your chandelier. The chandelier height should correspond to the ceiling height in your dining room - the taller the ceiling height, the taller the chandelier. Typically the bottom of the chandelier should hang 5 foot above the floor for a standard height table. This height will seem really low when being installed, however will feel appropriate when sitting at the dining table.
Feel free to use your own judgement when selecting a chandelier size - sometimes going against the suggested size will give you a unique design that turns out amazing, but that doesn't mean that you should choose a smaller one just to save some money.
More Than One Chandelier?
A current trend is to have more than one chandelier over a dining table.
You can have 2 or 3 medium sized chandeliers over a rectangular dining table or a collection of several mini pendant lights at different lengths over a round or rectangular dining table.
I feel that the trend of 2 or 3 chandeliers over a rectangular dining table may be popular for a long time because it makes sense to add light down the entire length of a dining table, not just in the center.
Consider Shadows
There are many beautiful chandeliers whose design is amazing, however they create shadows on the walls and ceiling.
These shadows may be a nice design feature, or they might make your dining room feel dark and gloomy.
If you love the light fixture but are worried about shadows, consider adding recessed can lights and/or wall sconces around the room to shine light on the walls or uplights to light the ceiling.
Enough Light?
Consider the amount of light given off by the chandelier.
Are the bulbs covered or exposed? If covered, are they covered by a material that is clear, frosted, or opaque?
If the light bulbs are exposed, does the chandelier require special light bulbs like Edison bulbs #ad or half chrome #ad?
Does the light point toward the ceiling or toward the table?
How many and what size light bulbs are required for this chandelier?
Is the light fixture/light bulb dimmable so you can set an appropriate mood in your dining room?
Location
If you have other furniture in your dining room in addition to your dining table, then your chandelier might be off center from your dining table.
Your chandelier MUST be centered on your dining table.
Either rearrange the furniture in your dining room to allow the chandelier to hang in the exact center of your table, or contact an electrician to relocate the chandelier.
Do not swag the chandelier across the ceiling because it looks like a mistake.
Another solution is to use a flush mount light fixture that does not hang down very far so it is not obviously off center from the dining table.
Style
Typically, the style of your dining room chandelier should complement, but not be exactly the same, as all other light fixtures that can be seen at the same time.
If you can look across your kitchen into your dining room and can see your kitchen pendant lights at the same time as your dining room chandelier, then those fixtures should relate to each other.
Those fixtures do not have to have the exact same finish or be from the same manufacturer, but they should look like they are of a similar style or vibe.
Consider the View
If your dining room has an amazing view outside, then you don't want to cover it up.
Also, if you have amazing artwork, then you want that artwork to be seen.
In either of these cases, use a simple chandelier that allows people to still see the view.
Additional Lighting
Designers love to use multiple lighting sources in a room, not just one light fixture in the middle of the room.
Using multiple light sources allows more depth of lighting
In addition to a chandelier, also consider adding wall sconces, uplights in plants #ad, picture lights over artwork, and lighting inside your china cabinet.
More Assistance
If you would like assistance in selecting a dining room chandelier for your home, or other interior design advice, please contact us - we would love to help!
