Getting the scale right
Size is the difference between a fixture that anchors a room and one that looks lost or overbearing. These are the rules we specify to — and if nothing in the catalogue fits your ceiling, we can have the size that does built.
Start here
| Where | Diameter / width | Height above floor or surface |
|---|---|---|
| Dining table | Half to two-thirds the table width | 30–36″ above the tabletop |
| Kitchen island | 2–3 pendants, about 30″ apart | 30–36″ above the counter |
| Open living room | Room length + width in feet = diameter in inches | At least 7 ft of clearance |
| Entry or foyer | Scaled to the void, centred in the window | 7 ft minimum; low enough to be seen from outside |
| Bedroom | Room length + width in feet = diameter in inches | At least 7 ft, centred on the bed or the room |
| Staircase | Sized to the stairwell void | 7 ft above the highest step it hangs over |
| Hallway sconces | Spaced 8–10 ft apart | Centred 60–66″ from the floor |
| Bathroom mirror | Sconces 28–36″ apart | Centred 65–70″, roughly at eye level |
Chandeliers
The right diameter depends on the room — and over a table, on the table itself.
Diameter for a room
Add the room's length and width in feet. That number, in inches, is a good target diameter.
Room L (ft) + Room W (ft) = ideal diameter (in)A 12 ft × 14 ft room suits a chandelier around 26 inches across.
Diameter over a dining table
Aim for half to two-thirds the width of the table, and never wider than the table minus 12 inches on each side — so nobody knocks their head standing up.
Table width − 12 in = maximum diameterA 42-inch-wide table suits a chandelier around 24–30 inches.
Hanging height
Over a dining table, hang the lowest point 30–36 inches above the tabletop for an 8-foot ceiling, and add roughly 3 inches for every additional foot of ceiling height.
In an open room, keep at least 7 feet of clearance from the floor.
Height of the fixture itself
Allow about 2.5–3 inches of fixture height for every foot of ceiling height.
A 10-foot ceiling suits a fixture roughly 25–30 inches tall.
Pendants over an island or counter
Pendants work in groups. Spacing and height keep them balanced and glare-free.
How many, and how far apart
Leave about 30 inches between pendants and at least 6 inches from the end of the island to the centre of the outer pendant. Two or three suit most islands; count in odd numbers for a run longer than 8 feet.
Hanging height
Hang the bottom of each pendant 30–36 inches above the countertop, so the light lands on the surface rather than in your eyes when you are seated.
Wall sconces
Sconces set the mood in hallways, beside beds and flanking mirrors.
Mounting height
Centre sconces 60–66 inches from the floor in hallways and living spaces. Flanking a bathroom mirror, mount them 65–70 inches — roughly at eye level, which flatters rather than casts shadows.
Spacing
In a hallway, space sconces 8–10 feet apart. Flanking a mirror, place them 28–36 inches apart, centred on the mirror.
Projection
In a corridor or beside a staircase, keep the projection from the wall under 5 inches so nobody catches a shoulder. Projection is listed in the specifications on every product page.
Flush & semi-flush mounts
The right choice where ceilings are lower or space is tight.
When to choose flush over a chandelier
Use flush or semi-flush mounts for ceilings under 8 feet, or in halls, closets and bedrooms where a hanging fixture would be in the way. Semi-flush adds a little drop and dimension when you have an inch or two to spare.
Diameter
Use the same room formula as chandeliers: room length + width in feet, read as inches.
Two things people forget
Ceiling height changes everything
Every rule above assumes an 8-foot ceiling as the baseline. On a 10- or 12-foot ceiling, both the fixture and its drop should grow — a piece sized for a standard room will simply disappear in a double-height space.
Measure the doorway, not just the room
Large chandeliers arrive crated. Before ordering an oversized piece, check the route from the front door to the room — and tell us if it is tight, so we can have it crated in sections.
Nothing fits? We can have the right size built.
Send us the room dimensions and ceiling height. We will recommend a scale and finish — and if the piece you want does not exist at that size, we can draw it and have it built.
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