A chandelier is designed to be a focal point in a room, but it should never take over the room so that it is the only thing that people see or notice when they walk into the room. It is critical to understand the techniques for selecting the right scale for a chandelier, so that you get one that is the right size and shape for the room. They are not only for dining spaces any more, and these days you will find beautiful chandeliers in bedrooms, kitchens, entryways, living rooms, and even media rooms or master bathrooms.

Using Room Measurements to Determine Scale – What Size Chandelier to Use

The length and width of the room are an accurate means of determining what size chandelier that you can use in the room. Start by measuring the width and length of the room in feet, and then add the two numbers together. Multiply the result of the width plus length by two, and you have the diameter of the chandelier that would be appropriate for that particular space in inches.

For example, if you measure your foyer and the result is eight feet wide by twelve feet long, the result is twenty. Multiply twenty by two, and the diameter of the chandelier should not be more than forty inches in diameter. This process ensures that the chandelier will be the right scale for the room without overpowering or overwhelming the space.

Length Requirements for Scale – Chandelier Should Never Touch the Floor

A chandelier should obviously never touch the floor, but neither should it be up against the ceiling in most cases. It should hang suspended from the ceiling, so that it seems to float in the right place to accent the room and be a beautiful and stylish focal point to accompany a dining table, entryway, master bedroom or bathroom, and so on. Keep the chandelier high enough to avoid people who will be walking under frequently, but low enough to light the space adequately.

One rule of thumb in this situation is that the chandelier should never be more than seven feet or so off of the floor. When the ceilings are high enough that the chandelier will hang much higher than this, make sure that the product is on a long enough suspension to hang at the right height. For very large chandeliers, you can hang a bit higher, but it should still be hung at a sufficient height to be useful for more than aesthetic beauty in order to achieve maximum value from this purchase.

Too Big and Too Small – Becomes an Eyesore for the Space

Hanging a chandelier that is scaled incorrectly will be just as noticeable as a beautiful chandelier that is scaled the right way; it just falls on the opposite end of the pleasure spectrum for first time visitors and guests. Instead of being an attractive focal point in the room, it becomes an eyesore that people remember as being too big or too small for the space.

Author Bio: Artist/Designer, Jessica Ackerman, writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com and offers aspiring home designers the opportunity to decorate with wall art decor or wine wall sculptures.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: chandelier high enough,beautiful chandelier,right scale,focal point,right size,right height