Dining Room

Centre it over the table and let it set the tone for the room.

The dining chandelier is sized to the table, not the room. A fixture one half to two thirds of the table’s width is the classic proportion: 36 to 48 inches over a 72-inch table, 24 to 30 inches over a 48-inch round. Over a very long table, a linear piece or a pair of chandeliers keeps the light even.

Hang the bottom of the fixture 30 to 34 inches above the table top for an 8 ft ceiling, adding about three inches for every extra foot of ceiling height. Put it on a dimmer; a dining chandelier should go from bright for a family breakfast to a glow for dinner.

Empire, lustre and Maria Theresa pieces are the traditional dining choices; brass candle-arm chandeliers suit painted and panelled rooms; linear alabaster and crystal bars suit modern tables.