A too-small chandelier hanging too high over a large dining table looks lost in the space.
Dining room light fixtures are often chandeliers or large-scale lights designed to enhance the dining experience and provide good light for each dining guest. There are three primary considerations when determining the height of the light fixture: the style of the fixture, the volume of the room and the number of fixtures being installed. The final consideration is the preference of the homeowner. In most cases, the fixture is hung before a house is sold based on standard height calculations.
Room Volume
A large chandelier can hang in a room with large volume, where the length of the chandelier is longer than it is wide.
Room volume is calculated by multiplying the length of the room, times the width of the room, times the height of the room. Basically, if a room has tall ceilings, then the room has a lot of volume and that space needs to be addressed by the scale of the light fixture. Usually this is solved by selecting a fixture that is physically longer and a bit wider than would normally be selected for the room. With high-volume rooms, the fixture is sometimes mounted higher than standard. If two fixtures are used, the fixtures can become smaller and be spaced at a more normal height.
Fixture Width
A chandelier can work in a space with lower ceilings but larger floor area, if it is wider rather than taller.
To determine the standard fixture width, most designers measure the length and width of the room and add the two numbers together. For example, if your room is 10-by-14-feet, added together that is 24, which means the room can support a chandelier that is 24-inches wide. A good width can also be calculated by using half the width of the table.
Fixture Style
This ornate, taste-specific chandelier would be hard to see through.
The style of the light fixture plays a more complicated role in determining where you should place the fixture. If the has thin arms and delicate design, and it looks light and it is easy to see through, then this light fixture can be positioned lower. If the fixture is dark and has thick, structural parts, it will be considered visually heavy. Placing this style too close to the table may make guests feel crowded and cramped.
Calculating Height
A traditional-style chandelier can be mounted above standard height based on preference.
Lastly, it is important to consider the homeowner. Some people have strong preferences for higher or lower fixtures. Usually, the criteria they use is based on seeing the faces of their friends and families without a fixture being in the way. Often, this will mean that the fixture is placed higher so that their view to the table is good even when standing near the table. The standard height for a dining room fixture is 30-inches above the top of the table, plus or minus the considerations discussed here.
Tags: light fixture, standard height, room times, width room