Find the perfect light fixture for your dining room with a chandelier. Chandeliers are designed to bring the dining room together and illuminate the space where you enjoy all your meals, socialise with friends and bring the whole family together. Keep reading below to find details on sizing and placement tips for your dining room chandelier as well as dining room chandelier trends and inspiration.

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Choosing a Dining Room Chandelier
Dining Room Chandelier Trends to Try

Choosing a Dining Room Chandelier

Before making your final chandelier decision, it’s important to consider both logistics and decor options. Below we take you through everything to consider when shopping for a chandelier, including size, placement, added features and design.

1. Choose a Size

Finding the right chandelier for your dining room requires you to take note of the size of your space and your table in order to determine what size chandelier will work best.

Here are a few rules to follow:

• Standard chandelier sizes are as follows: mini (less than 14" wide), small (15" – 20" wide), medium (21" – 26" wide), large (27" – 34" wide) and oversized (greater than 35" wide).
• Measure the distance between your ceiling and table top to determine the appropriate hanging length of your chandelier. Hanging length is grouped into five standard maximum lengths: less than 24", 24" – 47", 48" – 71", 72" – 96", greater than 96".
• Your chandelier should be 12" narrower than the dining table surface.
• Make sure there’s at least 4' of distance between the chandelier and the walls.
• There should be 30" – 35" of space between the chandelier and the dining table.
• If your table is longer, consider hanging two chandeliers that are anywhere from 14" – 26" wide at each end. Any fixtures 27" – 35" and up is considered a large chandelier and should be styled on its own in the centre of your table.

2. Consider Placement

• If you have a round, square, or shorter rectangular table, a medium, large or oversized chandelier fixture will be able to illuminate the space on its own. Make sure you hang it in the centre of the table so the light spreads evenly.
• A chandelier should illuminate the centre two-thirds of your dining room table, so it’s important to take your table size into consideration. For a longer table, consider using two smaller chandeliers to light your space. Not only will two chandeliers create a well-lit space for your dinners, but it will also create balance over a long table.

Tip: Our Placing a Chandelier? Our Guide Will Show You How guide gos into even more detail about hanging your new chandelier.

3. Find a Design & Style

Statement

Statement chandeliers are designed for all interior design styles and are known for their bold silhouettes. Crystal chandeliers and intricate geometric designs are some prime examples of a statement chandelier style.

Lantern

Lantern fixtures provide a protective casing, usually glass, around a set of standard bulbs or candlestick bulbs. The most popular shape is reminiscent of an antique street light, but there are lantern fixture shapes that are cylindrical or rectangular. With its clean lines and crisp shapes, this style fits best into a modern or traditional space.

Sputnik

The sputnik style is a mid-century modern design that looks like a burst of light. This fixture has a single core with multiple arms branching out into globe lights or bubble lights.

Shaded

Shaded chandeliers have a classic traditional silhouette that features multiple cascading arms with candle-style bulbs on the ends. Shades provide a softer light that’s focused downward, making them a great choice for dining rooms.

Candle-Style

Candle-style chandeliers can be any style fixture that features a candle-style lightbulb. This style is great for traditional or rustic aesthetics.

4. Look at Special Features

Dimmable

The dimmable feature is ideal for your dining room chandelier – some dinners may call for mood lighting that only a dimmer can provide.

High-Ceiling Compatibility

Working with a high ceiling? Look for chandeliers that are compatible with high ceilings and/or are adjustable, so you can customize your chandelier light to fit your dining room.

Dining Room Chandelier Trends to Try

Now that you have the basics to find your perfect chandelier light, it’s time to get inspired by these chandeliers for dining room spaces. These are some of our favorite ways to style chandelier fixtures.

1. Match Materials

Create cohesion in your space by matching your chandelier fixtures with other decorative items around your dining space. If you’re going the rustic route with rattan and wooden decor and furniture, complete the look with rattan or bamboo shades, like the set of chandeliers above. Metallic chandelier finishes go great in a glam space and glass, frosted or translucent, go great in a modern or contemporary dining room.

2. Add to Your Aesthetic

Between the shape, material and features of a chandelier there are so many options to choose from. Simplify your styling experience by choosing a chandelier in an alternative style to your home's decor. If your dining room leans traditional, opt for a large modern chandelier with round bulbs and a sputnik-style design to keep things fresh and transitional. Similarly, traditional-style chandeliers create a stabilising focal point in an eclectic or modern dining room. Opt for a drum-shaped chandelier in a metallic finish like brass or gold to add a burst of subtle sheen.

3. Centre Your Chandelier Above the Table

Keep in mind that when it comes to lights for dining rooms the chandelier should always be placed above the dining table. The chandelier serves as a lighting fixture for your dining table, so make sure you place your table wherever your chandelier will hang. If you’re planning on hanging a large or oversized chandelier, choose a table shape that complements its size. This large globe chandelier is balanced out by this round table and makes the fixture’s centre placement clearer.

4. Play With Shapes

There are so many chandelier shapes to choose from that taking a look at a bolder fixture could lead you to your new statement dining room piece. Geometric fixtures are having their moment, and it’s easy to see why. These chandeliers add drama, flair, and visual interest, making it the perfect transitional light fixture to elevate any style dining room.

5. Add a New Finish

Master the art of transitional interior design by using your chandelier light fixture to introduce a new finish to your dining room. If your space leans traditional or modern, with clean lines, neutral colours and natural materials, add a touch of glam by choosing a gold chandelier. This gold metal chandelier provides a touch of shine and luxury. Alternatively you can choose a matte black metal chandelier to create balance with reflective glam furniture. Or choose a chandelier with a silver finish to complement a bohemian dining room.

Tip: For more on chandelier and pendant lighting trends, read:

• The Only Chandelier Style Guide You'll Ever Need
• How to Choose The Right Type of Ceiling Light
• 9 Ways to Style and Showoff Pendant Lights