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Choosing A Modern Chandelier For A Dining Room

Published May 22nd, 2012 in Chandelier

For many homeowners, a modern chandelier says a lot about a dining space – it can create a beautiful and comfortable setting or a striking and sophisticated one, depending on what sort of mood you would like to create. A chandelier can make for great accent or task lighting, particularly when hung at a dramatic level directly over the table. But how do you choose one for your space?

Begin by measuring the length of your dining table, as a modern chandelier should never be wider than your table. The general rule of thumb is that the width of the fixture should be 12 inches narrower than the width of the dining table. Then measure the dimensions of the room; the ends of the chandelier should be at least 4 feet away from any nearby wall. Finally, measure the distance from the top of your table to the ceiling, as lights should hang between 30 and 34 inches above the table.

Look at the other finishings in your dining room; you should try and make sure that your modern chandelier is the same, or at least similar. You don’t want, for example, silver frames and then a gold lighting fixture. You should also look at the colours in the room – are they rich, warm and earthy tones or are they more cool? You also need to ensure that you match the style of the space – if your dining room is formal, you will need an impressive modern chandelier to match, whereas an antique room will need a more traditional design.

At the end of the day, however, you should purchase a modern chandelier that you like. Remember that it will be a fixture in your home for a number of years to come, so it is important that you actually enjoy looking at it. There is not point in buying a chandelier that matches every element of your room if you loathe looking at it.