The Major Drawback Of Hanging A Chandelier Too Close To The Ceiling

Chandeliers are a great way to brighten a space while incorporating a bit of luxurious décor. Instead of your lighting simply fading into the background, these statement lighting fixtures become a focal point in your room. The problem, however, is that many people install their chandeliers incorrectly. Thankfully, the wiring and more technical aspects of the installation are fairly simple, but a problem arises when it comes time to decide exactly how low or high your chandelier should sit. Placing your chandelier too close to the ceiling might give you more room underneath, but it funnels all the light directly to the ceiling, giving you one illuminated spot above rather than a fully lit room.

To avoid this issue, it's important to take your ceiling height, the furniture in your space, and the size of your chandelier into account to determine exactly where it should go. With proper placement, your chandelier will light up your room while still being easy to walk under without having to duck. 

For proper placement, your chandelier should sit between 30 and 36 inches above your dining table in a standard dining space. This measurement is for a home with typical 8-foot ceilings, though you might need to do some math if you have higher ones. For every foot of additional ceiling space you have above the standard 8 feet, add 3 inches to it, and it should sit above the dining table.

With that being said, however, there are exceptions to this rule. If you're hanging a more detailed chandelier, it's okay to bring it up a few more inches than you normally would to avoid creating the look of a crowded space. Additionally, chandeliers in rooms other than the dining room should be hung primarily based on their distance from the floor and the height of the people using the space. In most rooms, hanging your chandelier about 7 feet from the floor is standard, though this can be tweaked to allow space for people to walk under comfortably.

Sometimes, the chandelier you have in mind simply won't work in your space. If you have shorter ceilings, it might be a better idea to go for something more minimalistic or bypass a ceiling fixture altogether. Just because you can technically fit a chandelier in your room doesn't mean you'll have enough room to hang it low enough to illuminate the space properly. Even if it works, you might have to duck to walk under it.

As an alternative option, consider decorating with wall sconces. While they're not quite as common a choice as a chandelier, they can still provide that classic, functional décor look you're going for. Keep an eye out for sconces similar to the chandelier you had in mind — plenty of options on the market incorporate materials you'd see in other fixtures like crystals, faux candles, and globe lights. Additionally, install them above your existing outlets to simplify the wiring process.