Deciding what chandeliers to put in your home should be a very important decision that you take a decent amount of time to make. Chandeliers are not only an expensive proposition, but also pieces that are going to make a major difference in the overall look of the room where they are to be installed. So, before you plunk down your credit card for those chandeliers, make sure you know what you are getting and what will work in the space you have available.

Consider the amount of space you have. A chandelier needs to be framed well in a room and have the space it deserves. If you choose a large chandelier for a small room, it is going to look off and awkward. Meanwhile if you choose a small chandelier in a large room, it will look puny and not get the respect it deserves. If you find yourself in a position where you think you will have to chose either a chandelier that is a little too big for the room or one a little too small for the room, go for the bigger chandelier. It's better to have a piece that looks a little more amazing in a room, than one that looks like it's sad in it's space.

There is a general rule of thumb to use when considering what size chandeliers to put in a room. Take the measurements of the room (i.e. 15' x 15') and add those two measurements together (15 = 15 = 30). This is the measurement in diameter in inches that your chandelier should be to appropriately fit the room - 30 inches.

Size not only relates to the room you put chandeliers in, but also the pieces of furniture chandeliers are paired up with. If you are hanging chandeliers over a bar or dining room table, you need to make sure the piece of furniture, especially if ornate, doesn't overpower the look of the chandeliers, and that the chandeliers aren't so magnificent that they make a beautiful piece of furniture look less than impressive. The rule of thumb in a dining room pairing is to have the chandelier diameter that is 12" less than the table width. It should also be set approximately 2 ½ - 3 feet above the tabletop.

Next, make sure you have the headspace needed in the room for chandeliers. How tall is the room you want to put a chandelier in? This is especially important if the chandelier will be hanging in an area where people will be walking. While you may not be very tall, if you have friends that are, chandeliers can be a painful proposition. Not to mention that their running into the chandelier can damage this beautiful piece of lighting. Additionally, if a chandelier is hanging too low, it will look odd, and the lighting will likely be at an obscure angle for the room. The exception to this is if you are considering hanging chandeliers over a dining room table. In this case, the chandeliers can hang a little lower, as people will be seated when they are using the space.