The Formula: Ceiling Light Fixtures

Behind the scenes for a little sourcing. Keep reading for my go-to formulas on pendant lighting and ceiling fixtures.

Lately, I've been on the hunt for exceptional antique chandeliers and pendants, carefully measuring, inspecting, and envisioning how they’ll transform the rooms they’ll soon call home. When working with antique lighting, scale is everything. A fixture that looks perfect in a shop or showroom can feel entirely different once installed. Taking the time to take precise measurements of ceiling heights, chain lengths, and diameters is essential to ensuring a precise fit.

Beyond dimensions, consider the history and craftsmanship—from the delicate hand-cut frosted glass of this Art Deco pendant to the rich patina of the cast brass. Each detail matters in bringing luminous warmth to a space.

This Art Deco beauty is headed to a 1925 Tudor dining room in Arkansas. I love a bit of historical overlap when considering why a piece might belong in a home. In the 1920s Tudor revival style in the United States, inspired by English Tudor architecture, peaked in popularity between the 1920s and 1930s. And while Tudor architecture has little to do with the Art Deco movement, it has everything to do with the 1920s. I like to imagine that when this home was first built, this is the very pendant that would have been chosen.

And now for the formula...

Spacing: When hanging a pendant or chandelier over a dining table, ensure that the drop of the fixture leaves between 32"-36" of space between the dining room table. Greater than 36" inches will make for a less intimate feeling during a meal, and any less than 32" will ensure that you can't see or conversate with the person across the table.

Proportion: Ensure that the diameter of your fixture is roughly half the width of your dining table, and it will feel like it always belonged.

Style: Anything that draws you in or captures your eye is always in style.