Question: I would like some help in the correct placement of a chandelier. My dining room is rectangular. The china closet forces me to move the table so it is not in the middle of the room; therefore, the light is not centered over the table. Can I move the chandelier so it is directly over the table? By doing so, it will not be in the center of the ceiling. Will that look awkward? Is there a rule of thumb?

Jan Youwakim
Bethlehem, Pa.

Answer: Over the years of solving design dilemmas, I've discovered that much has to do with hiding a problem gracefully by creating an illusion that distracts the eye from the problem itself. And it means that if there are rules about how to decorate a space, now's the time to break them.

When placing furniture in a room, it's important to consider both the function of the room and the furniture in it. The two pieces of furniture you describe both have functions, but one is more important than the other. While the china closet is both a decorative piece and a storage place, it's the dining table that is primary, and people entering this room will focus on it. The table usually dominates the space. Additionally, it's expected that the table will have lighting directly over it. By now you can see where we're headed. People usually don't look at a ceiling when they enter the room. Therefore, just because the room is rectangular doesn't mean that the chandelier has to be centered in it. Generally a chandelier should hang 30 inches above the surface of the table. This puts it at approximate eye level when someone is standing near it. Because of the tricks of perspective, the farther away you are, the more it seems to be at eye level. Therefore, it's perfectly OK to center the chandelier directly over the table.

Having said that, even though the chandelier won't be centered in the room from one end to the other, it would be prudent to have it centered in the room from one side to another. Asymmetry goes only so far before it begins to feel strange. When solving design dilemmas, keep in mind that it's all right to break decorating rules judiciously.

After fulfilling the primary purpose of the room or object in question, you can go for it with overall effect.

 

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