The Right Size Chandelier and a Lighting Giveaway

Hello Cottage Friends,

When we were designing our cottage I spent a lot of time gathering information on interior fixtures. One area, in particular, was lighting. It's pretty easy to choose home lighting that looks great. There is, however, much more to lighting decisions than simply zeroing in on a preferred style. Knowing what size fixture to install for the task is just as important.


Take dining for example. Did you know there's an easy formula that can help you determine the right size chandelier to place over your dining table?

This post is sponsored by parrotuncle.com. The topic, content and opinions expressed are my own.

3 Lights Tiffany Style Chandelier with Rhombus Patterns


According to lighting experts, the chandelier diameter should be one-half to three-quarters the width of the table. This means if your dining table is 34" wide, the chandelier diameter should be at least 17".

As a rule, the bottom of the chandelier should hang approximately 30" - 32" above the table. This is primarily in a room with an 8' ceiling. If the ceiling is higher, raise the chandelier 3" for each additional foot.

Of course, there are always exceptions. In our dining area I chose a 12" pendant to hang over the 34" wide table because a larger fixture would have dominated the small space. Still, these tips are a great place to start.

If you're in the market for lighting, I've got good news for you. ParrotUncle.com has a remarkable Holiday Sale going on right now until Christmas -- save up to 50% off their already discounted prices. And they offer free shipping and free returns, too. Parrot Uncle ceiling light fixtures are just one category in a plethora of lighting options. 

A big sale. . .what a perfect time for them to host a giveaway for my peeps, right? Entering the giveaway is super easy. Click here to go to the Parrot Uncle web site and view their lighting. Then come back and leave me a comment. Just tell me which product is your favorite. The winner will receive a new lighting fixture valued at $50.

This giveaway is open worldwide, and you don't need to be a blogger to enter. Make sure I have your email address, though, so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. I'll announce the winner here on November 6.

Now get crackin' and good luck!



40 comments

  1. I am familiar with the site Nancy and they have the prettiest fixtures and some other fun accessories. I am a huge fan of their remote control candles! :)

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  2. Thanks for the information Nancy and please do enter me in the giveaway draw! This past week I have been busy pricing out the cost of doing a guest house on the property, so some lighting would be wonderful!!! Here's to dreaming!!

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    1. Planning a guest house sounds like fun, Dawna. Good luck!

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  3. Lots of beautiful bling!
    Lovely wall sconces.
    I really like the "Tiffany Style Table Lamp With Flowers And Leaves Patterns".
    Thank you for this giveaway!
    Florida hugs,
    Becca

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    1. Becca, I'll need some way of contacting you if you win. If you can, send your email address to me at ajoyfulcottage at gmail dot com. Good luck!

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  4. It is difficult to choose a favourite as it would depend where the light was being used I think I like the Vintage Industrial Collection most of all! :-)

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  5. Hi Nancy,
    I'm aware of lighting hanging suggestions and sometimes you just have to please your own aesthetic to fit into your home's design, just as you said about yours being 12 inches wide. Especially with over 8 foot ceilings, raising the lighting up oftentimes takes away the intimacy gathering during dining. Your giveaway is very generous and I say sure count me in. I've been playing around with purchasing a floor lamp that hangs over the sitting rooms sofa with a drum shade. I often snuggle into the sofa with a drawing pad or writing my poetry and I think my lighting situation can/should be enhanced.
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  6. I won't sign up because I have just finished changing out some light fixtures but that is a really nice giveaway. I used to work in the lighting dept at the family lumberyard and our "rule" was generally to take the width + length of the room--add them together--and that was approximately the size of fixture you should look for. In other words- in a 12x14 room-you would look for about a 26" fixture---but it really does depend on what pleases you. xo Diana

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  7. I use no formula. If it looks right and I like it, it is the right size. Now you have my curiosity tweaked.

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  8. Oh, I am in love with the bulbs which would completely change the look of my fixtures. I love this design of bulb...New E27 40W Edison Globe Spiral Wire Bulb 110V/220V...absolutely amazing.

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  9. This is a great give away. I love all the chandeliers they have on the site. Some of them are just gorgeous. I usually do not do a measurement I just hang what I love!!! Have a great rest of the week and wonderful Halloween.
    Kris

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  10. Because I live in AZ, I have ceiling fans in most all of the rooms, so I really like the Rose Gold Crystal fan with foldable blades! Enjoy the upcoming weekend! Blessings, Cindy

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  11. I would love a new ceiling fan and the bulbs are so fun.

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  12. I would love a new ceiling fan and the bulbs are so fun.

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  13. Definitely the Vintage Industrial Style Adjustable Blue Iron Shade Wall Sconce. It would be a perfect fit in my pantry.

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  14. How exciting! I just love any of the vintage industrial pendant lights, especially the iron pipe lights. I saw one of those at a restaurant recently and fell in love!

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  15. I've been looking for a new floor lamp & a few table lamps. I see quite a few that I like; the rustic wooden high floor lamp with rough pole & fabric shade & the Tiffany style lamps are beautiful..how do you choose a favorite!

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  16. OMG! What an awesome site--thank you so much for the link. Right now I'm in the process of updating my kitchen, so I'm lovin' the Retro Industrial Pendant Light with Matte Black Shade.

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    1. I receive your blog by email, but do you need me to post my email address here as well? Thanks!

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    2. Thanks for subscribing to A Joyful Cottage. I'll announce the winner on my blog, so since you subscribe to AJC by email you'll know if you won. The winner will have to be sure they give me their email address, so Parrot Uncle can contact them. So if you're the winner, make sure to send your email to ajoyfulcottage at gmail dot com. Good luck!

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  17. I very much enjoy seeing the progress on your cottage and your Living in Small Spaces series. I found a bathroom vanity light in white - perfect because I love my little brass faucet, but don't want a brass light - I've never seen the pretty vintage white ones before - perfect for my vintage powder room with white beadboard. Also need a new light over the sink - cottage style. Too many choices:)

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  18. I too am familiar with them and agree that they have some great fixtures. Great tips for hanging a chandelier too Nancy. Happy weekend to you!

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  19. Lighting is hard for me, actually. I often like impractical fixtures. And have such differing ideas of what type of ligthing to have. In places like the living room I like subtle, dim lighting. In the kitchen and my studio I like it to be BRIGHT! I spent a while on the Parrot Uncle site and found lots of fun lighting. I'd like to replace the ceiling fan in my studio with an overhead light. My favorite? Well, I'm going to go for impractical here and say the 3 Light Pale Green Floral Shade Flush Mount fixture. I tend to like repurposing vintage lamps and lighting and that one has a sweet vintage flavor to it.

    Thanks so much for hosting the giveaway and giving me an excuse to look at some lighting. :)

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  20. I really like the one you chose. It's classic. xoxo Su

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  21. What a fun giveaway! I've been to parrotuncle's site before, and they have some amazing lighting options. Right now, we have no ceiling lighting options in the home we are in (very low ceilings), and so we are using lamps. I really like the bunched wood stick lamp, as we are really "in the sticks", lol, and it would be a fun option for our little home. Thanks for a chance to win in this giveaway - and I also was glad to learn how exactly to calculate what size of light you need for the space you are lighting. :)

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  22. Love! Love the light fixture! The shape is soooo cute! Enjoy your blog!

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  23. Wow! My first visit to parrotuncle.com and so many options. It would take hours for me to narrow down my favs. So many nice choices. The most intriguing are the ceiling fans with foldable blades. I have never seen anything like them before. Love ceiling fans, but not necessarily the look.

    Thanks for the great emails about your journey and sharing the beautiful small spaces.

    All the best,
    Patricia

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  24. Wow! My first visit to parrotuncle.com and so many options. It would take hours for me to narrow down my favs. So many nice choices. The most intriguing are the ceiling fans with foldable blades. I have never seen anything like them before. Love ceiling fans, but not necessarily the look.

    Thanks for the great emails about your journey and sharing the beautiful small spaces.

    All the best,
    Patricia

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  25. This is a really lovely fixture and is so similar in style with the simple fixture I have over my dining table. I can see it in my kitchen. So pretty and original!

    Thanks for such a great and generous giveaway, Nancy!

    Jane x

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  26. Great site . . . gives me ideas . . .
    I liked the bulbs, Christmas tree style . . .
    I'd love to be entered in the Giveaway . . .

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  27. First of all thank you for sharing the useful tips on dinning room lighting. I was always wondering about the height.
    Well, there are so many beautiful items on parrotuncle.com. It's difficult to choose only one.
    Here are some I liked the best:
    9 Lights Golden Crystal Chandelier with Candlestick Shape Bulb Holder
    14.17" Modern Black Finish White Inside Shade Pendant Light
    Vintage Industrial Style Booth Shape Frosted Glass Shade Scrollwork Wall Sconce

    And thank you for the giveaway and the chance to win this nice wall sconce!

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    1. Great choices. I love all three of those. Good luck!

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  28. These new and beautiful chandelier aren't my mother's chandeliers!
    New, shiny, creative, and all the choices!

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  29. Hi Nancy, I'm entering this giveaway at the tail end. I had seen two other blogger's have the same giveaway and I didn't really need anything new, but wait a minute...... Yes I do !!!!! I really like some of their wall sconces. I don't have room for two nightstand' s in my small bungalow style bedroom , but I have room for two sconce's :))) I also love their line of Edison bulb's . I'm not a blogger , but a faithful follower of your blog. My home is 950 sq ft. and I will be going smaller in the next year or two when the last one heads for college.
    Thank you for the chance and thank you for your delightful blog !!!! Warmest regard's, Tammy I'll email you my email address

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  30. I would have to say the Modern Style Butterfly Theme Table Lamp with Fabric Shade is my favorite .
    thefiggtree@yahoo.com

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