A chandelier is the focal point of the dining room. Suspended over the dining table, it serves as a decorative style element that enhances the beauty of your fine furnishings. When the light is dimmed, a soft, glowing atmosphere similar to candlelight is created. If equipped with a downlight, the chandelier provides task lighting for the table and accent lighting for a centerpiece. How to select a dining room chandelier: Unless you have high ceilings and a chandelier that hangs above head height, a chandelier should be at least 12 inches narrower (smaller in diameter) than a dining room table. Otherwise, people could bump their heads when standing up. The chandelier diameter should be approximately 1/2 the width of the dining table. When hung, the bottom of the chandelier should be approximately 30 inches above the surface of the dining table.