Linear Chandeliers

A linear chandelier is the right answer for any surface that isn't round — a rectangular dining table, a kitchen island, a long console. A round fixture over a rectangular table always leaves the ends dim and the proportions off. A linear one follows the shape.

The length rule

A linear chandelier should be one-half to two-thirds the length of the table or island below it. On a 72-inch table, that's a fixture between 36 and 48 inches.

Going shorter looks timid; going longer starts to crowd the ends and makes it hard to walk past. If you're between two sizes, take the longer one — under-scaling is the more common mistake and the more visible one.

Height and centring

Bottom of the fixture 30 to 34 inches above the tabletop on a standard 8-foot ceiling. Add roughly 3 inches per additional foot of ceiling.

Centre it on the table, not the room. This matters in a lot of Canadian houses, where open-plan renovations mean the dining table often sits off-centre relative to the ceiling box. If the box is wrong, a swag kit or an offset canopy lets you move the fixture without moving the wiring — far cheaper than an electrician relocating the box.

Linear over a kitchen island

A single linear fixture is a genuine alternative to multiple pendants over an island. It gives even light along the whole surface instead of three pools, and it's one canopy instead of three — which means one existing ceiling box does the job, where three pendants usually need new wiring.

For an island, hang the bottom 30 to 36 inches above the countertop.

Light distribution

Check whether the fixture's lights point down, up, or both. Downward-facing shades put light on the table and are the practical choice for dining and food prep. Open or upward-facing designs are softer but leave the surface underlit — fine if you have other light sources, weak if the fixture is doing all the work.

Wiring and bulbs

All fixtures run on 120V at 60Hz, standard Canadian residential supply. Most take E12 or E26 bulbs. For a dining table or island, 2700K — warm light is what makes food and faces read properly.

Put it on a dimmer, and use an LED-rated dimmer if you're running LED bulbs.

From a Canadian company that eats most of its dinners after dark.

Frequently asked questions

What length linear chandelier do I need?

One-half to two-thirds the length of the table or island beneath it. A 72-inch table takes a 36 to 48 inch fixture. When between sizes, choose the longer one.

How high should a linear chandelier hang?

30 to 34 inches above a dining tabletop, or 30 to 36 inches above a kitchen island countertop, on an 8-foot ceiling. Add about 3 inches per extra foot of ceiling height.

Linear chandelier or multiple pendants over an island?

A linear fixture gives even light along the surface and needs only one ceiling box. Multiple pendants give more visual rhythm but usually require new wiring for each canopy.

My ceiling box isn't centred on my table — what do I do?

Use a swag kit or an offset canopy to reposition the fixture over the table without moving the wiring. Far cheaper than having an electrician relocate the box.

Do they work with Canadian wiring?

Yes — 120V/60Hz standard Canadian residential supply.