Flush mounts sit tight against the ceiling and keep maximum headroom — ideal for ceilings 8ft or lower. Semi-flush hang down 4-8in for a little more presence. Pendants and chandeliers hang lower as a statement, best for 9ft+ ceilings or over a table.

For a ceiling fixture, add the room's length and width in feet — that number in inches is a good diameter. For a dining chandelier, the fixture diameter should be roughly one-half to two-thirds the table's narrowest width.

Over a dining table or kitchen island, hang it 30-36in above the surface. In an open room, keep the bottom at least 7ft off the floor. For taller ceilings, add about 3in of chain for every foot above 8ft.

Most ceiling fixtures — chandeliers, pendants and flush mounts — are hardwired to an existing ceiling junction box. The fixture comes with its own lead wires that connect to the home wiring; no separate wiring kit is needed.

Many LED fixtures are dimmable, but only with a compatible LED-rated dimmer switch — standard incandescent dimmers can cause flicker or buzzing. Check the product description for dimming compatibility, or contact us before installing if it isn't specified.

Fixtures with an integrated LED array don't need bulbs. Fixtures with E26 or E12 sockets typically do not include bulbs, so you choose the bulb type, color temperature and brightness separately to suit the room.

Match blade span to room size: up to 75 sq ft use 29-36in, 76-144 sq ft use 36-44in, 145-225 sq ft use 44-52in, and larger rooms 52-60in or more. Keep blades at least 7ft off the floor and 18in from walls.