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The larger the pendant, the higher you can afford to hang it, the smaller it is, the lower you can go. I always think around 27-33" between the surface of the table and the bottom of the fixture is perfect, if you want real measurements.

18 to 24'' above the table depending on how big the fixture is. Best way to know is to have someone standing on a ladder/chair and holding it following your instructions. When you've found the height you prefer, get your measuring tape and measure. Now hang and enjoy.

I have the medium Nelson saucer lamp above our dining room table. The bottom of the saucer is 29 inches above the table. I love how it looks and feel it fulfils what Aaron describes above.

Forgot to say, when the person's holding it, SIT at the table to figure out if it blocks the view to the other side of the table.

don't forget to take into consideration a centerpiece if applicable....especially candles.

no more than 36" above the table, no less than 27", depends on size of table, pendant and the view for people sitting across from each other. don't forget to see what it looks like from another area of the room once it's hung.

High enough that you will not hit your head on it when clearing the table.

Mine Nelson is right at 36" I wouldn't go higher unless your bubble is large.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjburke/3285523258/

I meant "my Nelson"...duh!

We hung an 18-inch drum pendant over our smallish table last week. It was 30 inches about the table. Somewhere we read it should 28 inches above for a more intimate feel--but when we tried it, we wanted it a little higher.

I agree with Marc on the first line.

Between 27" and 33" -- always worked for me...

36-42" - You want to be able to have a conversation with the people across the table and see their faces rather than the light fixture.

Sit down around the table. Can you see the head of the person opposite you? No - move lamp up until you can.

I think it also depends on the ratio of the size of the table to size of the fixture. As a tall person, I often hit my head on fixtures when standing up from small tables. Having them high enough to avoid that is a good thing in my book.

The bottom of my Nelson saucer is at 32" -- it leaves plenty of vertical room for flowers in the center of the table. I wouldn't go any lower than 29" especially if you have tall guests. But honestly the best way to decide is to have someone hold it while you both sit at the table and stand back to see how it looks in the room.

I wish my parents had asked someone this question before hanging their kitchen table light fixture. They sit next to each other at a round table, so it doesn't matter for them, but when I visit, I sit across from my mother and can't see her because the lamp is in the way. They do not believe the problem is remediable. Ah, parents.

On decorating shows they usually say something like 30-36 inches. I think a lot depends on the height of the people -- make sure a TALL person won't have their face blocked when sitting -- I'm 4'11", so my view is different! And if you intend to use candles, make sure they won't be close enough for the shade to combust!

As others have mentioned, you definitely have to take into account the size of the table as well as where it's viewed from. In our case, the dining room is the first thing you see when you enter and reads as an extension of the entry hall - after trying all the suggested heights (pretty much covered in the above posts) we found that made the ceiling feel much lower than it actually is (9'). We continued to play with varying heights (all higher than suggested though) until we found the perfect one.

It is best to just judge it on site using the above ranges as a starting point. One of those things that someone really cannot answer unless they were there in person. Sorry, I know this does not help! I even bring my lamps to the shade store to try on sizes and shapes, it is just the easiest way sometimes.
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Thanks everyone - so helpful!

julia

Hey Julia,
I have no idea about the height to hang the lamp, but I have a question for you. I would love a nelson lamp over my table but my husband wants to have better lighting that our ceiling light. I love the look of the bubbles and wonder how much light does it cast? Ambient lighting or would it do for reading?

I agree with qhartman about making sure you have clearance for tall people. Also, I'm not sure if this is an issue, but make sure people won't hit it should they oh raise their arms or something. We play a lot of games at my table and I had a cluster of paper lanterns hanging down. One of my friends totally wiped the floor with everyone and threw his arms in the air and said "yatta!"... his arm went right through the paper lantern. Now luckily it was *only* a paper lantern, but your light might not be so easily replaced should someone accidentally yatta it.

so the point, if the light is near where someone is sitting make sure they can see and also not worry about hitting your light

It depends on so much!

Ceiling height,
scale of room,
size of light fixture,
proportion!

my answer is always go with your gut.