What size/shape is your dining table? And the overall dimensions of the room? If you can provide that info, I'd be happy to offer my input...

The bigger size. Scale is one of the most important elements in design. Now, if the room is extremely large, as well as the table, you can always hang three of the larger sized pendant lights.

Many thanks Susan, the dining table is rectangular (74.5"w x 35.5"d x 29.5"h), and the room is quite large (open space with living room and kitchen)... The bigger size is sounding great, thanks Kristina for your comment on scale!

This will ultimately be your personal preference, but I would recommend going with the Medium size - because of the width of your table. The 25" light can be centered over the table and there will be 6" of space from edge of pendant to edge of table depth. The Large size will span edge to edge of the table depth (actually exceed it be .5") and I feel that would be too over sized and truly look like a UFO hovering over your table!

I've attached a photo from a project I worked on several years ago in Palm Springs - used a round dining table and a saucer pendant - I can't remember the exact size, but you can see the scale of the light fixture in proportion to the table...

And finally, I really like the criss-cross saucer pendant - it's a bit less commonly used/seen than the regular one and I love that design even more. Hope this was helpful! - Susan

Super useful Susan, thank you so much. You have given me some really good food for thought. Ps. Love the space you did.

Thanks for the compliment! It's not all that difficult to make an historic mid century modern house look good... ;o)
Best of luck with your pendant shopping!

I have a long room 45' x 12' I want to put two Nelson sauce shaped lights in the room. SHould they both be the same size? One is over a couch sitting area and the other is over a wood stove are with 2 comfortable chairs. I think the small would look better over the chairs and the medium over the couch but I am thinking they should both be the same size. ANy help you could give is greatly appreciated.

def don't need to be the same size. I would do the pear over the chairs and saucer over the couch. Or mix a ball and a saucer. Personally, I wouldn't use two of the same shape, even if the sizes are different.

btw, as far as the original thread- I have a Medium Ball over a 104" table, and the proportion is great. It's a 19 inch sphere. I'm glad I went smaller rather than larger, otherwise it would have overwhelmed the space. My personal feeling is that the Nelsons were not designed to be focal points or centerpieces, and have to be scaled right to make sense in a space. I would stick to mediums for all applications, other than stairwells, high ceiling entryways or double height living rooms. I have a ball and a saucer, and I struggled with this question quite a bit. This is the conclusion I came to, based on my spaces and personal aesthetics.

I Suggest The Medium Size, 25 Inches Is A Large Pendant!

Not according to modernica and ylighting. The medium saucer is definitely 25". Large is 36".

I have a square dining table (seats eight). I'm thinking the best choice for us would be a large criss cross GN saucer. However, I'm wondering if it will provide enough light in the evening/late afternoon. Our current lighting above the table is not the sole source of light, but we do depend on it. Any thoughts? I'm also flirting with the idea of doing a grouping of three small instead of one large-- since I currently have power cords hanging for three. Your thoughts welcome! Thank you!

One thing to remember about the Nelson saucer pendant is that it "reads" slightly smaller than it is, because the width refers only to its widest point, which doesn't occupy much visual space.

I have a rectangular dining table that is about 37x85 with the medium George Nelson saucer above it. It looks the proper scale and the large would definitely be too big.

I am away from home, so I can't take a photo.

One other thing, if you had the large size, you would always be bumping your head on it when you leaned over your table. I (only occasionally) bump mine slightly when I am clearing dishes.

Medium Geo Nelson Saucer over 60 x 36 inch 40 year-old Parsons table.

Wow. I don't know why we are all helping on a question from 2012.

Yep, it's 2018 and I am still referring to posts from 2012 for help. Thank you all!

Me too in 2020! Thanks, all!

Couldn’t agree more — post is still topical for me — just pulled the trigger on a GN saucer lamp in medium to go over my round 54” dining table. I bought it before I read this post but....it does affirm for me that I’ve got the right size.....photo to follow after installation!

GN medium saucer pendant now installed. It adds a wonderful ambiance to our great room.

Love it !!

Any advice on how far the bottom of the lamp should be from the table? The table is 33 x 80. The ceiling is sloped. It's about 85" from the table where the lamp will be hung. It's the 25" saucer.

And here we are another 6 months later! Still using the same thread, same dilemma for me. :) I have an 84" long x 39.25" wide table in a not terribly big space. Got the 25" medium saucer and now wondering if it's too small. But the large seems like it could be way too big. Anyone else have a situation with similar dimensions?

I have the 25” hanging over a 72”x40” table and love how it looks. Although the open plan living/dining/kitchen is quite long and large, this size is just perfect for the table itself.

In reply to your questions, I have the medium saucer hanging over both a 40" x 70" rectangular table and a 54" diameter round table. The scale/proportions of both look very pleasing.

As to how far the bottom of the saucer should be from the table, I use a sliding scale of 28" to 31" depending on whether there's a regular centerpiece. Sometimes I also take into account the height of the ceiling.

Thank you both! So helpful - will stick with the 25” 🙌🏻

Ten foot high ceilings, 82” long table, 38.5” from table to the bottom of the saucer. George Nelson medium crisscross bubble pendant.

( Perspective is better if you click on the pic.)

Beautiful! Yeah the large would be too overwhelming. This is really valuable - thank you!

SO helpful in 2021 too! I am grateful for this thread...definitely grabbing the Medium GN thanks to you all!

Hello. I would appreciate advice on whether or not we should place two saucer bubble pendants spanning across our main living area/ kitchen. we have 12’ ceilings and the entire space is 42’lx13’wx12’h. Do you suggest large or medium? photos of rendering, actual space, and inspo attached. Thank you in advance!

Beautiful!! A fantastic post i was so happy to find in 2023!! You people of yesteryear and of today, you rock, because you are timeless!!😊🙌Am going with the 25” GN Saucer over my 54” or possibly 60” table!! Have not bought it yet but either appears to jive with the 25”!!

I like to know if a 25” Nelson saucer gives enough light since we all do a lot of work over our dining room table and that would be my only source of lighting. Also Is it dimmable?

Thank you to everyone from the past helping me out in 2024 :)

I have a 47" round teak table, teak Kai Kristiansen model 42 chairs with a teal upholstery, 9 foot ceilings. Open concept kitchen, living, dining area 23x23. The approximate area of the dining area portion is 9x12. Floor to ceiling windows on three sides of the dining area and white walls and kitchen. I have put painter's tape to mark out the size of the small and medium pendants. Small seems reasonable for the 47" round table but wonder if it might be too small in the overall space. That said, the 25" diameter medium pendant for a 47" round table seems very large. Thoughts?

I have a 47" round teak table, teak Kai Kristiansen model 42 chairs with a teal upholstery, 9 foot ceilings. Open concept kitchen, living, dining area 23x23. The approximate area of the dining area portion is 9x12. Floor to ceiling windows on three sides of the dining area and white walls and kitchen. I have put painter's tape to mark out the size of the small and medium pendants. Small seems reasonable for the 47" round table but wonder if it might be too small in the overall space. That said, the 25" diameter medium pendant for a 47" round table seems very large. Thoughts?

Would someone give me the dimension of the ceiling mount for the medium saucer? Thx!

We have a 72" round dining table in a fairly open space & was thinking a large GN Saucer above it would work ~ does that seem proportional?

I think I have the medium. Here it is with an 84” long table. Maybe it’s a little small, but looks okay in person.