Scanning selections of lighting fixtures can absolutely overwhelm you! You might come across so many adorable options, but how would you know which ones suit your space the best? A few general tips will help you ensure your lighting fixtures are not lost in your space. There are recommended rules for spacing and sizing fixtures for the living room, kitchen, and even the front porch!
Lighting Fixtures for the Living or Dining Room
When selecting a chandelier, it’s essential to consider the height of your ceiling and the size of the room. Here are a few general guidelines to keep in mind:
- For 8-foot ceilings, your chandelier should be 20-24 inches in height.
- For 9-foot ceilings, your chandelier should be 24-30 inches in height.
- For 10-foot ceilings, your chandelier should be 30-36 inches in height.
- For every additional foot of ceiling height, add 3 inches to the height of your chandelier.
Additionally, it’s essential to consider the size of the room when selecting a chandelier. As a general rule, the diameter of your chandelier should be about one-third the width of your table or room. For example, if your dining table is 48 inches wide, your chandelier should be around 16 inches in diameter.
Lighting Fixtures for the Kitchen
When trying to find the right lighting fixtures for the kitchen, consider the following:
- The size of your island: Your pendant lights should be proportional to the size of your island. As a general rule, your pendant lights should be around one-third the width of your island. For example, if your island is 6 feet wide, your pendant lights should be around 2 feet wide.
- The number of pendant lights: The number of pendant lights you need depends on the length of your island. As a general rule, you should install one pendant light for every 2 feet of island length. For example, if your island is 6 feet long, you should install three pendant lights.
- The height of your ceiling: As with chandeliers, it’s important to consider the height of your ceiling when installing pendant lights. For 8-foot ceilings, your pendant lights should be around 30 inches above your island. For every additional foot of ceiling height, add 3 inches to the height of your pendant lights.
Front Porch Lighting
The biggest tip for lighting fixtures on the front porch, specifically sconces, is to position the sconces so that the center of the fixture is about 66 inches from the ground. This creates a balanced look and ensures that the sconces provide adequate lighting to the area!
In terms of the distance between the sconces and the door, you want to make sure that the sconces are not too close or too far away from the door. A good guideline is to position the sconces so that the outer edge of each fixture is about one-third of the distance between the door and the nearest corner of the porch or exterior wall. This will ensure that the sconces are positioned in a way that looks proportional to the space and provides adequate illumination.
Extra Lighting Tips
- Install dimmer switches on your lights! This should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how quickly this becomes an afterthought.
- Lightbulbs come in different “temperatures,” typically in warm or cool tones, so be sure to try a few different ones to see which one is right for your home!
- Layer your lighting! Incorporate floor and table lamps to really cozy-up your space!
Our Lighting Fixtures
Below are the lighting fixtures we chose for our home!
Finally, I hope this blog is helpful for those of you trying to find the ideal lighting fixtures for your home! For more home design inspo and advice, check out my blog on Choosing the Perfect Flooring!
