Light Fixtures: A Guide to the Proper Placement and Sizes

Placement of light fixtures can be tricky, especially if there are some ceiling details that are unique heights and or shapes. It is important to know the just right placement so that the entire room looks pulled together cohesively. The size of the light fixture is also crucial to the overall design of any space.

These are tips that I discuss with my Fairfield and Westchester clients to help them along the design process.

1
Island Pendant Placement and Size

You always want to start at least 6” from the end of the island. I usually recommend that pendants be no further than 30” apart at their widest point. They should hang about 30-36” above the island if you have an average height ceiling of about 96”. For any ceiling heights larger than 96”, add about 3” for every foot above eight feet tall for proper placement. To position two pendants, find the center point of the island and space them 12” away from the center point, which makes sure they are at least 24” away from each other. For three pendants, hang one center of the island and the other two about 24” -30” from that center line. A good rule of thumb is the diameter of the pendant should be about half the width of the island.

 

2
Dining Room Table Chandelier Placement and Size

If your dining room has eight-foot ceilings(this is usually standard height for most ), then a chandelier should hang about 32-36” above your table. For anything over eight feet, add another 3” for every foot. To proportionately add a chandelier to your dining room table that sheds enough light and your guests will not bump their heads, stick to the rule of thumb that the chandelier should be about ½ to ¾ the width of your table.

3
Rooms with Tall Ceilings-
How high and how big do you go?

For any room with a tall ceiling over 10’, a helpful tool is to add the height and width in feet to give you the approximate diameter in inches. The light fixture should hang down about one-third of the way from the ceiling. For any rooms under ten feet, there should be a clearance of 7.5’ below. You must select a size that suits the scale of the room you are placing the chandelier. Simply add the length and width of your room in feet to get the diameter in inches of a chandelier. For example, if your room is 12 feet wide by 16 feet long, a 28” chandelier will work best.