How Low Should You Go?
I got a call from a friend yesterday who was wondering how high she should hang her dining room chandelier. I get asked this question a lot, so I thought I’d share a few simples rules about hanging light fixtures.
Always measure from the floor to the bottom of the fixture. Fixtures hung over dining tables should be 66″ to 72″ from the floor. General ceiling fixtures should be 80″ to 90″ from the floor. Wall mounted fixtures are typically hung between 66″ and 72″ above the floor.
When placing your lighting you need to take into account the ceiling height and scale of the fixture in comparison to the other elements in the room. Lower fixtures will create a more intimate look. Higher fixtures will be less noticeable and taller ceilings (an eight foot ceiling is standard) may require more height from the floor. Another little tip involves down-lighting and ceiling fans. Make sure the downlights aren’t too close to the fan or you will get a weird vibrating effect when the fan is on.
For those of us who don’t have massive biceps, a great way to determine the height you want is to make a faux fixture out of cardboard and string.
Want more tips? A great site to visit is Rejuvenation. They specialize in period lighting. If that isn’t your thing, it’s still worth visiting. They have lots of tips and how-to’s (including the idea of making a cardboard mock-up). And if period lighting is your thing, they have a great selection and easy ways to customize things.
And once again, my disclaimer that you don’t have to follow the rules, but knowing what they are is always a good starting point.
