Lighting has huge influence in interior design and keeping functionality in mind when picking lighting type and location is of upmost importance. When installing lighting there should be intention behind it; are you highlighting something, is it being used to perform a certain task in the room, or is it simply to add light to a dark room? These are very important questions to ask. Lighting has the power to add a certain mood or aesthetic to a room so it’s important to pick the right type of lighting.
There is a lot that goes into lighting and I plan on sharing more about it later but for now, I’d like to share a couple of rules to follow when it comes to placement of certain lighting fixtures.
Chandeliers
In the Dining Room
When it comes to hanging chandeliers in the dining room there should be a distance of 33” – 34” between the table top and the bottom of the chandelier. Generally, a chandelier should be hung right above the center point of the table.
In the Living Room or Bedroom
For both living rooms and bedrooms chandeliers should be hung at 7’ off the ground. Unlike dining rooms, you don’t have to worry about hanging a chandelier directly above the middle of the coffee table; instead, for both living rooms and bedrooms a chandelier can be hung in the middle of the room.
Pendants
In the Kitchen
How many pendants are hung above an island has to do with the length of the island. You can easily figure this out by hanging the pendants 30” – 32” apart and 30” -32” from the top of the island (and the bottom of the pendant).
So how do you know if they’re centered? Start at the middle of the island, and hang one pendant 15” from the center point and the other 15” away from the center in the opposite direction (this is if you decide to go with a 30” separation between pendants). This method works best when you have even number of pendants to hang.
When it comes to an odd number of pendants, simply hang one at the center of the island and then the other two 30”-32” away in both directions.
Remember, pendants should also be hung at least 6” from the end of the island.
In the Bathroom
When hanging pendants above the sink, the pendants should be aligned with the middle of the mirror and at least 4” – 6” way from the edge of the mirror.
In the Bedroom
Pendants above nightstands should be directly above the center point of the nightstand and hung between 30” – 33” from the top of the nightstand.
Sconces
When hanging sconces on a wall with nothing underneath like in a hallway, they should be between 60” — 72” inches from the floor.
In the Kitchen
Above floating shelves, sconces should be hung 12” -18” away from the top of the shelf.
In the Bedroom
The rule of hanging pendants in the bedroom applies here too!
Beside/ Above a Mirror/Art
Anywhere, where a mirror is hung i.e a bathroom, the rule for hanging sconces beside the mirror is to hang them centered to the mirror and 4” – 6” away from the mirror. This rule also goes for hanging sconces besides art.
When hanging scones above a mirror/art, it should be 4” – 6” above and centered (this also goes for picture lights).
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