Recommended Height for a Foyer Light

Hang your foyer light too high, and guests won't notice your chandelier. Suspend the lighting too low, and you can count on visitors colliding with the fixture. Besides proper hanging height, you must determine which fixture will offer pleasing proportions for your entryway. Large foyers will dwarf undersized chandeliers, and jumbo fixtures will make small entries appear awkward. Designers use straightforward formulas to calculate both the proper hanging height and the proper size for foyer lights.

Install your foyer chandelier so that the bottommost point is 7 feet from the floor. If your foyer lacks high enough ceilings, you may hang your lighting 6.5 feet from the floor. Center the fixture in the middle of the room. If your home offers a two-story foyer, hang the fixture a minimum of 7.5 feet from the floor. For maximum curb appeal, install the chandelier so that it's visible from the street, assuming your foyer offers a window above the front door.

In short entryways, flush-mount fixtures work well; in tall foyers, chandeliers suspended by chains look appropriate. For aesthetic balance, the height of your chandelier should echo the height of the room. Use this formula: Allow 2.5 to 3 inches in fixture height for every foot your foyer climbs. For example, if your foyer stands 10-feet tall, choose a chandelier that is 25 to 30 inches high. A foyer that climbs 15 feet in height would require a chandelier that measures 37.5 to 45 inches tall.

The width of your hanging light should reflect the overall size of the room. To determine the ideal diameter, simply add the width and length of your foyer in linear feet. The resulting number represents the ideal chandelier diameter in inches. For example, if the room measures 10 x 12 feet, you should select a fixture that extends 22 inches wide.

If your fixture doesn't offer enough wattage, the space will seem dark and uninviting to guests. Choose one chandelier with enough illumination, or select sconces and table lamps to supplement the lighting in the room. To calculate the proper wattage, multiply the width and length of your foyer. Multiply the result by 1.5 to come up with the total amount of wattage needed for the room. For example, if your room measures 10 x 12 feet, then 10 times 12 equals 120. Multiply 120 by 1.5 to come up with 180 watts. Either choose one fixture that offers 180 watts, or choose several light sources that add up to 180 watts.