Light It Up!
“I want my home to feel warm and cozy!” is a request I receive often from my clients. Creating a feeling of comfort is an important part of the design process. An easy way to add that feeling to your home is through lighting. Lighting can have a profound effect upon your mood without you even realizing it! When adding lighting to your home, there are a few things to consider. First, you should evaluate your space and lighting needs. Then, you should consider the tasks you will be completing in the space, and if those tasks require specific lights. Finally, you should select the lighting fixture that will complete your desired look! When evaluating your space and lighting needs, remember that there are multiple layers of lighting in your home. This means you may have ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting all in the same space. Three main lights we purchase are chandeliers, pendants and sconces. I want to provide my secrets on how to hang these different lighting types perfectly, every single time.
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Chandelier
Before selecting light fixtures for your living room, consider your seating areas! If you have a large sectional sofa, you may select a large chandelier to center over it. If you have a smaller sofa and accent chairs, you may center the chandelier to the room, rather than the furniture. When hanging a chandelier in an office or dining room, it is best to center the chandelier to the room. It is also best to hang your chandelier at the “standard” height, which is no lower than 7 feet from the ground. Perfect chandelier placement has the ability to completely transform your space!
Pendant
Layering your lighting in the kitchen is key! Layering recessed lighting with island pendants and undercabinet lights creates a completed design. Selecting the right size pendant can be challenging. When selecting pendants, it is important to know the size of the island. Then, you can use your island measurement to determine the size and number of pendants needed. When hanging your pendant, it is best practice for it to be 36 inches above the island countertop surface.
Sconce
I love adding sconces to my bedroom and bathroom design to elevate the space! When selecting sconces, there are a few things to consider. First, if you are hanging your sconce in the bedroom, it is best to hang the sconce 60 to 65 inches up from the floor. Also, if you are hanging your sconces inside decorative paneling, it is important to select an appropriately sized fixture for the space. Knowing your dimensions will make shopping easier! When hanging sconces in a bathroom, it is important to select your mirror first so that the sconces compliment the design and are hung in the appropriate location.
Fixture Placement Tips and Tricks
The most difficult part of selecting lighting fixtures, in my opinion, is finding one that is the perfect size for the space. I learned a trick that I want to pass on to you to make this easier!
If a fixture is going to be the main light source for the room: measure the length and width of the room. Then, add those two numbers together. Lastly, convert that sum from feet to inches to find the ideal diameter of your fixture. For example, if your room was 10 feet long and 12 feet wide, that would total 22 feet when added together. So, your fixture should be approximately 22 inches in diameter! If a fixture is going to be centered over a piece of furniture, measure the piece, divide that number by two, and you have your fixture placement! When you have tall ceilings the light will need to be little larger than this calculation.
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