“I want my home to feel warm and cozy!” is a request we often receive from our clients. Creating a feeling of comfort is an essential part of the design process. An easy way to add that feeling to your home is through lighting. Lighting can profoundly affect your mood without you even realizing it! 

When adding lighting to your home, there are a few things to consider:

1. You should evaluate your space and lighting needs.

2. Consider the tasks you will complete in the space and if those tasks require specific lights.

3. You should select the lighting fixture that will satisfy your desired look!

When evaluating your space and lighting needs, remember that your home has multiple layers of lighting. Layers mean you may have ambient, task, and accent lighting in the same space.

The three leading lights we purchase are chandeliers, pendants, and sconces.  We want to share our secrets on hanging these different lighting types perfectly every time.

Chandelier

Before selecting light fixtures for your living room, consider your seating areas! If you have a large sectional sofa, choose 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 in the room. It is also best to hang your chandelier at the “standard” height, no lower than 7 feet from the ground. Perfect chandelier placement can completely transform your space!

Pendant

Layering your lighting in the kitchen is critical! 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 essential 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 32- 36 inches above the island countertop surface.

Sconce

We love adding sconces to our 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 it 60 to 65 inches up from the floor. Also, if you are hanging your sconces inside decorative paneling, selecting an appropriately sized fixture for the space is essential. Knowing your dimensions will make shopping easier! Finally, when hanging sconces in a bathroom, it is important to select your mirror first so that the sconces complement the design and are hanging in the appropriate location.

Fixture placement tips and tricks

The most challenging part of selecting lighting fixtures is finding the perfect size for the space. Designers know a trick we want to pass on to you to make this easier! 

If a fixture is going to be the primary 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 were 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 centered over a piece of furniture, measure the piece, divide that number by two, and you have your fixture placement! 

Need assistance with lighting design in your home? We would love to help! 

Leave a comment below, letting us know which home space has lighting you love!

Designers With A Purpose,

Micah & Co. Team