Pendant lighting hung at the correct light helps your space feel proportionate.
Aside from their practical function of illuminating your space, hanging pendants in a home add beauty, character and charm. How high or low your pendants hang from the ceiling will be a matter of personal preference, but you can follow a few simple guidelines to make the process easier.
Dining Room Lighting
If you've chosen a chandelier, drum shade or pendant light to hang over your dining table, the correct height will be primarily dependent upon what feels right to you. For rooms with standard 8-foot ceilings, have someone hold the light at about 28 to 32 inches above the , and step back to look. (For ceilings higher than 8 feet, raise the light 6 inches per extra foot.) If your light is larger than average, move it up a little. For smaller lights, go a little lower. If your room is more traditional than modern, hang your chandelier slightly higher than the standard. Adjust the height until it looks best to you and install.
Kitchen Bar Lighting
Installing a series of lights over a kitchen bar can help add important illumination to a hard-working area of your home. Start with the light at about 30 inches above the countertop. If the pendant would be in the line of sight for someone in your family, raise it so it's out of the way. If it's so low that it leads to bright spots of light on your island, raise it until it casts a soft, even glow.
Entryway Lighting
Lighting in an entryway sets the tone of your entire home, as it's one of the first things guests will see. If your foyer is one-story tall, make sure the bottom of the pendant is at least 7 feet high. For two-story foyers, hang it centered in your feature window, if you have one, or no lower than the bottom of the second story.
Hanging Lights Everywhere Else
Pendant lighting can work in any room. If the light will be hung above an area that gets foot traffic, the bottom should always be at least 7 feet above the floor. If it will be hung above a piece of furniture, such as a bed in your bedroom, choose a height that looks most appealing to you. Be cautious about installing hanging lights above a bath, as many local building codes prohibit it. Check your local codes for more details.
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