How To Guide For Hanging Lights

Lighting is key for creating the perfect ambiance and mood for a room. But hanging any lights too low or too high can hinder a room’s appearance with unnecessary space or not enough space for those who dwell in the home. With my handy how to guide below (see the full guide below to save & pin), you can get the perfect height for chandeliers and pendants every time…

Image by Jorge De Jorge via Unsplash

Two of the most common lighting areas within the home that people need help with are the dining table and over a kitchen island, with the dilemma being how high to hang pendants or a chandelier from the ceiling?

For a kitchen island, any light hanging above will look best 30-32” above the top of the kitchen island. If you opt for 2 pendant lights, space each 30” apart at a minimum from the center of the island. If you opt for 3 pendants, space each pendant 24-32” apart, and allow 6” space on either end of the island. With these guidelines and range options, you can then edit the height to suit your style and specific needs. For instance, if you utilize your island as a prep space or butcher block and not just a seating area, you may want to go with a higher height depending on the height of yourself and the rest of those in the home if you feel the pendant will be in the way.

Apply the same height guidelines for hanging a single pendant or linear lantern like the look below.

For hanging lights above a dining table, allow 33-34” from the bottom of the chandelier or pendant to the table top. If you opt for hanging 2 pendants, allow 30” between each pendant, with at least 6” from the edge of the table on each side. These guidelines are applicable to the standard ceiling height of 8’. For each extra foot of height, hang chandelier or pendants 3” higher.

Chandeliers and pendants for more formal dining spaces hung lower can offer a more intimate atmosphere, but consider the style of lighting, table size, and height of those in the home to ensure you don’t go too low.

For the entryway and living room, I’m providing some general guidelines that can also be utilized for hanging lights for other areas of the home. A good rule of thumb for hanging a chandelier or pendants in an entryway or living room is 7-7.5’ from the bottom of the light to the floor. If you have a 2 story foyer or great room, you want to hang no lower than the 2nd floor. For hanging pendants in an entryway, or other area like a hallway or mudroom, a good guideline is allowing 4” from the pendant to each surrounding wall. This can be especially helpful for narrow spaces where you are considering hanging 2 or 3 pendants, but aren’t sure what size of light to go with. Factoring in the 4” distance between the light and wall can help to narrow down light fixture styles that will suit the space perfectly.

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