Do you ever wonder what is the correct height to hang the chandelier above the dining table or the pendants above your kitchen island? Today, we will give you some simple tips and guidelines that Interior Designers use for specifying lengths of light fixtures and ceiling fans throughout the home. We will save scale and selecting the right light fixtures for another day!
Before getting started, there are couple of things you need to review prior to purchasing any decorative lighting such as chandeliers, pendants and ceiling fans.
Ceiling Height and Height of lighting fixture and rod length, chain, or down rods available (Max height of light fixture)
Answers to the above, will help determine the right fixture for the use in your space.
Hanging Chandelier(s) above dining table
Standard dining table heights are typically 28" to 30" tall and the bottom of the fixture should be between 30" and 36" Above Finished Floor (AFF). This is where ceiling height and max height with chain length are important.
For example, your ceiling height is 9'0" (108"), your dining table is 2'6" (30") tall, and you want the bottom of chandelier to 36" above your dining table.
Ceiling Height 108" - dining table 30" - distance between top of table and bottom chandelier 30" equals 48"
48" is the total height of fixture plus chain or rod that you will need for your space.
When selecting the light fixture, look at the following details:
Height of light fixture is 17.25" and length adjustable from 27.25" to 94.25" which means this is a great option for a small dining table.
Total height of fixture and length 42" - fixture height 17.25" equals 30.25" which works with the adjustable length of fixture.
Hanging Pendants above kitchen island
Same as dining tables, you want to have the bottom of your fixture at 30" to 36" above the countertop. Check the height of your island and ceiling height prior to purchasing the light fixtures.
Hanging Chandeliers above coffee tables
Chandeliers above coffee tables have different rules than hanging above tables that are typically considered fixed such as dining tables. Coffee tables can easily be moved. Therefore, you want the bottom of your fixture to be a minimum of 7'-0" AFF so no one ever hits their head. Other things to take into consideration is top of window and door height. If everything lines up at the 8'-0" mark then maybe you want to match the bottom of fixture to that height. You can always make the bottom of the fixture be +/- 6" than everything else. Just remember to not go below 7'-0"!
Hanging Chandeliers above beds
Chandeliers above beds should be no lower than 7'-0" AFF.
Hanging Chandeliers in Foyers
Ceiling height is an important factor in selecting where the bottom of the chandelier will be located. For standard 8'-0" ceiling heights, it is recommended to hang chandeliers 7'-0" AFF. If you have higher ceilings, you can raise the chandelier a bit, but it's essential to maintain a visually appealing balance in the space. In foyers with two-story ceilings, a popular rule is to add 3 inches to the hanging height for every additional foot of ceiling height beyond 8'-0". For example, if you have a 10'-0" ceiling, you might hang the chandelier around 7'-6" AFF (7 feet for the standard height plus 3 inches for the additional 2 feet of ceiling height).
Hanging Ceiling Fans
Again, ceiling heights play a major role in location of ceiling fans because most likely you will need a down rod. No part of the ceiling fan (blades or light fixture) should be lower than 7'-0" AFF no matter the ceiling height. However, if you have higher ceiling height than the standard 8'-0" or 9'-0", you will need to consider a ceiling fan with a down rod to lower the fan to an appropriate height. Ceiling fan blades should be between 7'-0" and 9'-0". Below is an image that has always been helpful in selecting a down rod size.
Do you have any questions on where you should hang your new light fixture?
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