The lighting fixture in your foyer delivers one of the first design statements your home makes to visitors. It sets the stage for the rest of your home and helps express your style. Updating a tired fixture in your entry is one of the easiest ways to breathe new life into a home. Read on for a quick and easy guide to help you pick the perfect fixture!
The first thing you need to do is measure your foyer. These measurements will help us pick a fixture that is the appropriate size. After you measure, add the two numbers together to find the diameter the fixture should be. Let’s say our foyer is 12’x12’. We all know 12+12=24, so our fixture should be no smaller than 24” in diameter. Easy, right?!
Once we know the diameter, we need to find the height our fixture should be. Grab your tape measure again, because we need to know the height of the ceiling! If you have a single story entry, you need 7’ from the floor to the bottom of your light fixture. The space between 7’ and your ceiling is the size of your fixture. (If you are shopping for a chandelier, don’t forget to add the drop from the ceiling into your measurements.). If you have a two story entry, allow 2.5” – 3” for every foot in height of your entryway. For example if your entry is 18’ tall, you need to shop for a fixture that is 45”-54” tall.
Don’t forget to account for second story windows. They can be a perfect frame for your light fixture and make a beautiful statement from the exterior of your home. Simply measure the window, and then select a fixture no larger than the window. Make sure you hang your beautiful new lighting in the center of the window!
