How High to Hang Lighting in Your Home

Posted by Val Malnar on August 26, 2022

Lighting is crucial in your home. Not only does it light up your space to make it functional, it plays a huge role in setting the tone and atmosphere of your space. Lighting can give a room a sense of occasion, add drama, create intimacy or spark romance. It can also cast shadows and create new patterns on walls. In short, lighting is an essential ingredient when you’re decorating a room.

Lighting can be tricky to get right, so we've put together some guidelines for hanging lights in your home.

From chandeliers and pendants to lamps and sconces - lighting can make a big impact on the way you enjoy your home. While the beauty of a fixture makes a statement, how high you hang lighting can determine whether the lighting in your home enhances the way you use a space or causes you frustration because it’s casting undesirable shadows.

Because of this, we’re discussing how high to hang the lights in your home below.

TABLE AND FLOOR LAMPS

Table lamps and floor lamps are the easiest way to add lighting into your space. Not only can they be truly beautiful, but they also play a large role in creating function and ambience.

When placing table lamps and floor lamps, the bottom edge of the shade should be eye level for the person seated for it to cast light in the right spot for reading.

table lamp and floor lamp lighting placement

WALL SCONCES

Wall mounted lights are an amazing way to add beauty and functionality to a space in a more unique way. Measuring for wall sconces depends heavily on the user's height and wall dimensions. Here are some guidelines to follow when installing wall-mounted lights.

When hanging around artwork, place the center of the light fixture 60-66" from the floor and 6-18" from your artwork.

When hanging sconces on either side of a bed, the center of the light should be mounted in the center of the nightstand, 6-18" from the headboard and 60-66" from the floor.

PENDANTS & CHANDELIERS

Overhead pendants and chandeliers are one of our favourite ways to add beauty to a home, but they also play a crucial role in lighting spaces such as a kitchen or dining room. Here are some standard rules when hanging these types of fixtures:

When installing pendants over a countertop, ensure there is a 30-40" between the bottom of the fixture and top of the countertop. Make sure there is a minimum of 24" between each pendant and at least 12-24" from the edge of the countertop.

When hanging a chandelier or pendant above a round table, note that the table should be 12-18" larger than the fixture and the light should be hung so that there is 30-36" between the bottom of the fixture and the top of the table.

Likewise, there should be 30-36" between the bottom of the light fixture and the top of a rectangle table. The table should be approximately 12" longer than the fixture on both ends and approximately 6" wider on both sides.

And there you have it. Hopefully, these guidelines help you to feel more confident about installing the lights in your home.

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In other news……

I’ve launched a new website! I’m on a mission to help as many people as possible live a happier, more fulfilling life. Expect to see an email that explains more about this next week. In the meantime, if you’re curious, click the image below to check it out.

Ok back to lighting for a sec. If you’d like some lighting inspiration, check out the lighting section in our Home Décor Shop.

And if you’re looking to upgrade your space and take it to the next level, be sure to take the DIY Interior Design Course. It teaches our entire design process step-by-step so you can execute a beautiful design in your home.