What Is the Best Hanging Height for Foyer Light Fixtures?

Complement Foyer Furnishings

• Unless your style is purely eclectic, select a lighting fixture that will complement or coordinate with your predominant decorating theme. A perfect hanging fixture for a traditional home's foyer is brass with candle-like lights; for transitional, a polished nickel contemporary design; and for modern, perhaps an artful Murano glass fixture.

Proportion Is Key

• The size of the hanging light fixture you choose depends on the size of your foyer. If the fixture is too small, it will look puny and ridiculous; if it's too big, it will be overwhelming. There is a simple formula that all lighting experts adhere to: Add the measurements of one length and one width of the space and convert the feet to inches. For example, if your foyer is 9 feet by 12 feet, you would need a fixture with a 21-inch diameter.

A Comfortable Height to Hang

• In every case, unless you're living with a member of an NBA team, the bottom of your hanging light fixture should be a minimum of 7 feet from the floor. This allows plenty of head clearance for you and your guests to navigate. If the height of your foyer's ceiling is less than 10 feet, consider a different style of lighting fixture. If the ceiling height exceeds 10 feet, there are other considerations you'll need to take into account.

Other Hanging Considerations

• Foyers come in all sizes, shapes and ceiling heights. Some have transoms, or windows over the door. In this case, you'll want to center your fixture in the window so it can be seen from the outside. If your foyer is equivalent to two stories high, with no second story, hang it slightly lower than midway from the ceiling. If there is a second story, hang the chandelier so it illuminates both the foyer and the upper landing without obstructing passage. Keep to the minimum 7-foot rule.