Height of a Standard Hanging Light

Over a Kitchen Island

• Pendant lights or chandeliers hung over a kitchen island help define the character of the space and are an important addition to your kitchen both visually and functionally. To determine the best height to hang a pendant over your island, start with the bottom of the pendant at about 30 inches above the island. If it's lower than eye level for a member of your family, raise it until it's out of their range of view. Check for "hot spots," or bright circles of light reflected onto your island. If your lights are hung so low that the island is not evenly lit, raise them until the light reflects more evenly.

Over a Dining Table

• Chandeliers and pendants can make your dining area feel sophisticated and complete. To find the proper hanging height, start with about 28 to 32 inches between the bottom of your light fixture and the top of your table. If your ceilings are higher than the standard 8 feet, raise your pendant about 6 inches for every extra foot of ceiling height. If your dining decor leans more contemporary than traditional, hang your pendant slightly lower. Step back and see how the fixture looks; if you feel the light looks too low or too high, it probably is. Because there's no standard height that looks exactly right in every situation, you'll need to trust your instincts.

In a Foyer

• Pendant lights hung in a one-story foyer should not be hung lower than 7 feet from the floor. If your foyer is two stories or higher, do not allow it to hang lower than the second floor. For foyers with a large feature window, center your chandelier in the window so it is attractive when viewed from the exterior of your home. For very large or high foyers, buy larger chandeliers and light pendants to fill the space.

Everywhere Else

• For other rooms, make sure the bottom of the light fixture is higher than 7 feet from the floor. If you're hanging a chandelier over your bed, you have more flexibility to hang it lower because it will not be in the path of foot traffic. Many building codes do not permit light fixtures to be hung lower than 8 feet above a bath tub, and other building codes do not permit electrified lights to be hung over bathtubs at all; check your local lighting codes and follow all ordinances for safety.