What Size Chandelier Should I Choose For My Foyer?

Choosing the right size chandelier for your foyer will greatly impact the space. Good lighting is one of the best ways to make a positive first impression in your entryway. But when selecting a chandelier, it can be tricky to arrive at the perfect size fixture that fits the proportion of your foyer space. Read on to learn how to figure out what size chandelier for your foyer will be best plus other tips to position the fixture in your entryway just right.

How to Determine the Correct Chandelier Size

Chandelier Diameter

It's easy to determine the correct diameter chandelier for your foyer. Measure your foyer's length and width. Add the numbers to arrive at the diameter in inches. Here are some examples:

• 6 feet by 6 feet; Add 6 and 6; Choose a mini-chandelier under 14 inches in diameter.
• 8 feet by 9 feet: Add 8 and 9; Choose a chandelier with about a 17-inch diameter.
• 10 feet by 10 feet: Add 10 and 10; Choose a chandelier with about a 20-inch diameter.
• 10 feet by 16 feet: Add 10 and 16; Choose a chandelier with about a 26-inch diameter.
• For an extra-high ceiling or a two-story foyer, the diameter of a chandelier can be a little larger by 2 or 3 inches larger because a chandelier may look smaller the higher it hangs.

Chandelier Height

The height of the chandelier itself is actually called the width of the fixture. The higher the ceiling, the larger the chandelier's width can be so it proportionately fits in the space. The rule of thumb is that a hanging lighting fixture should have 2 to 3 inches of width for each foot of ceiling height.

Here are some examples:

• A 9-foot high foyer ceiling needs a chandelier with an 18 to 27-inch width.
• A 10-foot high foyer ceiling calls for a chandelier that has a 20 to 30-inch width.
• A 16-foot high ceiling (two-story) could comfortably handle a large chandelier that has a 32 to 48-inch width.

How High to Hang the Chandelier

Here are some general guidelines about how high or low the chandelier should hang in a foyer:

• Single-story foyer with 8-foot high ceilings: The bottom of a hanging lighting fixture should be no lower than 7 feet above the floor.
• Single-story foyer with 9 to 12-foot high ceilings: When foyer ceilings are 9 to 12 feet high, elevate the chandelier so its bottom is no closer than 7 feet, 6 inches above the floor.
• Two-story foyer with 18 to 20-foot or higher ceilings: Place the bottom of the chandelier level with the second story. The fixture may hang 8 to 10 feet or higher above the floor.

Proper Fixture Illumination

Light fixtures can offer many different levels of illumination, as measured by the total combined wattage of all bulbs in the fixture. Lighting experts tailor the illumination to the square footage of the foyer space using a simple formula.

Multiply the room length by the width, and then multiply that total by 1.5. This produces the wattage required by the combined bulbs in the ceiling fixture. For example, a 10 by 10-foot foyer has an area of 100 square feet; multiplied by 1.5, the appropriate wattage of the lighting fixture should be 150 watts. Achieve this total wattage by using one or more light bulbs in the fixture.

Other Design Guidelines

Aside from the fixture's measurements, here are a few more guidelines designers follow when hanging a chandelier.

• Match the chandelier style with the overall feel of your home. For example, a crystal fixture fits a formal space and a sleek metal fixture blends in with a modern style.
• Hang a chandelier in the exact center of the space for most foyers.
• Position the chandelier in the vertical center of the window space in a two-story foyer faced with windows. This provides a welcoming light when approaching your home.
• Choose a multi-tiered chandelier for a large, two-story foyer.