If you want to select just the right size light fixture for your foyer or entry way, there are several things to consider. Although getting this right is essential to the overall look of the room and function of a light fixtures, you don’t have to hire a professional to figure it out.
Here’s some quick tips on how to get just the right foyer light.
Foyer Light Sizing Guidelines
For 9-10 foot ceilings, leaving 7-7.5 feet under the fixture is a good guideline. Just be sure the fixture doesn’t interfere with the swing of the front door.
For 11 foot or taller ceilings, the rule of thumb is to divide your ceiling height in to three equal parts. The fixture should occupy the top third – including any chain or rods. For example, in the case of a 12 foot ceiling (144 inches), your foyer light should take up about 48 inches.
To figure out the fixture height, allow 2.5 – 3 inches of chandelier height for each foot of ceiling height. For example, for our 12 foot ceiling scenario, a fixture somewhere around 30 inches in height should be just about right leaving the remaining 18 inches for chain or rods.
Here’s an example provided by Progress Lighting to better illustrate how this works.