General Fixture Rules

Chandeliers and Statement Ceiling Lights

• For open rooms, add room length and width in feet. Use that number as a starting diameter in inches.
• For fixture height, multiply ceiling height in feet by roughly 2.5 to 3 inches.
• Keep the bottom of the fixture at least 7 feet from the floor in walk-through areas.

Ceiling Fans

• Small rooms: 42 to 44 inch blade span.
• Medium rooms: about 52 inches.
• Large rooms: 60 inches or larger.
• Leave at least 18 inches from blade tips to nearby walls or tall furniture.

Flush and Semi-Flush Mounts

Use these for lower ceilings, hallways, closets, and compact rooms. Keep enough clearance below the fixture and avoid oversized styles in narrow corridors.

Furniture-Based Placement

Dining Tables

• Choose a fixture about one-half to two-thirds the table width.
• Hang the fixture 30 to 36 inches above the tabletop.

Kitchen Islands

• Space pendants 24 to 30 inches apart from center to center.
• Leave 6 to 12 inches of open space at each end of the island.
• Hang pendants 30 to 36 inches above the counter.

Bathroom Vanities

• Side sconces usually work best around eye level, roughly 60 to 65 inches from the floor.
• Vanity bars should be close to the mirror width, typically around 70 to 80 percent of it.

Outdoor Fixtures

Porch and Garage Wall Lights

• One fixture beside a door: use roughly one-third of the door height.
• Two fixtures beside a door or garage: use roughly one-quarter of the door height each.
• Mount slightly above eye level unless the architecture calls for a different alignment.

Path and Landscape Lights

Place path lights close enough to guide movement without creating a runway effect. For accent lighting, aim at texture, planting, walls, steps, or architectural details.

Quick Checks Before Buying

• Measure the room, ceiling height, table or island width, and mounting point.
• Check whether the fixture is indoor, damp-rated, or outdoor-rated for the space.
• Confirm bulb type, dimming compatibility, and required junction box or mounting hardware.
• When between two sizes for exterior lighting, choose the larger size for better curb appeal.