skip to main content

Ack. Lights centered over table would be off-center in room...

16 years ago

OK, I have this with both our round dining table and round kitchen table.

The existing hanging light fixtures are positioned in the center of the open dining area (flanked by three walls and an overhead ceiling beam)... but the round table is by necessity of size a bit off-center. If we replace the hanging fixture, should we just move it to be over the table (which we're keeping) without concern for centering it on the ceiling?

In the rectangular kitchen, there are two hanging fixtures - each is centered near either end of the room. But the round kitchen table has to be off to the side or it would get in the way. If we're replacing those hanging lamps anyway, should we reposition one of the new ones to be over the center of the table, without regard for its being 'in line' with the light at the other end of the kitchen?

Also, any bets on how much it might cost to relocate a light just a couple feet, if the guy who would be replacing the lights would simply charge $35 per replacement if they weren't moved? (Haven't asked him about moving them yet.) Thanks.

Comments (5)

sierraeast
16 years ago
Keep in mind the ceiling would need to be repaired. How much repair depends on the person relocating and what is involved up above.
sewhappy_2007
16 years ago
Have you considered leaving the electrical box in the center of the room but swagging your light fixtures over the table? That is a very common solution to your problem and allows you to be able to rearrange your furniture later without any major rewiring.
Related Discussions
Entry Lanterns...off-centered or centered w/ off-set front door?
Q
Comments (7)
I think that you should only consider sight lines. In your case everyone will be coming in the door and presumably looking dead ahead. you'll get the most bang (since I assume you'll have some fabulous fixture in your entry) if you centre the lights on the door. Also a centred light viewed through the transom windows above a front door is a great warm greeting from the street (if your door is surrounded by glass). I went through the build process recently myself (moved in two months ago) trust me, you can't over think this stuff. There are tiny details all over the place now that I wish I had given more consideration. They don't spoil the experience of my new house, it's not that bad, but they do draw my eye in over and over and over. One of those niggling issues is my dining room light fixture which is centred on the dimensions of the room per plan, but does not account for the fact that the dining room opens to both a hall and my foyer so visual appears much bigger.
...See More
How would you fix this? off center lighting
Q
Comments (4)
You could swag it over, but when you hang the chandelier you'll need to make sure the ceiling area can handle the weight. More than likely, bracing will need to be put in. If the location can be moved, without the need of a junction box, I'd vote for that. Unless you have a popcorn ceiling, most textures can be matched. Paint matching would be another story,.
...See More
Lighting over off-centered island. Help, please!
Q
Comments (2)
You want your pendants appropriately spaced over the island since that's the space they're providing task lighting for. While it would be nice if that perfectly centered them with the room, window, and opening, that's not nearly as important since the only time they would ever look perfectly lined up if they were centered is if you were standing totally square to them. The vast majority of the time you'll be looking at the kitchen from an angle and they wouldn't look aligned anyway. Are you thinking of using the pendants and the sconce together? I don't see them working harmoniously in one space.
...See More
Off center Sky light over dining table
Q
Comments (12)
RL's solution sounds like a winner to me. IMO, can lights exist mainly to sell more lighting hardware, because you need so many of them to get something close to even lighting. A hanging fixture or chandelier that reflects some of its light off a white ceiling (indirect lighting) will do a much better job of lighting the room evenly. Using indirect lighting indoors is roughly comparable to reading a book under a nice leafy tree, instead of squinting at it and straining your eyes in direct sun.
...See More
raehelen
16 years ago
We have the same problem in our dining room. And the real 'ACK' part is that we gutted our whole kitchen/dining area and removed the old ceiling, so we could have addressed it properly the first time.

Once the new dining room table was in, it was obvious we would be moving it off centre (pathway to deck is behind table), and we're kicking ourselves. DH is planning to buy a plaster medallion to put up on the ceiling, so that the edge of it will cover the old hole. Luckily, he is an electrical engineer, so he can do the rewiring. I COULD patch the hole, but what a LITERAL pain in the neck. So not only will the fixture be off-centre, but medallion will be too.

I am pretty sure it will cost you more than $35 extra on top of the first $35 to rewire in a new location- assuming there is enough wire up there to allow the move. Ours is accessible from the attic.
oruboris
16 years ago
I like SewHappy's solution: most dining fixtures look fine 'swagged' [surely there's a less... silly sounding word for that], and if you decide you don't like it, you only have a small screw hole to fill and paint.
macybaby
16 years ago
We've always "swagged" our light over the dining room table. Looks just fine. This was in our last house.

{{!gwi}}

Can't really tell in this picture, but the "box" is over a foot away from the hook.

In our current house, we sloped the ceiling, and since I had no idea exactly were the table would end up (or even what size it would be) I deliberately put it off center. It also gave us the opportunity to attach the box so that it is very stable. This picture was taken before we finished the room

I don't have any pictures what it looks like finished. We're remodeling the bedrooms now, and the dining room is being used as my dressing room now. I found the perfect table for the room at an auction - It will be so neat to be able to see what it will look like when everything else is cleared out!

Cathy

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Off-Center Art Hits the Mark for Energizing Design

By Lisa Frederick

Stifling a yawn over symmetry? Shift your art arrangements for design drama that's anything but middling

DECORATING GUIDES 8 Ways to Decorate a Center Table

By Laura Gaskill

Make a feature table look grand no matter what its size, with artistic arrangements of flowers, vases and more

DENS AND LIBRARIES These Rooms Put the Allure of Books Front and Center

By Simon Farrell-Green

Immerse yourself in a collection of book-filled rooms that indulge a passion for the printed page

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: Dark and Daring Pay Off in a Den Redesign

By Becky Harris

Indigo walls and woodwork, textured furnishings, task lighting and a media center turn a neglected room into a family hangout

LIFE Simple Pleasures: Get Centered

By Laura Gaskill

Make time to regroup and recharge with a special spot for meditation, yoga or any other mindful pursuit

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Updated French Country Style Centered on a Stove

By Vanessa Brunner

What to do when you've got a beautiful Lacanche range? Make it the star of your kitchen renovation, for starters

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: A Seattle Family Kitchen Takes Center Stage

By Jeannie Matteucci

A major home renovation allows a couple to create an open and user-friendly kitchen that sits in the middle of everything

DECORATING GUIDES 10 Look-at-Me Ways to Show Off Your Collectibles

By Joanna Tovia

Give your prized objects center stage with a dramatic whole-wall display or a creative shelf arrangement

COLOR Front and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Purple

By Jennifer Ott Design

From grapelicious to lavender, a front door cloaked in the color of royalty might just reign supreme in the neighborhood

DECORATING GUIDES Design Dilemma: Where to Put the Media Center?

By Annie Thornton

Help a Houzz User Find the Right Place for Watching TV

Sponsored

More Discussions

Crazy BR Vanity Prices!

4

850ft2 Historic Home - Kitchen Layout Help!

15

Help with Kitchen / Dining Room(s) ?

6

Help! Framing for double sided fireplace is too deep

5

Help with bathroom and closet layout

11