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Building a Home Lighting Design Dilemma

Chandelier size in foyer

4 years ago

I am building a new house with a two story foyer with a 23 feet high ceiling. My foyer is 10 ft wide by 20 ft long. Can I hang a chandelier that is 48 in wide by 50 1/2 in high or is it way too wide?

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PRO

Mark Bischak, Architect

4 years ago

Leave enough room for the scaffolding to change a lightbulb.

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Comments (9)

My House
4 years ago
This previous discussion might be of help/ interest to you...https://www.houzz.com/discussions/3776245/what-is-the-best-size-for-a-chandelier-in-a-two-story-average-foyer
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i just got through doing this too. it was super difficult to find because you need a pretty tall chandy to look ok in the two-story, but then most of the tall ones would look too massive for a foyer! i went with an inverted two tier chandy (with the base being smaller than the top) so that it would feel less heavy when you enter the house. i think my chandy was slightly larger than the rule of thumb recommended width, but it was ok since the larger width was up high and not down low where it would feel more heavy.
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That doesn't sound too big. With a 2-story height, my concern would be having it look too small. You'll still have about 20" of clearance on each side of the lighting to your walls on 2 sides, so just make sure the heat given off won't affect your wall finish. You might consider an oblong shape to better fit the space.
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That reminds me of the Farlane Chandelier from McGee & Co. A blogger who is putting this in her new build is Z Design At Home.
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There are many lighting websites that can help you calculate approximate sizing - a lot will depend on your style - rustic vs simple/elegant vs lots of crystals vs... Here is a lookbook to see what you might like - https://farmfoodfamily.com/foyer-lighting-ideas/ re: sizing: "When determining the scale of the lighting, use this simple calculation: foyer height + the foyer width (in feet) = how many inches wide the fixture can be. However, think of this as a guideline, not a hard and fast rule. Straying one way or the other will probably work, as long as it looks proportional. For instance, if the ceiling is extra high, the lighting can be 2-3 inches larger in diameter because the extra ceiling height can make it look smaller." source - https://www.1800lighting.com/blog/entryway-foyer/choose-perfect-light-foyer.html#:~:text=The%20chandelier%20or%20pendant%20should%20have%202%2D3%20inches%20of,32%2D48%20inches%20in%20height. Here are 2 that I think are pretty - (but I don't care for glass/bare bulb fixtures that are popular right now)
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years ago
Take advantage of the height in the area

Troy Lighting

Brixton 13-Light Gunmetal 36 in. W Pendant with Clear Glass
chispa
4 years ago
Install a chandelier lift to allow you to lower the large chandelier for cleaning and changing light bulbs.

Here is an example: Aladdin Light Lift
https://secure.img1-fg.wfcdn.com/docresources/2284/0/7381.pdf
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years ago
chispa, that is an excellent suggestion. That will save money in the long run.
chispa
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Beverly, I never had one, but could have used one in my previous house. We had a large chandelier in an open 2 story entry. Luckily the upper staircase landing arched out and it allowed me to use a hook to pull the chandelier close enough to change the light bulbs, but I always worried about pulling on, and rotating, the whole fixture like that and hanging over the railing! I still couldn't really reach it enough to clean it.
qam999
4 years ago
I agree strongly with Beverly - choose a chandelier that is designed for a tall space. Something that is at least 5 feet tall itself - excluding chain.
nini804
4 years ago
OMG, Chispa! That is awesome! I am currently living that problem, lol. We have a 20’ ceiling in our foyer and I have to do the hook thing from the upstairs hall, and I have the window washer people clean it twice a year when they come. I just dust it with this one of those huge extension duster from Sharper Image in between. I would LOVE to just lower it! I wonder if I can install it retroactively?

Agree, you need a chandy with HEIGHT more than width.
Jill Alford
Original Author
4 years ago
But do you think 48" is too wide?

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