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entry Lighting Design Dilemma

Where to position hanging lights in entryway?

kathrynparsons4

last year

Help! I keep debating where hanging lights should be positioned in the foyer. And how many? Should they be hung centered with the room (which would make them off set from the front door), or centered with the door/walk way area? Photos below. Thank you in advance :)

Featured Answer

jackowskib

last year

I can imagine 3 semi-flush lights going from entryway door to end of hall before reaching living room.

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Comments (11)

kandrewspa
last year
How high is the ceiling? I would hang a semi-flush fixture centered in the roughly square area that is the foyer and then have two recessed fixtures next to the stairs in the hall leading to the back of the house. You might want another recessed can in front of the closet. If you center the fixture in the square it won't be centered on the front door, but as long as it isn't a two story foyer with a window over the front door that is OK. It is a somewhat difficult space.
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Hi Yun, there are a few questions to consider: - First, from the pics I don't see an existing recessed can "on right side where stair case" - do you mean above the stair case lighting the steps? - From the pic I think the chandelier is placed where I circled in BLUE, and that looks like it will throw to the stair landing (enough in combination with an over-stair light). The question is this chandelier, which is primarily a bejeweled piece for the purpose of wowwing guests at the Entry, looks to only have a switch at the Entry. Because you might want this existing light location for the Powder Room use - would you leave it on after guests have settled, or, during daily use, walk over to the door to switch it on when using the Powder? If daily or Powder use is a concern, then maybe there should be (3) recessed cans instead of a chandelier. And, maybe there should be a 3-way switch from the Kitchen for any hallway lights to get to the Powder. - The closet hallway should have a light as indicated by the GREEN circle regardless of the chandelier situation. - It looks like there is an open doorway frame right at the Kitchen (in ORANGE), so I think whatever you do here in the hallway can be considered separate from the Kitchen layout aesthetically. If I am reading the picture wrong then you may want to consider the Kitchen lighting layout with the hallway. - As far as the CO detector, this is connected by wiring to other units, so it is a little more complicated than just "patch and paint." Depending on where it moves to, it may need a new longer homerun of wire. You can check Ontario code, but for reference per IRC you need at minimum a smoke per floor and COs are at bedrooms, but you probably have a combo which doesn't hurt. Putting them at the stair for each floor, when there are no bedrooms nearby, is competent placement.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I think that would work for sure and make the really eye catching fixture the one in the LR ideally over the coffee table
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
What about simply downlights in the foyer?
kathrynparsons4
Original Author
last year
THANK YOU all for your helpful answers! In light of these thoughts from each of your, we are now debating if we should change the direction of the staircase/add a wall to make the entryway look more symmetrical... our builder said it could easily done. As far as aesthetics, do you like this better, or like it better being open (see original photos at top). Thank you in advance for your thoughts!
kathrynparsons4
Original Author
last year
This is the first option- looking straight in from the front door. The front door will have a transom above, so I don’t think we could get away with the lights not being centered to it?
decoenthusiaste
last year
I like the new rendition. Stairs are more of a welcoming feature than a wall and it solves your lighting problem. In the living room, I would center the fireplace on its wall, slide the sofa so the coffee table centers on the fireplace and the French doors, and add a great chandelier above the coffee table to draw the eye to a focal point at the end of the hall. Don't angle the TV but put it on an articulated wall mount so it can be adjusted, and mount it left or right of the fireplace.
kathrynparsons4
Original Author
last year
@adecoenthusiaste thank you for your thoughts!! To clarify, do you like this option better, or the one where the stairs are fully open?
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
how tall are the ceilings and how long is the hallway? I disagree with hanging lights altogether, id rather have a hanging fixture in the living room the drew you in
kathrynparsons4
Original Author
last year
Thank you for your comment RL Relocations! Ceilings are 10’ and hallway is 14’ 6” long. If we do hanging lights, I think they need to be small.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
Yes you can only get a 2 foot total drop before they feel low, so semi flush would be the way to go here, im still on the train of let the living light draw you in. Also I like the stairs closed off gives you a lot more room for an entry. to me for some reason the open stairs feel like, dont fall down here.

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