Let's say you're looking for a dining room fixture. To determine the diameter of the fixture you need, you simply add the length and width of the room in feet - and that gives you the inches for the fixture.
So for example, if your dining room is 12' x 10', you would add 12 + 10 = 22. So you would look for a fixture approximately 22" in diameter. This might seem a bit simplistic, but it works surprisingly well.
But there are exceptions. Let's say you have a dining room like the one in our new project that has a cathedral ceiling - and it's also in a large open floor plan. In that case, you may want to go with something a bit larger.
In a case like this, I love to do a mock-up of the size fixture I have in mind. These paper globes are a great way to get a visual representation of the fixture. I found inexpensive ones at Christmas Tree Shop in multiple sizes and use them as mock ups.
I did the same for the island. Usually I use 3 light fixtures over an island. However this time I decided two slightly larger fixtures would work better - but I wanted to do a mock up. A couple of different sized paper globes let me see which fixtures would work (Answer - smaller and I ordered them. I can't tell you how much I love these lights!!).
In our own kitchen, I made a mock-up of a sputnik fixture, using a styrofoam ball and paint sticks. My husband and I had a hard time agreeing on something we both liked - but putting this up gave us a way to come to agreement (BTW - this is much larger than what was recommended by the length x width calculation, but because the ceiling is very tall and the fixture is so open, it worked just fine).
Sputnik fixture in completed dining room |
Ultimately, these are just guidelines. Every room has its own special features and you should consider them as you purchase your new light fixture. Good luck!
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