When it comes to deciding what height to hang a pendant or suspension fixture, there are a few guidelines you can go by to make sure your new light is at the appropriate height. We’re going to go over a few different scenarios you may come across.
Over the Table
When hanging a fixture over a dining room table, you want the fixture to be low enough to provide enough light, but high enough to be out of your way and line of sight while you are at the table. Generally we suggest hanging it around 30″ from the surface of your table to the bottom of the light.
Over the Counter
For fixtures over a counter, we suggest hanging them a bit higher than over a table. This is because we typically do a wider variety of things at a counter. You could either be standing or sitting. You want to make sure if someone is sitting at the counter, or standing to cook or clean, the fixtures are not obstructing their view. Hang pendants 30″-40″ from the surface of the counter to the bottom of the light. Your ceiling height can factor into where in that range you choose. With a higher ceiling, you should hang the pendants a little higher.
Not Over Anything (Foyer, Living Room, Ect.)
As a general rule, we wouldn’t suggest using a suspended fixture that isn’t over anything at all if your ceilings are not more than 8′, but all fixtures should be at least 60″ AFF (Above the Finished Floor). If your ceilings are higher than 11′, then we suggest adding an additional 3″ for every foot about 11.
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