Lighting 101: Expert tips for picking the perfect light fixture

This feature is sponsored by Lighting Design, named the 2025 Showroom of the Year by Dallas Market Center. Dive in to discover how to pick the perfect model for any room.

From a home design standpoint, there's not much worse than walking into a room that has great proportions, sleek finishes, and trendy décor, only to have the overall look ruined by a jarring light fixture that's too big, too small, or all the wrong colors.

Your lighting choice can make or break the look of your home, so choose wisely! The right fixture can be a functional hero or a major design statement. Here's your guide for picking out the right size and style of light fixture for your space.

Start with scale: proportions are key

The most common mistake is a light fixture that's too big and overwhelms the room, or one that's too small and gets lost in the room.

If you're looking for a statement chandelier—like in a great room or dining room—you have to do some math first. To find the right width for your chandelier, the rule of thumb is usually: width of room in feet plus length of room equals width of the ideal chandelier in inches.

For example, a dining room that's 10 feet by 15 feet needs an approximately 25-inch-wide chandelier (10+15=25).

To figure out the ideal length of your chandelier, you multiply the room's height (in feet) and 2.5 and 3 to get the proper range of chandelier length (in inches) you need. For a room with standard 8-foot ceilings, 8x2.5=20 and 8x3=24, giving you a range of 20-24 inches for the perfect chandelier length.

Consider other factors in the room

Make sure to take into account other factors in the room when you're choosing a light fixture. First, what type of room is it? How much natural light does it get? Will the main fixture be supplemented by recessed lighting or other light sources?

For more formal rooms where you're looking to make a splash, a chandelier is the way to go. In dining rooms, consider the table's height, shape and size to choose a fixture that complements the table.

For more utilitarian spaces where comfort and airflow matter as much as style, ceiling fan and light combinations have come a long way and can be both attractive and functional. Fans are ideal to have in bedrooms, offices, and covered outdoor spaces.

Lighting Design , with showrooms in Layton and Draper, carries designer picks for ceiling fan/light combinations that are a major upgrade over your builder-grade fixtures. They carry brands like Hunter , which look great indoors and outdoors; Hinkley , which leans toward elevated statement pieces; modern, sleek fans with dimmable lights from Kichler ; and fans for every aesthetic that blend effortlessly into luxury spaces from Visual Comfort .

Find your style

Another important piece when choosing your light fixtures is honoring your home's architectural style. A sharp, angular chandelier might look great but not mesh with your home's modern farmhouse style.

You also want your chandelier or ceiling light to flow with the other finishes in your home. If all your cabinetry hardware is matte black, a gold-and-crystal chandelier may not work, but something incorporating black metal accents would blend nicely with the rest of your home.

Install with care

Once you've found the perfect chandelier for your space, you've still got one measurement left to remember. When installing a chandelier in a dining room, you want to leave about 30 inches between the table and the bottom of the fixture.

"That ensures that the chandelier doesn't encroach on your view of dining companions and leaves space to fit a vase of flowers or another tall centerpiece," designer Karl Lohnes tells HGTV in a recent article . "Most people hang chandeliers way too high."

And before installation, always confirm the electrical box is rated to support the weight of the fixture. Some large chandeliers and heavy ceiling fans need reinforced mounting. Consider professional installation to reduce the chance of wobbling or electrical issues down the road.

Visit your local Lighting Design showroom

To see all the best lighting options available to you, visit a Lighting Design showroom near you. At their Draper and Layton showrooms, you can see all the best brands in person—including Hunter, Hinkley, Kichler, and Visual Comfort.

The experts at Lighting Design can answer your questions and help you choose the perfect chandeliers, fans, and other light fixtures for your space. For more information visit the Lighting Design website . You can ask questions about specific products and even schedule a consultation for your space! A thoughtfully chosen light fixture can make all the difference in upgrading your home and making it feel new again.

This is a sponsored article brought to you by KSL TV in conjunction with the advertiser. The advertiser paid a fee to promote this article and may have influenced or authored the content. The views expressed in this article are those of the advertiser and do not necessarily reflect those of KSL TV, its parent company, or its staff.

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