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Basics About Light Fixtures

By
Home Stager with Prudential Ambassador / Ross Designs, LLC

A Staging appointment with a client today reminded me that not everybody (often times even builders) really know some of the basics regarding light fixtures.  Here are a few key points to remember when selecting/hanging lights for new construction or replacing existing ones:

Bathroom Vanities

- Lights should point downward to highlight the mirror reflection (i.e. a woman's face when applying make-up or a man who is shaving)

Dining Area Chandeliers

- Chandeliers should point up so they are not shining down in people's eyes

- Chandeliers should hang about 34" above table top

- Chandeliers should be hung so they are centered over where the table will be, not the center of the entire space. Need to take into account that chairs will be placed around the table and that will help determine center point

Can Lights

- Should be spaced about 6' apart

Ceiling Fans

- For rooms up to 225 square feet (15' x 15') and larger, use a fan with a blade span of 50", 52", 54", or 56".

- In rooms up to 144 square feet (12' x 12') recommend fans with blade spans of 42" or 44"

- Smaller rooms up to 64 square feet (8' x 8') should use a fan with a 32" blade span

Happy Lighting!!!

 

Posted by

Ross Designs Is Omaha's Full Service Home Staging Company, Dedicated To Supporting The Real Estate Industry!

 Omaha Area Board of Realtors (OABR) and Women's Council Of Realtors (WCR) Affiliate Member. 

Incorporated in 2004, Ross Designs stages 150-200 homes every year. Owner Occupied and Vacant Staging Programs, Color Consultations for Existing and New Construction, Holiday Decor Design and Implementation, and Odor Removal Services.

Call anytime at 402-490-3244

Susan Hilton
CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc. - College Station, TX
Texas Aggie Real Estate, College Station Bryan Texas Real Estate

Great information! Who would have known!

May 27, 2008 02:34 PM
Amy Prouty
Home Staging - Keno, YN

Great tips.  Thanks!

May 27, 2008 02:36 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

I had a couple of those...  And a couple I didn't.  Now I do... Thank you.

May 27, 2008 02:55 PM
Ronelle Schroeder-Hill
Vacaville, CA

Is it ok if I add the lighting wattage formula? Area of room X 1.5, or 2.5 X high task area's like kitchen islands. Thanks for the handy tips, I bookmarked them:]

May 27, 2008 03:46 PM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Good tips...especially like the chandelier points up and bathroom fixtures point down...as a good rule of thumb.  You don't always see that in a bathroom actually.

May 27, 2008 08:29 PM
Charlene Storozuk
Dezigner Digz - Burlington, ON
Home Stager - Burlington Ontario

Great tips Tori Lynn.  Especially the one about chandeliers being hung above the table instead of being centred on the ceiling.  I think that one gets forgotten a lot!

May 28, 2008 01:25 AM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging

escellent! just the kind of stuff this group is about!  thanks for posting!

featured in the Real World Home Staging for Newbies Group!

May 28, 2008 11:15 AM
Wendy Casey
A-List Home Staging & Decor - Surrey, BC

Thanks, Tori Lynn, especially for the ceiling fan info, which I needed this week...very timely advice.

Wendy Casey, Vancouver, BC

May 28, 2008 11:48 AM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

HI!  I find a easy way to get a correct height for a dining chandelier is to measure 68" from the floor to the bottom of the fixture.  It is almost always perfect-the table is not always in the home yet.

Great Post Tori Lynn!!  PS-I love your name!!  Is it your first name??  My parents gave me Cathy Lee as my first name and did not give me a middle name.       

May 28, 2008 03:06 PM
Melody Young
Milestone Motoring - Auto Broker/Dealer - Westlake Village, CA
Auto Broker-Milestone Motoring

Thanks Tori.  I just put in a new bathroom light fixure and am relieved to know it's pointed in the right direction. I really thought about it for quite some time as it could have gone either way.

May 29, 2008 04:47 AM
Kevin McGourty
Realty ONE Group - Phoenix, AZ

Good tips. Thanks.

May 29, 2008 06:16 PM
Dasaret Cefa
Edgestone Realty, Alba First Coast Management - San Marino, CA
Earn 10% on your money. I acquire and manage rent

Tory!  Great post!

Jun 30, 2008 04:32 AM
Diana Young
Staging Seattle, King & Snohomish Counties - Edmonds, WA

Hi Tori,  Another thing to remember about lighting is that it needs to be in scale with the room.  One big mistake we see all the time is in bedrooms where there are teeny tiny bedside table lamps, or no bedside table lamps at all.  Another common mistake is to have the chandelier in a dining room be too small for the space.

Jun 30, 2008 05:51 AM
Michelle Molinari
FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA
Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Excellent info! It's been bookmarked!

~Michelle

Jun 30, 2008 06:53 AM
Craig Williams
J. Craig Homes - Mobile, AL

Good information-keep us builders in check!

Jul 07, 2008 05:35 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Thanks for the info. I bookmarked it as well.

Jul 07, 2008 02:00 PM
Denise Allen
Resh Realty Group - Chesapeake, VA
Realtor@ Chesapeake, Hampton Roads

Amazing the simple things we take for granted are actually things that people have thought about and did them correctly.

Jul 18, 2008 01:50 PM
Joyce Zdenek
Hallmark Sotheby's International Realty & Joyce's Interiors - Hopkinton, MA

Great information.  Lighting is so important, your post is very informaive.

Thanks,

Joyce

Jul 18, 2008 06:06 PM