Lighting

Lighting is one of the key elements that helps make your house a home. The proper foyer and hallway Lighting enables you to perform tasks easily, makes you feel safer and more comfortable, and allows you to enjoy your home at its full potential. Whether you are looking for an interior lamp for a hallway table, a ceiling fan or light overhead, or a decorative wall sconce, our Foyer and Hallway Lighting Guide will provide the information you need to find the best fixture for your space. Each room, however, has specific and unique general and accent lighting needs. We’ve laid out some tips and ideas to consider when planning your lighting needs for each room in your home. If you are uncertain about what type of light fixture you need for the space in your home, or you're just looking for inspiration, take a few minutes to browse through our guide!

View All Foyer and Hallway Lighting

The foyer conveys the first impression of a home's interior. Center a traditional chandelier, contemporary pendant, or transitional ceiling light in your hallway to provide a functional light source and create a welcoming atmosphere. When choosing lighting for your foyer, hall, or stairway, consider the following:

For general lighting, make sure to size the decorative fixture to the space. Not all foyers can accommodate a large chandelier, so make sure the size proportions are correct. Likewise, if you have a larger space, you'll need a larger light fixture such as a ceiling fan light or fluorescent floor lamp in order to provide light for the entire space. If you have the luxury of high, open ceiling space, consider a foyer chandelier or decorative pendant lamp that looks attractive from second story viewing.

Remember that stairways and halls must have good lighting for safety. To prevent accidents, stairs should be lit from top to bottom with switches in both places so that it is convenient to turn off light that is no longer needed. For safety in hallways, place hallway light fixtures every 8 to 10 feet. A few great options for lighting your hallway are flush mount lighting and recessed lighting. Tie in the fixtures you choose for each space by matching your chandelier or pendant with semi flush ceiling lights for hallways and smaller chain hung lights for stairways.

For accent lighting needs, use matching wall sconces to complement the hanging foyer pendant or chandelier. Always mount wall fixtures above eye level (approximately 66” from the center of the fixture to the floor) so that the lamp source is not visible. This creates a wonderful effect of illumination that reflects off the walls and into your space.

Additional Lighting Tips:

• Make your artwork come to life and illuminate it with halogen light from track or adjustable recessed down-lighting
• Add a dimmer and really set the tone of your room
• Mirrors add a special decorative touch to a foyer