By Clarissa Allison | February 3rd, 2017
A well lit hallway is an important element for any modern home. The right lighting can transform your hallway from a dark and foreboding cave to an expansive and stylish transitional space.
There are a multitude of lighting fixtures available today to suit a variety of personal styles and budgets. We’ve compiled a short list of pointers to remember when thinking about lighting your hallway. Hallway fixtures can include wall sconces, flush mount ceiling lights, pendant lights and even led strip lighting. Read on for some helpful hallway lighting placement tips. You can also click the photos to be brought to our website and browse recommended fixtures for hallway lighting.
Sometimes a hallway’s narrow dimensions or architecture doesn’t allow for wall sconces, but you can splurge on a dramatic pendant light if the ceiling is high enough. Be sure to measure both the light fixture itself as well as your floor to ceiling height before purchasing a pendant for your hallway. If a pendant is too long, try a flush-mounted ceiling light instead.
A good rule of thumb is to hang a pendant light 8 feet above the floor. In addition to making sure your very tall Uncle Ted doesn’t bump his head on the light, also mind whether you have have doors in the way that swing out toward the fixture. Even so, don’t be afraid to install a dramatic light fixture in this area to make a memorable statement for your home.
If your hallway is also an art gallery, consider picture lighting. Picture lights are typically wall-mounted fixtures created to beautifully illuminate individual artworks. Characteristically used with very low-wattage lamps, they provide a relationship with a piece of art, as well as allowing you to view details of the work up close and personal. In addition to their obvious function, picture lights are also decorative fixtures. On Louie Lighting, you’ll find a great selection of attractive and subtle picture lights to choose from. Line voltage and low voltage options, fixtures that mount directly to the painting’s frame, track lights, as well as energy saving fixtures are all available. Contact a lighting designer with experience in lighting artwork to avoid glare and ensure that artwork is not damaged.
Entry points and pathways within the home typically require nothing more than ambient or general lighting, unless there are focal points you wish to highlight, such as artwork or architectural details that need additional accent lighting. If you have a small hallway it may be sufficiently lighted by a single ceiling-mounted or recessed fixture. In contrast, a hallway with vaulted ceilings or a staircase may require a chandelier with lighting controls at both the bottom and top of the stairs, step lights, AND accent lighting.
TIP: Ambient lighting for entryways and stairways should be 1,200-4,000 lumens; ambient lighting for a hallway should be between 1,200-2,500 lumens.
Thanks for reading this week’s blog! We hope you’ve found some helpful tips on lighting the hallway of your home or business. Don’t hesitate to contact us at 1877 385 2104 with any questions. The Louie Lighting Team wishes you and yours a safe and happy weekend.
Soapstone Countertops says
These are great tips! Thank you!
Rojer says
Thanks, Clarrisa for your valuable tips.Your tips are really helpful to understand the importance of hallway lighting.Hallway lighting improves visibility and safety.Attractive hallway lighting that is strategically placed can greatly improve your home’s curb appeal.
Hallway lighting creates a pleasant ambiance when properly applied, allowing people to be comfortable and relaxed. Instead of just illuminating the area where people will be gathering, consider placing subtle lighting around your entire yard so that you don’t feel like you’re under a spotlight and surrounded by darkness.