A house with a foyer is very welcoming and accommodating. Placing a well-lit foyer chandelier is a great way to say a grand “hi” to anyone invited. Also known as the entrance hall, the foyer gives the visitor an idea of what else to expect from the house.
Most often than not, the lobbies of houses lead to a staircase. On top of that staircase is a high ceiling. The main lighting is placed hanging from that height, seeming to soar and dangle with complete elegance. The exhilarating feeling of looking up at it is achieved with the right design, lighting and placement of the fixture.
Lighting is not only a means of making the home safe and bright to walk around in. There is more to lighting than just utilitarian. In photography studios, lights are used to create the desired effects on the subject. A little adjustment can make a big difference on the tone, texture and mood of the picture. It’s much the same with making a room look the way we want it to. Areas like the entrance hall are given the right atmosphere by lights like chandeliers, wall sconces and floor lamps.
The key to selecting the right size and hanging at the correct height of chandeliers is using good sense and creativity. In most foyers, there is plenty of room and height to hang a light fixture. There is wisdom in keeping a minimum of seven feet free of any obstruction, thus making the lobby a safe and comfortable place to lounge in. In foyers with higher ceilings, adding six more inches of vertical space won’t hurt, and will further ensure that a particularly tall guest won’t hurt himself even if he stretches his hand out. A two-storey high entrance hall gives the interior designer plenty of options. One thing to keep in mind though, is the way the fixture might look from the bottom. It’s nice to imagine how wide its diameter should be in relation to the ceiling height, because it can look quite small as it goes up higher. Some can be hung lower using a sturdy chain, making it seem bigger and eliminating the need for a longer diameter.
A foyer that is not so spacious can use central fixtures with only a few arms. In as little as four to eight arms, they can already give sufficient brightness. Again, the individual characteristics of each house should be taken into account. If the foyer has a large window, then using only a small number of arms for the fixture would not be a problem. Eight or more arms can be easily accommodated in a bigger area.
Floor lamps and wall fixtures can be sprinkled throughout the hall. They should be in complementary or contrasting design with the ceiling fixture.
Main lights add a touch of drama to a room. They can be dimmed or brightened according to the particular mood that is needed for the occasion. They are overall light sources for a room and are decorative items at the same time.