Foyers with very high ceilings are suitable for long chandeliers.
Your foyer is the first impression your home makes on a visitor. Although the foyer needs to be utilitarian, with space for coats and keys and a place to wipe the dust from shoes, it should also reflect your personal style. If your style is traditional, entryway lighting is a way of making that statement. Chandeliers, sconces and pairs of table lamps are all traditional lighting choices. Does this Spark an idea?
Ceiling Lights
If your foyer is small, between 20 and 25 square feet or less, any ceiling-mounted fixture should be about 8 inches in diameter. Larger spaces with higher ceilings can carry off larger traditional fixtures, such as a multi-armed chandelier or a pendant lamp hanging from a chain. Any ceiling fixtures must clear the top of any door that opens into the space. For a low ceiling, a flush-mount fixture is often utilized. Crystal is a traditional choice for a ceiling fixture, and wrought iron is a more casual interpretation of traditional. Brass, bronze and pewter are traditional finishes.
Dimmers
Entries that are warmly lit create that desired welcoming atmosphere. A foyer that is glaringly bright makes a bad first impression, especially when guests are entering from the dark of night. That is why entry lights such as chandeliers should be on dimmers, so light level can be more easily controlled.
Levels of Lighting
Design and lighting professionals recommend mixing up the light sources in a room, even in a space as small as a foyer. A hanging fixture coupled with a pair of brass or crystal table lamps flanking a mirror is a traditional choice. These fixtures emit light at different levels in the space, adding interest and coziness.
Sconces
Sconces are another traditional choice for adding an additional layer of lighting to an entryway. Mounted at eye level or above, sconces are wired into the wall, usually in pairs. Crystal or brass sconces are classic. Any exposed bulbs can be topped with silk mini-shades for a traditional touch.
Period Lighting
Matching your foyer lighting to the period your house was built gives a seamless and natural appearance. An iron chandelier looks at home in an early 20th century house, and an etched crystal drop pendant fits well into a 1920s residence. For an eclectic look, traditional lighting can be used in a nontraditional-style house, but they should have a common element, such as shape or color, to tie them together.
Tags: traditional choice, first impression, table lamps, traditional lighting, your foyer
