Decorating & Design
Top 10 Entryway Lighting Tips For A Great First Impression
Updated on November 28, 2023
Create a welcoming atmosphere in your entryway with a pendant light that puts your home’s personality on display. Find our best tips and tricks for choosing and installing a hanging light below.
Use lighting to add a graphic punch. A sculptural silk-ribbon light fixture gives decorator Elizabeth Margles’ otherwise traditional foyer a modern update.
Consider the clearance needed to open the door. Most front doors swing inward, so be sure to consider the space needed to fully open the door prior to hanging your fixture.
Layer lighting. A mix of lighting — including pendant lights, a table lamp and wall sconces — make this spacious foyer by designer Katherine Newman feel bright and inviting.
Hang multiples in varying heights. Designer Julie Charbonneau hung a tiered fixture above a modern Saarinen table for a statement-making entrance.
Simplicity can make a strong statement. A duo of rice paper pendants seem to float in Laurence Martocq’s airy cottage entryway.
Keep your fixture at least 4′ from the walls. Hanging a pendant light in the center of the hall will ensure that interior doors — including these mirrored closet doors in Karine Borris’ home — can open without disruption.
Choose a pendant that glows all over. A light that seems to glow (as opposed to one that creates a spotlight) is great for high-traffic areas. One should know the key differences between downlights and spotlights to choose the better option for one’s home. Here, a Moroccan-inspired fixture gives a Manhattan entrance a jewel-box appeal.
Select a single show-stopping pendant. In the center hall of Lise Anne Gougeon and David Sword’s home, an opulent brass pendant makes a spectacular first impression without overwhelming the space.
Leave at least 7′ of space from the fixture to the floor. Hanging a long pendant closer to the ceiling gives it pride of place without being obtrusive.
Consider the view. If your home has a window above your front door, center the fixture to set the scene for both inside and outside.