Light Height Done Right

Lighting is one of the components of design in which often gets cast to the side in lieu of other elements such as furniture, wall color and window treatments. That's unfortunate because lighting will impact a space in dramatic ways and can create challenges in using the room to its fullest potential.

I encourage clients to consider their lighting plan as a part of their furnishings and to budget accordingly. Generally, 1/5 - 1/3 of the overall furnishing budget is a good start. I'll discuss design budgeting in a later post.

One of the most challenging parts of lighting is often in selecting the correct height. Failing to do this can result in eyestrain, headaches or the accidental pairing of a brown sock with a blue one. Based on the average hight of a woman (5' , 6 inches) here are recommended placement heights for the task lighting commonly found in the bedroom:

Dresser top:

For a dresser top that is used for grooming, place two lights 36 inches apart. Assuming the dresser reaches your waits, the lights should rise 22 inches from the dresser top.

Bedside:

For bedside reading lamps, the bottom of the shade should be 20 inches above the top of your bed. If you night table is extremely tall or short, choose lamps with heights that compensate.

Desktop:

At a desk, work lamps should be 15 inches above the desk's surface, whether mounted on a wall or sitting on a desk.