WHEN SIZE MATTERS

Large light fixtures are trendy, but keep function in mind when installing them

That old adage claiming that size doesn’t matter couldn’t be more wrong when it comes to light fixtures in the home. While subtle lighting can pack a powerful punch so, too, can oversized fixtures. Whether indoors, perched over an entryway or diningroom table, or outside where it serves as an additional architectural detail, large lights are a quick and easy way to add instant panache to a space.

“Oversized fixtures are hot, hot, hot right now,” said Donna Garlough, editor at Wayfair.ca and style director of sister brand Joss & Main. “We are seeing these all over on decor blogs — they’re such a great way to make a huge statement, and emphasize the architecture and height of a room in one place. It’s like saying: ‘I have style’ in a nutshell.”

For interior fixtures, crystal has always been popular, Garlough said, and it always will be. But a lot of different shapes are coming into play — forms that are mixing uncommon but stylish materials.

“There’s the cage style, like a wrought-iron cage fixture around a traditional chandelier, and the more art-deco optic crystal,” she explained. “It’s all about achieving a more glam, streamlined look.”

She also noted that industrial and midcentury decor trends have bled over into light fixtures.

“We’re seeing the starburst in all kinds of materials, from matte black wrought iron to polished brass.”

On the outside, oversized fixtures look beautiful in rustic finishes, and certain types of lights look more esthetically pleasing when they’re bigger.

“Post lights and hanging lanterns look best when they are oversized,” said Freddie Naimer, president of Montreal Lighting & Hardware. “This means that they should be with the same body size as the front door lanterns.

“I can’t tell you how many times customers purchased these ‘larger’ fixtures reluctantly, only to call back once they were installed — to thank us!”

One of the most important things to remember when purchasing an oversized fixture, whether it’s for the inside or outside, is the height.

“Height is the easiest thing to get wrong,” Donna Garlough said.

“It’s important to think about the function of the space when installing these fixtures.”

SIZING THINGS UP

Donna Garlough of Wayfair.ca and Freddie Naimer of Montreal Lighting & Hardware offer the following guidelines for installing indoor and outdoor fixtures:

Add up the dimensions of the room (e.g. 10x15 feet) to determine the fixture’s target diameter (i.e. 25 inches);

A chandelier with a 25-inch diameter would be standard for that size room; 10 to 20 per cent larger would constitute an oversized chandelier. As such, if you have extra-high ceilings and are striving for a dramatic look, get a chandelier with a 28-inch or 30-inch diameter.

If using one lantern next to your entrance, its total height should be one-third that of your doorway. Next to a standard seven-foot-high door (84 inches), therefore, the outdoor lantern should be no less than 28 inches high;

If you have two lanterns (one on either side), they should be no less than one-quarter the height of the doorway — at least 21 inches high, in this case.

PHOTOS (2): COURTESY OF MONTREAL LIGHTING & HARDWARE A large chandelier serves as focal point and adds a formality to this dining room.

Outdoor fixtures like these sconces not only serve to provide light and to welcome visitors to the home, but they add curb appeal and help unify the home’s exterior.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WAYFAIR.CA Oversized light fixtures are all the rage these days, as are crystal chandeliers encased in wrought-iron cages, creating a more streamline look.

WAYFAIR.CA PHOTO COURTESY OF An important consideration when hanging an oversized light fixture such as this one is to install it at the proper height.

COURTESY OF MONTREAL LIGHTING & HARDWARE, GAZETTE FILES Large lanterns flanking a home’s archways provide light and also serve as a decorative feature.