Entryway Lighting Ideas: Pendants, Sconces, Chandeliers

The best entryway lighting is layered: one overhead fixture for general light, plus a second, lower source such as a sconce or a lamp. That pairing gives you enough light to find your keys and a warm glow when you walk in at night.

If your entry is tiny, dark or oddly shaped, don't worry. Most of the decisions come down to three things: where the light sits, how big the fixture is, and how warm the bulb looks.

Save

What makes good entryway lighting?

You arrive from bright daylight or from a dark street, so the entry has to bridge both. That means enough light for safety (steps, shoes, the door lock) and a softer level for atmosphere.

Overhead light alone throws shadows down your face and across the floor. Adding a second source at a lower height fills those shadows in. As an architect, I'd always plan at least two light sources here, on separate switches if you can manage it, so you can dim the room in the evening.

Light also affects your body clock. The U.S. Department of Energy puts it this way: "Light plays a key role in setting and regulating the body's biological clock." An entry you pass through at night is a good place to keep things warm and modest.

Which color temperature works best?

Color temperature is measured in kelvins. The Department of Energy describes correlated color temperature as one of the primary metrics used to characterize the visual appearance of light. In plain terms, a lower number looks warmer and a higher number looks bluer.

For a welcoming entry, look for bulbs around 2700K to 3000K. Buy all the bulbs in the space at the same time so the pendant, sconces and lamp match. Mixed temperatures in one small room look like a mistake.

LEDs are a sensible default here. The Department of Energy notes that good-quality white LED lighting products are expected to have a useful life of 30,000 to 50,000 hours or even longer, which matters when the fixture hangs over a stairwell you'd rather not climb a ladder in.

How do you size an entryway fixture?

A common rule for a pendant or chandelier is to add the room's length and width in feet, and use that number as the fixture's diameter in inches. A 8 by 10 foot foyer would suit a fixture about 18 inches wide. Treat it as a starting point, then adjust for the look you want.

Keep the bottom of the fixture at least 7 feet above the floor in a walking area, and higher if tall people live in your house. Hang it centered on the door's approach, not necessarily the exact middle of the room.

Entryway light fixtures for a high ceiling

With a ceiling of 9 feet or more, a flush mount can look lost. A tall pendant, a lantern or a multi-tier chandelier fills the vertical space and gives the eye something to land on.

For two-story foyers, choose a fixture that reads well from the stairs and the landing, not just from the front door. If bulbs will be hard to reach, pick an integrated LED fixture, and ask a licensed electrician about hanging height and ceiling support for anything heavy.

Save

Entryway chandelier ideas

A chandelier works best when the foyer has the room for it. Some ways to use one:

• A drum or cluster chandelier with a fabric shade, which diffuses light and softens shadows.
• A slim linear chandelier over a narrow console, which follows the shape of the space.
• A compact, open-frame design in a smaller foyer, so it adds light without looking heavy.

Put it on a dimmer. A chandelier at full brightness in a small entry feels like a spotlight.

Modern entryway lighting ideas

A modern entryway pendant light usually means clean geometry: a single globe, a cylinder, or a thin line of metal with an opal glass shade. Frosted glass is kinder than clear glass, since the bare bulb stays out of view.

Black entryway lighting suits modern and industrial homes. Matte black frames add contrast against light walls and pair well with brass or wood. Glossy surfaces bounce light around and create sharper shadows, while matte finishes absorb it, so a matte black fixture will look quieter than a polished one.

Save

Small entryway lighting ideas

In a narrow hallway or apartment entry, floor space is the scarce resource, so move the light to the walls and ceiling.

• Use a semi-flush mount instead of a long pendant if the ceiling is low.
• Hang a large mirror opposite or beside a light source to bounce light deeper into the space.
• Choose a plug-in sconce if you rent and can't wire anything.

If you want the layout side of the entry sorted first, these mid century entryway ideas and these entryway tips cover furniture and styling.

Entryway wall sconces as the main light

Entryway wall sconces free up the floor and the console, and they light faces at a flattering height. Mount them with the center about 60 to 66 inches from the floor, and space a pair roughly 6 to 8 feet apart on a longer wall, or flank a mirror.

They are also the safest choice if you have a big dog with a happy tail. A table lamp on a console can get knocked over by an excited greeting, while a sconce stays put. For the wiring, hire a licensed electrician if you're adding a new hardwired box.

Save

Lighting a mail station and drop zone

An entryway lighting and mail station setup needs task light where you sort mail and set down keys. A small lamp on the console works, but a sconce above the shelf frees the surface for a tray and a mail sorter.

Aim for light that reaches the counter without glare on glossy paper. A shade that hides the bulb helps. I recommend keeping the mail area close to the door so letters don't wander through the house, and keeping one switch by the door for the whole entry.

Pair it with a rug that clears the door swing, and a mirror above the console to double the light. If the entry doubles as a tidy storage spot, styling a functional shelf helps it look like decor and not a pile.

Save

Avoid glare at night

The Illuminating Engineering Society and the International Dark Skies Association state that "The Five Principles advocate thoughtful deployment of light at night, optical control to direct light only where it is necessary, using the minimum amount of light necessary, use of controls to use light only when necessary, and careful selection of color temperature."

For an entry, that translates to shielded fixtures, dimmers, and timers or motion sensors so the light isn't blazing all night. Keep the exterior fixture warm and shielded too, so it lights the steps without glaring into the neighbor's window.

A clean, light-colored door also reflects the glow nicely, so if yours is white, here's how to clean it.

Frequently asked questions