Positioning Ceiling Lights

[RichA]

Are there any rules of thumb for positioning ceiling lights?

i.e. I have been asked where I want my 2x ceiling pendants in a large master bedroom.

Should the space be divided equally (third, third, third)? Or is there another rule of thumb?

The same for spots, how close to walls, how much space in between?

Thanks.

 

[AndyPRK]

How about 1/4. And 3/4.

Why don’t you make one wall switch light up the bedside lights.
With a 2 way switch (pull or rocker) near the bed.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Ask the wife/ husband/significant other
They will know the answer.

Any decision made from the advice of an Internet forum is going to be clouded by personal preferences/spurious influences or the effects of drugs or alcohol.

 

[SimonH2]

A lot depends on the room. In many rooms, if you were to position the lights geometrically (eg ¼ - ¾, or 1/3 - 2/3), then they would not "look" correctly spaced. Taking fixed items such as alcoves, doorways, storage, etc into account, the bed is not centrally placed - so do you arrange things centred on the bed, or on the room, or neither ?
And then there's the minor practical issue that it's easier to fix a light fitting where the timbers run - not that it's hard to add a noggin if needed.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Back in the day, the single pendant light in bedrooms had to be positioned closer to the window so that the sillhouette of you undressing didn't disturb the neighbourhood cats (etc).