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What Size Should My Light Be?
Posted by admin@oldcalifornia.com BigCommerce on Dec 23rd 2024
What Size Should My Light Be?
How to choose a light fixture size that feels “just right” in your space
By Jack Dack | Updated December 19, 2025
Picking a light might seem simple — until you realize a tiny tweak in size can transform how a room feels. The right fixture doesn’t just shine light; it shapes the space. Whether you’re refreshing your dining room, front porch, or kitchen island, getting the size right is one of the easiest ways to make your lighting look intentional — not accidental.
That ‘just right’ size will be depend on your space. The fixture should feel proportional to the room overall and pleasing to your eye. It's your home—make it yours!
Here’s an easy, low-stress way to test your options using stuff you probably already have.
What You’ll Need
- Marker
- Scissors or a blade
- Ruler or tape measure
- Paper (for the 2D method)
- Cardboard and tape (for the 3D method)
- Dimensions of the light fixtures you're considering
Start With a Quick 2D Mockup
1. Measure and Mark: Using your ruler and marker, draw lines on the paper to represent the height and width of the fixture.
2. Cut Out the Shape: Carefully cut the paper along the lines you've drawn. You can cut a taper at the top to simulate the roof or any angular design of the light fixture.
3: Visual Placement: Tape the paper where you plan to install the fixture to see how it will fit into the space.
Sometimes 3D Is Easier to Judge
1. Measure and Mark: On the cardboard, draw lines that measure the height and width of each side of the light fixture, including all facets if it’s not simply rectangular.
2. Cut Out the Panels: Using the scissors or blade, cut out each panel that represents a side of the fixture.
3. Assemble the Mockup: Tape the cardboard pieces together to form a three-dimensional model of your light fixture.
4. Test Placement: Hold or tape the cardboard model in place, or hang it from a string if it’s a pendant or chandelier, to see how it fills the space.
Here's a mockup some of our customers made (they went above and beyond to build out each section of the fixture), followed by their new lamp in place!
Live With It for a Bit
Make a few versions in different sizes, tape them up, and live with them for a day or two. Walk by. Sit under them. Look at them from other angles. The more you interact with the mockups, the more confident you’ll feel about the real thing.
Reminder: there’s no single formula that works for every room — but whatever you choose should feel proportional to your space and pleasing to your eye. If it looks awkward or out of place, it probably is too big or too small.
Choosing the right light fixture doesn’t have to be a guess-and-hope game. With a little creativity and these mockup tricks, you can find the size that feels natural and enhances your space — whether you’re preserving historic charm or adding a fresh accent. Ready to find your new perfect fixtures? Shop the Old California collections.
Jack Dack has been working with historic homeowners for 20 years.
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