Design Placement Questions Every Homeowner Wants to Know
When it comes to the placement of design elements in a home, an interior designer is often asked the same questions by all clients. We are here to answer some of the most frequently asked ones.
Chandelier Height
How high do you place the chandelier above a dining table? The chandelier should relate to the table underneath it so it should not be too low or too high. If it is too low, it may interfere with a vase of flowers or the head height of the diners. How high to place it should be determined by the vignette you are trying to create between the chandelier and the table. Often the view past the table or the scale of the chandelier needs to be considered. The perfect minimum height is approximately 36” off the dining table surface while the maximum height will vary.
Bathroom Faucet Types and Locations
The best-looking bathroom faucets for a countertop are the wide spread faucets. A wide spread faucet is 3 separate pieces: hot and cold handles and a spout. The handles are 8” apart with the spout in the center. When considering your counter depth, you need to take into account the width of the sink and add 3” in the back for your hands to comfortably turn the handles and also 3” in the front of the sink for the vanity depth and the overhang. Bathroom vanities are often less deep than other cabinetry and you want to be sure there is enough space for the stone fabricator to cut the holes for the sink and faucet. The faucet should be centered on the sink unless it is a specific off-center sink and faucet design.
Countertop Heights
Countertop heights are variable these days depending on a homeowner’s height, however, there are some typical standards to use when considering how high you want counter heights throughout your home. These are measured from the top of the finished floor to the top of the countertop. ADA-compliant countertops may be lower to accommodate wheel chairs.
• Kitchen Countertops: 36”
• Kitchen Island: 36”
• Bar Height or Stand-Up Height: 42”
• Dining Tables: 30”
• Bathroom Vanity: 34”
Making a Beautiful Bed
There are many options for this one. Should you have a bedspread or use a duvet? We prefer to forgo the bedspread and use beautiful linens instead. There are so many ways to source this look, whether one uses the most luxurious European linens or readily available ones online. At Atchison Architectural Interiors, we prefer a beautiful duvet, a stack of pillows with pillowcases with an edge detail on the ends, shams with an edge detail on 4 sides, and Euro squares again with the same edge detail on 4 sides. Depending on the size of the bed, there might also be a long lumbar pillow in the center.
We recommend 2 standard size pillows for a full-sized bed, 2 queen sized pillows for a queen bed, and 2 king sized pillows for a king bed. On the queen and king beds, we also suggest Euro Squares at 26” and prefer 2 of them on a queen and 3 on a king.
Mattress Sizes
When thinking about a bedroom layout, clients often ask just what are the sizes of mattresses. Height varies quite a bit but the width does not. Here are the standard sizes for mattresses.
• King: 76” W x 80” L
• Queen: 60” W x 80” L
• Full: 54” W x 74” L
• Twin: 39” W x 74” L
• California King: 72” W x 84” L
• Twin XL: 39” W x 80” L
Area Rugs
Area rugs help define spaces for activities, frame furniture layouts, and add color and texture. Rooms vary greatly in size so the rule of thumb on this one is simple. The furniture should sit all on the area rug or all off it. Many times, this is not possible with readily available retail options but if you are designing a custom rug, you should follow this simple guideline.
Placement Height for Most TV Screens
When viewing a movie or binge-watching your favorite TV series, you want the experience to be as realistic and comfortable as possible. The most critical criteria for determining the ideal screen placement are the viewer’s viewing height in order to eliminate craning your neck or looking over obstacles in the room. Factors like room size, TV size, furniture placement, and even your family members' heights all factor in when deciding where to hang your TV. This guide will help you determine how high to mount a TV in any room of the house.
Most experts use the center point of the TV as the main reference point for hanging height. TV manufacturers recommend mounting a flat-screen at eye level for optimal viewing, but the optimal TV height for you can depend on the height of the viewer and the size of the TV. Experts recommend that the middle of your TV screen should be at eye-level while seated which equates to about 42 inches from the floor to the center of the TV, and assumes that viewers will be seated 15 to 20 inches above floor level on a sofa or chair. The guidelines below are for wall-mounted screens of any size up to 85 inches diagonal:
• a 42” TV should be mounted 56” from the floor to the center of the TV
• a 55” TV should be mounted 61” from the floor to the center of the TV
• a 65” TV should be mounted 65” from the floor to the center of the TV
• a 70” TV should be mounted 67” from the floor to the center of the TV
We hope these guidelines are helpful as you plan the design of your spaces. At Atchison Architectural Interiors we work with many architects, builders, and homeowners to make the interior design of your home chic and comfortable.
JEAN ATCHISON
Atchison Architectural Interiors designs classic and timeless spaces infused with a chic modern vibe. By merging traditional and contemporary elements, the team creates fresh, sophisticated looks. Their interiors are elegantly balanced, carefully edited, and current with a thoughtful mix of furnishings, textures, finishes, and objects.
Whether your aesthetic is contemporary or traditional, nationally recognized interior designer, Jean Atchison, will work closely with you to bring your vision to reality and create a home that is uniquely your own.
