Best Chandeliers for Double-Height Foyers and Stairwells

By Ishita Khullar, Design Lead, Delhi Brass · Design (Parsons School of Design) · Published 11 August 2026 · 3 min read · Reviewed by Hemant Khullar

A double-height foyer is the hardest and most rewarding space to light. Get it right and the chandelier becomes the first thing every guest sees; get the scale wrong and a two-storey void swallows the fixture whole. The rule is simple: in a double-height space you are lighting the volume, not the ceiling — so you choose a tall, vertical piece and let it fall into the drop.

How big should a foyer chandelier be?

For diameter, use the room's footprint: add the length and width of the foyer in feet and read the total in inches. For a grand entry that often lands between 34 and 48 inches wide. For height, a double-height fixture should occupy roughly the middle third of the void — tall enough to register from both floors.

Getting the hanging drop right

Hang the bottom of the chandelier level with, or just below, the first-floor ceiling line, so it reads from the upper landing as well as the ground floor. Always keep clearance above head height on the stairs and entry. Over a stairwell, an asymmetric or cascading piece can follow the descent of the stairs beautifully.

Choosing a style that carries the height

Three directions work especially well in tall spaces:

• Tiered & cascading — vertical layers that fill the drop, like Prism Tier or a crystal cascade.
• Sculptural statement — a single bold form read as art, like the matte-black Antler Crown.
• Grand traditional — ornate scrollwork and crystal for classical interiors, like Floral Scroll.

Don't forget maintenance access

A fixture hanging in a two-storey void needs a plan for cleaning and bulb changes — a motorised winch, or hanging within reach of the upper landing. We build this consideration into every foyer commission, along with the ceiling anchor a heavy solid-brass piece requires.

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Every grand piece is made to order, so drop, diameter and finish are tailored to your void. Browse the chandeliers, read our chandelier size guide, or commission a custom foyer chandelier.

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