Help & resources
Light a room, not just a ceiling.
Where you place a fixture, how high it hangs, and which bulb you choose changes everything about a space. This guide covers the layers of light, hanging heights, sizing, colour temperature, IP ratings, and when to go bespoke — so you can specify with confidence.
01 — Lighting principles
Three layers of light.
Good residential lighting combines three layers: ambient, task, and accent. Each one serves a different purpose, and a well-lit room uses all three. Start with the function, then choose the fixture.
Layer 01
Ambient
The base layer. Even, diffuse light that fills the room uniformly. This is the light you notice when you first walk in.
Fixtures: Pendants, chandeliers, flush mounts, recessed downlights
Layer 02
Task
Focused, directed light for doing things — cooking, reading, grooming. Placed where you need to concentrate.
Fixtures: Pendants over islands, wall lights beside beds, under-cabinet strips
Layer 03
Accent
The atmosphere layer. Adds depth, warmth, and visual interest. Creates contrast and draws the eye to surfaces and objects.
Fixtures: Wall sconces, picture lights, low-hung pendants, table lamps
Proportion lighting to the space, not to a photograph. A pendant that looks perfect in a lifestyle image may overwhelm or underwhelm in reality — always work from the measurements, not the mood board.
Tip from the studio
All meraki lights are compatible with 2700K–3000K warm white bulbs. Anything cooler reads clinical with brass. We recommend “warm dim” or “dim-to-warm” bulbs — they shift from 2700K down to ~2000K (candle warmth) when dimmed.
02 — Hanging heights
How high to hang every fixture.
The numbers below are starting points calibrated to work for most homes. Treat them as the first move, then adjust for your ceiling height, the size of your fixture, and the rest of the room.
| Application | Distance from surface | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen island | 700–750mm | From countertop to bottom of pendant |
| Dining table | 750–900mm | From table top to bottom of pendant |
| Bedside | 500–700mm | From mattress top to bottom of pendant |
| Stairwell | 2000mm+ | Lowest point clears highest tread by 2100mm min |
| Hallway / entry | 2100mm min | From floor to bottom of pendant for headroom |
| Open room | 2100–2400mm | From floor, depending on ceiling height |
Tip from the studio
For ceilings above 2.7m, add 75mm for every additional 300mm of ceiling height. A pendant at 750mm in a 2.4m room should be ~900mm in a 3m room.
03 — Sizing fixtures
How big should the fixture be?
Once you know where a fixture hangs, the next question is how big it should be. The answer depends on what is beneath it and how much room you are filling.
Pendants over a dining table
A single pendant should be 50–66% of the table width. For a 1600mm table, that is 800–1050mm. Alternatively, use a row of 3 smaller pendants with at least 200mm spacing between them.
Pendants over a kitchen island
A single statement pendant should be about half the island length. For rows, use odd numbers (3 or 5), spaced at least 200mm apart, with the total row spanning roughly half the island.
Chandeliers in open rooms
Add the room length and width in metres, then convert to centimetres for the diameter. A 4m × 5m room = 9 → ~900mm chandelier.
| Room size | Recommended diameter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3m × 3m | ~600mm | Compact dining or entryway |
| 4m × 4m | ~800mm | Standard living or dining room |
| 4m × 5m | ~900mm | Larger living or open-plan dining |
| 5m × 6m | ~1100mm | Generous open-plan or double-height |
| 3m+ ceiling | Add 25% | Larger fixture needed to fill the volume |
Drop calculator
Find the right pendant drop for your space.
Cable drop = Ceiling height − Surface height − Hanging gap
Required cable / chain drop
1.10 m
Measured from ceiling plate to the top of the pendant body.
04 — Bulbs & dimming
The bulb matters as much as the fixture.
A great fixture with the wrong bulb is a wasted purchase. The technical specs that matter most are colour temperature, lumen output, and dimmer compatibility.
Colour temperature
Measured in Kelvin (K). Lower numbers are warmer. For residential spaces with brass fixtures, stay in the 2700K–3000K range.
| Temperature | Reads as | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 2200K | Candlelight, very warm amber | Bedroom accent lighting only |
| 2700K | Warm white (incandescent equivalent) | Living rooms, dining, bedrooms — the safe default |
| 3000K | Soft white, slightly brighter | Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways |
| 3500K+ | Neutral to cool white | Workspaces only — avoid in residential rooms |
Lumen output
400–800 lumens per bulb is the residential pendant range. For a dining table with three pendants at 600 lumens each, you get 1800 lumens total — plenty for the table with ambient light elsewhere in the room.
Bulb compatibility
All meraki fixtures use E27 (large screw) or E14 (small screw) fittings — listed on each product page. These are compatible with Philips Hue, IKEA Tradfri, and all standard LED bulbs.
Dimming
Three things must match: a dimmable bulb, a compatible LED dimmer switch (not a standard dimmer), and a dimmable driver if the fixture has an integrated LED. All meraki lights accept standard dimmable bulbs.
Tip from the studio
Look for “warm dim” or “dim-to-warm” bulbs. They start at 2700K at full brightness and shift down to ~2000K when dimmed — mimicking the warmth of an incandescent bulb fading. The single best upgrade for any brass lighting scheme.
05 — Bathroom & IP ratings
Where regulation sets the rules.
Bathroom lighting is the one area where regulation, not aesthetics, sets the rules. The IP rating you need depends on how close the light sits to a water source.
Zone 0
Inside the bath or shower
Submerged or sat directly in the water source. Mostly a concern for bath spotlights or steam-room fittings.
IP67 minimum required
Zone 1
Above the bath or shower
The vertical area directly above the bath or inside the shower enclosure, up to 2.25m from the floor.
IP65 minimum required
Zone 2
Adjacent to bath / shower
The 600mm horizontal area around Zone 1, plus the area around a basin within 600mm of the tap.
IP44 minimum required
Outside Zone 2, regular indoor fittings (IP20) are permitted. The meraki bathroom collection is rated IP44 or higher — check the IP rating on each product page.
| Rating | Protection level | Where to use |
|---|---|---|
| IP20 | Solids only, no water protection | Outside Zone 2 — anywhere out of splash range |
| IP44 | Splashing water from any direction | Zone 2 — beside basins, edges of bathrooms |
| IP65 | Low-pressure water jets | Zone 1 — directly above showers and baths |
| IP67 | Temporary immersion | Zone 0 — inside the water source |
06 — When to go bespoke
When standard works, and when it doesn’t.
Most rooms work with what is in our standard collection. Some don’t.
When standard works
Ceiling height between 2.4m and 2.8m. Regular room shape. Standard-length dining table or kitchen island. A finish that is already available in the lighting range.
When bespoke earns its cost
Ceilings over 3m or double-height voids. Longer-than-standard kitchen islands. Clusters of 5 or 7 pendants (standard ships in 3). A finish not currently offered in lighting. Unusual ceiling junction boxes. Finish-matching to existing cabinet hardware in a non-standard finish.
Bespoke lighting service
We adjust cable lengths, configurations, and finishes to fit your space.
Free design consultation, made to order in solid brass, finishes matched to your existing meraki hardware. Common bespoke projects include 2m+ stairwell drops, custom cluster arrangements over kitchen islands, and finish-matching across cabinet hardware and lighting.
Start a bespoke enquiry07 — Common questions
Things customers ask us most.
Pulled from real customer support conversations.
How high should a dining pendant hang? +
750–900mm above the table top. Lower end for intimate settings, higher for busy households. For ceilings above 2.7m, add 75mm for every additional 300mm of ceiling height. Always measure from the table surface, not the floor.
Do meraki pendants come with bulbs included? +
No. We recommend E27 warm white bulbs in 2700K for living and dining spaces, or 3000K for kitchens and bathrooms. This lets you choose the exact output and brand you prefer.
What bulb fitting does meraki lighting use? +
E27 (large Edison screw) or E14 (small Edison screw), listed on each product page. Both are the most common residential fittings in the UK and EU.
Are meraki lights dimmable? +
Yes — all meraki fixtures accept dimmable bulbs. You will need a dimmable LED bulb and a compatible LED dimmer switch (not a standard rotary dimmer, which can cause flickering with LEDs).
Can I use Philips Hue or smart bulbs? +
Yes. Any E27 smart bulb (Philips Hue, IKEA Tradfri, etc.) will work in our E27 fixtures. Smart bulbs do not require a dimmer switch — dimming is controlled via the app.
What IP rating do I need for a bathroom pendant? +
IP44 minimum for Zone 2 (600mm from shower/bath). IP65 for Zone 1 (directly above shower/bath). Outside Zone 2, standard IP20 fixtures are permitted. Check the product page for each light’s IP rating.
Can the cable length be customised? +
Yes. Contact our team with your ceiling height and hanging requirement. We can adjust cable or chain length as part of our bespoke service at no additional charge for standard adjustments.
How many pendants do I need over a kitchen island? +
Use odd numbers — 3 or 5. Space them at least 200mm apart. The total row should span roughly half the island length. For a 2.4m island, three pendants at ~300mm spacing works well.
Do I need an electrician to install meraki lighting? +
Yes for all hardwired fixtures. In the UK, bathroom lighting must be installed by a qualified Part P electrician. We include full installation instructions with every fixture.
What is the difference between IP44 and IP65? +
IP44 protects against splashing water from any direction — suitable for Zone 2 (beside basins, edges of bathrooms). IP65 protects against low-pressure water jets — required for Zone 1 (directly above showers and baths).
Will brass lighting tarnish in a bathroom? +
Sealed finishes (satin brass, matte black, satin nickel, polished brass/chrome) will not tarnish in bathroom conditions. Unlacquered brass will develop patina faster in humid environments — some customers prefer this accelerated character.
Can lighting finishes be matched to my cabinet hardware? +
Yes. Core finishes — satin brass, antique brass, matte black, and satin nickel — are available across all product categories (cabinet hardware, door hardware, and lighting). Some specialist finishes are only available in select categories.
Ready to specify?
Browse the lighting collection or send your room dimensions to our team for a personal recommendation.
