Lighting & Ceiling Fan Guides
These guides answer the questions our Albury lighting consultants hear most often: what size ceiling fan to buy, whether DC fans are worth it, how high to hang pendants, which bathroom heater to choose and what colour light suits each room. Each guide starts with a short answer, then gives the measurements and rules of thumb behind it.
Ceiling fans
What size ceiling fan do I need? Match the fan's blade sweep to the room: around 1200mm for most bedrooms, 1300mm to 1400mm for living rooms and 1500mm or more for large open-plan and alfresco areas. See the ceiling fan size guide for a full chart, ceiling heights and downrods.
Are DC fans worth it? For most homes, yes: they are quieter, use much less power and have more speeds. The DC vs AC guide compares the two and shows when an AC fan still makes sense.
Kitchens, dining and pendants
How high should pendants hang over an island? About 750mm to 900mm above the bench, spaced 600mm to 750mm apart. The pendant height and spacing guide also covers dining tables, stairwells and how many pendants to use.
Bathrooms
Heat lamps or fan-forced? Heat lamps warm you quickly under the unit, while fan-forced heaters warm the whole room more evenly. The bathroom heater guide explains 3-in-1 units, sizing and ducting.
Colour and globes
Warm white or cool white? Warm white (around 3000K) suits living areas and bedrooms, while cool white (around 4000K) suits kitchens, laundries and work areas. The warm white vs cool white guide includes a room-by-room table and explains tricolour LEDs.
Building or renovating
Planning a new home? The new home lighting checklist goes room by room through downlights, pendants, fans, bathroom heaters, outdoor lighting and switching, with the common mistakes to avoid before the electrician's rough-in.
- 3-in-1 Bathroom Heaters: Heat Lamps vs Fan-ForcedA 3-in-1 bathroom heater is a single ceiling unit that combines a heater, a light and an exhaust fan. Heat lamp models give fast, direct warmth to whoever is standing underneath, while fan-forced models warm the whole room more evenly and suit larger bathrooms. Whichever you choose, duct the exhaust to the outside and size the extraction to the room.
- What Size Ceiling Fan Do I Need? (Room-by-Room Guide)Choose a ceiling fan by its blade sweep (the diameter from blade tip to blade tip) and match it to the floor area of the room: around 900mm for very small rooms, 1200mm for most bedrooms up to about 12m², 1300mm to 1400mm for living rooms and 1500mm or larger for big open-plan or alfresco areas. Then check your ceiling height so the blades sit at a safe and effective height, which in Australia means never lower than 2.1m above the floor.
- DC vs AC Ceiling Fans: Which Is Worth It?For most Australian homes a DC ceiling fan is worth the extra upfront cost: DC motors use up to 70% less power than AC motors, run more quietly, and usually come with more speeds, a remote and a reverse mode for winter. An AC fan still makes sense when the budget is tight, the fan will rarely be used, or you want a simple wall-controlled fan.
- New Home Lighting Checklist: Room by RoomPlan your new home's lighting before the electrician's rough-in, room by room: general lighting (usually LED downlights spaced about 1.2m to 1.5m apart), task lighting over benches and vanities, feature lighting such as pendants, ceiling fans sized to each room, bathroom heat-light-exhaust units, and exterior and sensor lights. Decide on one colour temperature for the house and plan switch and dimmer positions at the same time.
- How High to Hang Pendant Lights (and How Far Apart)Hang pendant lights over a kitchen island so the bottom of each pendant sits about 750mm to 900mm above the benchtop, and allow roughly 600mm to 750mm between pendants. Over a dining table, aim for 750mm to 850mm above the table surface, with a pendant or linear bar about half to two-thirds the width or length of the table.
- Warm White vs Cool White: Which Colour Temperature?Warm white (about 2700K to 3000K) gives a soft, slightly yellow light that suits living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas, while cool white (about 4000K), sometimes called natural white, gives a crisper, whiter light that suits kitchens, laundries, bathrooms and work areas. Whichever you choose, keep the same colour temperature within each room or open-plan space.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes these guides?
The guides are written by the team at Lighting Bonanza, an independent, locally owned lighting and ceiling fan showroom that has served Albury-Wodonga for more than 25 years.
Can I get advice for my own home?
Yes. Bring your room sizes, photos or plans into our Albury showroom, or call 02 6021 8814, and our consultants will help you apply the guides to your home.
Do the guides replace advice from an electrician?
No. The guides help you choose fittings. Wiring, clearances and compliance should always be confirmed by a licensed electrician.
Are the measurements exact rules?
They are rules of thumb that work in most homes. Ceiling height, room shape and the specific product can change the answer, so check with us before you buy.
Want advice for your home?
Bring your plans or room sizes into the Albury showroom and our consultants will help you choose.
