Pendant lights have been widely used in houses, apartments and commercial areas for the past decade. Although chandeliers have been a staple of lighting for centuries, many interior designers and homeowners have opted for the more affordable, less complex and bulky but very decorative pendant lights. If you’re looking for a lighting fixture, pendant lights should be considered. Continue reading to find the right pendant light you can purchase for your property.
Pendant Lights in General
Pendant lights are lighting fixtures suspended from the ceiling by a rod, chord, or chain. It provides light to the room with the help of a lighting source. Pendant lights are harnessed in different ways; stand-alone pendants and multiple pendants in series or clusters are some of the examples. Furthermore, pendant lights have different types that vary in shapes, styles, sizes, and design.
Despite the diversity of pendant lights, it can still be said that all serve an ultimate purpose – to provide light while also lobbying as a great architectural piece. However, you have to acknowledge that these differences will determine what specification of pendant light is perfect for you. Having sufficient knowledge on pendant lights can help you decide on the right type to buy.
Image Credit: Qanvast, Schemacraft
Why Use Pendant Lights?
There’s not much of a point comparing pendant lights with other lighting fixtures. Other lighting fixtures are good too as long as it matches the theme and layout of a home. Instead, the better thing to wonder about is why pendant are pendant lights advantageous?
Pendant Lights are Versatile
There’s a wide range of pendant lights available in the market. If you have a retro, contemporary, modern or any other interior theme, there’s almost always a pendant light for you. This will be discussed more later.
Pendant Lights are Adaptable
Pendant lights are adaptable and flexible and could be adjusted depending on your preference, especially in terms of height.
Pendant Lights Have Multi-functions
Pendant lights can be used as a statement piece. It can also be used as a space saving reading or task lamp especially when hung lower. Finally, it can also be used as a task lanp like what a wall lamp can provide.
Pendant Light for Layering
Pendant lights are very diversified that you can install it anywhere. It can even be used in all three types of lighting making layering with pendant lights possible. Pendants with shades pointing down are expected to provide direct light hence serving as task light. On the other hand, those that have shades pointing both up and down are used for ambient and accent lighting.
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If your space has a high ceiling, pendant lamps are highly recommended.
Pendant Light Types
To know more on commercially available pendant lights, you have to distinguish each type from the other. Once you know what your expected function is, you can use these types to determine the most suitable pendant light for your space.
Island Pendant Lights
Island Pendant Lights from the term itself are most suitable for kitchen and dining islands. It usually has two to three lighting sources and can be placed above a desk, a pool table, or a bar, in addition to islands. Island pendant lights can be used for task and accent lighting.
Image Credit: Qanvast, Adroit ID
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Mini Pendant Lights
Mini pendant lights serve the same purpose as island pendant lights, although the former is a single fixture. Functioning as task and accent lighting, it can be installed above a sink or a desk. You can also be creative and install multiple mini pendant lights and arrange it in a row.
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Bowl Pendant Lights
Bowl pendant lights act as the central lighting of a room. It is great for large areas where more focused light is needed. It is recommended for dining and kitchen as it can provide more light by projecting it both up and down. Install bowl pendant lights high above eye level so as to avoid looking into the light. When installing bowl pendant lights, you usually have to install other light sources around the dining table as its shape causes it to focus solely on what’s below it.
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Drum Pendant lights
Drum pendant lights are cylindrically shaped like a drum and reflects light to the ceiling and into the surface below. It mainly provides accent lighting and also ambient lighting for small spaces like a table. It is good for modern themed places especially with a black metal finish.
Image Credit: Qanvast, Absolook Interior Design
Inverted Pendant Lights
Inverted pendant lights have light reflected upwards serving as ambient lighting. It is very similar to semi flush mounted lights except it is hanging through a chord or usually a chain. Inverted pendant lights are perfect statement lighting for dining rooms and kitchens.
Image Credit: Qanvast, Absolook Interior Design
Multi Light Pendant Lights
Multi light pendant lights have four to ten lighting sources. It can be arranged by twos or in a staggered pattern. If you have a high floor to ceiling clearance and you’re on a budget, this is a perfect alternative for chandeliers. It can be installed on the living room, dining room, and kitchen islands.
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Downlight Pendants
Downlight pendants obviously direct light downwards making it as perfect task lighting. With downlight pendants, intense and direct light is supplied so you can install it above desks for reading and fine detailed work, or on preparation counters when cooking.
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Pendant Light Shades and Finishes
Pendant lights are more commonly in shades of fabric, glass or metal. Fabric shaded pendants causes light to be diffused making it perfect for bedrooms while glass shaded pendant lights provide a classic look and spreads light entirely on a surface when not frosted. On the other hand, metal shaded pendant lights are perfect for industrial and minimalist themed spaces and the light it emits is in a more dramatic tone.
Here are other pendant light shades that could be of your interest:
-Frosted Glass
-Colored Glass
-Burlap
-Chrome
-Bronze
-Smoked White Glass
-Linen
-Tiffany Glass
-Black Iron
-Brushed Nickel
When finalizing what shade and finish of pendant light is right for your space, remember to be consistent with your theme or simply take a cue from the existing finish you have if it’s a renovation work. If your cabinet pullers are brushed nickel, then it’s just right to buy pendant lights with the same finish or at least something that complements it.
Image Credit: Renonation, I Bridge Design
How to Hang Pendant Lights
Pendant lights are not hard to install. Most of the time, you can buy pendant lights that are already ready for installation- plug and play as they call it. If ever you get to buy a pendant light that is unassembled, below are the particular steps on how to hang your pendant light:
First, hold the lighting fixture up to the ceiling and connect the wires provided in the junction box to the wires of your pendant light. Install the bracket with the mounting screws making sure to hide the wires between the bracket and the ceiling. Assuming that the chord is already connected to the bracket, then your pendant light is already installed. Just put a bulb into the pendant lighting fixture and you’re pendant light will already work.
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Pendant Light Size and Clearance
In hanging pendant lights, you should take note of its size and clearance. The right pendant light size will depend on the location and function of the light. Typically, the width of pendant lights is between 12cm to 110cm. There is no specific standard on the perfect size of pendant lamp for a particular space. But in general, large pendants are used for round dining tables. Small pendants on the other hand are mostly used for task lighting and is a good alternative to track lights.
For the height, it actually depends on the type and style of the pendant light. As mentioned already, there are pendants that reflect light downwards, upwards, and both. You really have to play it out as per the actual setting. In general, the rule of thumb is for pendant lights not to hang lower than 7 feet from the floor and 76cm from the top of a work surface. The chord could range from 4 feet to 9 feet long.
Make sure that the light doesn’t block the view of those below it and that the pendant lights are not too low that it can be bumped by the head.
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Pendant Lights for Particular Use
Over a Dining Table
When hanging pendant lights over a dining table, you may choose between a single pendant light or a multi light pendant light. Usually, odd numbers are more pleasing to the eyes. Three to five light sources installed over the length of the dining table is the standard for a regular sized table. If your table is longer than usual, just add more pendant lights. Install the pendant light 76cm above the table for an 8 foot ceiling. If your ceiling is higher, add 8cm or an additional foot. Horizontally, make sure that the outer edge of the lamp in series is at least 30cm from the outer edge of the table.
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Oversized single pendant lights are also trendy. It’s a good source of light and is also a possible choice for statement lighting.
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Over a Kitchen Island
The idea is just the same with a dining table. However, we recommend installing clear or colored glass for the kitchen island.
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Over a Cocktail Table
A single lamp over a cocktail table can produce a dramatic effect. Follow the same guidelines in terms of height and put it on the center of the cocktail table.
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Over a Sofa
A pendant light installed on one side of a sofa is an interior designer’s trick for living rooms. Bring it down a little and it can provide sufficient ambient and task lighting. It is also aesthetically good and provides asymmetry to your space.
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When buying pendant lights, make sure to know the dimensions of your furniture. Not all pendant lights have a standard chord length so always ask for its maximum height. Also remember that you cannot force using pendant lights if you have a low ceiling clearance. Finally, establish a theme for your space. Whether it’s your home or a commercial space, the theme of the whole interior design package should be consistent.
Having a beautifully lit space is good and it can be achieved through pendant lighting. Just not try to overdo it. Using pendant lighting involves a right process that was mentioned in this article. Make sure to understand this guide considering both the form and function of the lighting fixture to achieve an architecturally sound space.
