Pendant Lights

Pendant lights in Scandinavian design: 68 fixtures in glass, ceramic, marble, brass and wood. A pendant is the one light in a room people actually look at, so it is worth getting the shape and the height right before you worry about the finish.

How high to hang a pendant

Over a dining table or kitchen island: 75–90 cm from the tabletop to the bottom of the shade. Lower than 75 cm and you block the eyeline across the table; higher than 90 cm and the light spreads too thin. In a stairwell or a double-height hallway, hang the fixture so the bottom sits level with the upper floor. Over a bedside table, 50–60 cm above the surface.

How many, and how far apart

For a kitchen island, work to one pendant per 60–75 cm of island length, so two over a 1.5 m island and three over a 2.4 m one. Space them evenly and keep the outer two at least 15 cm in from the ends. A single large pendant can carry an island up to about 1.2 m. Over a round table, one centred pendant always beats a row.

Choosing a material

Clear glass shows the bulb, so use a decorative filament bulb and expect sparkle rather than soft light. Amber glass warms everything and suits a white kitchen. Opal and milk glass hide the bulb entirely and give the softest, most even light, which makes them the safest choice if you will be sitting below. Ceramic is hand-painted and diffuses light downward with no glare. Marble glows from within where the stone is thin. Brass and wood read warmer than black or chrome and age better.

Room by room

Kitchen island and dining room are the two places a pendant earns its keep hardest. But a pair of small pendants either side of a bed frees up both nightstands, and a single pendant in an entryway does more for a first impression than a ceiling light ever will. Bathrooms work too, as long as the fixture is suitable for damp locations and sits clear of the tub and shower.

Fitting

Check each product page for the cord or rod length and the bulb the pendant takes. Most pendants replace an existing ceiling fixture directly. If there is no ceiling box where you want the light, an electrician can add one.

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