Pendant Lighting

For the center of a room, a simple rule gives a ballpark: add the length and width of the room in feet, and the result is an indicative diameter in inches. A 13 × 13 ft (4 × 4 m) room therefore takes a pendant of about 24 to 26 in (60 to 65 cm). Above a table, the diameter follows the tabletop: count roughly half the table's width, and leave at least 12 in (30 cm) between the edge of the shade and the edge of the table.

Dining room. This is where pendants shine. A dining room pendant should light the tabletop without dazzling seated guests: prefer an opaque shade or frosted glass to a bare bulb.

Kitchen. Above an island, hanging lights are repeated: two or three smoked or white glass globes spaced 24 to 28 in (60 to 70 cm) apart, or a single linear LED pendant. Smooth materials, glass and metal, are easier to clean of grease splatters.

Living room. A 16 in (40 cm) Japanese paper globe spreads soft light across the whole room. A rattan pendant, more graphic, draws shadows on the ceiling.

Bedroom. A bedroom hanging lamp benefits from being enveloping: linen, paper or rattan. Place it in the center of the room or offset above the foot of the bed, never above the headboard.

Entryway and stairwell. In a stairwell, adjust the cord length so the fixture is visible from both levels. Keep the bulb accessible so you can change it without scaffolding.

Natural fibers, rattan and linen, bring a warm boho note. Rattan projects patterns of light, linen filters and softens it. Japanese-style natural wood and paper make a Japandi pendant, clean and calm. Smoked glass, amber or gray, dims the light; white glass diffuses it evenly. The glass flower shade with a polished copper finish directs light downward and reflects a coppery halo, ideal above a table. Finally, industrial black metal brings a graphic line to a kitchen or loft, a classic of modern pendant lighting. For a Scandinavian pendant, pair light wood with white glass.

Under a low ceiling, below about 7 ft 10 in (2.4 m), keep the pendant above furniture, a table or an island, so it does not block the way, or choose a flat design. With a high or cathedral ceiling, a pendant has to come down toward the living space: a long cord and a large diameter globe avoid the feeling of light lost overhead. Check the cord length listed on the product page and whether it can be shortened.

Check the bulb base and maximum wattage on each product page. With a fiber or paper shade, choose an LED bulb, which stays cool. Light at 2700 K suits living spaces. For multiple pendants or lamps on a dimmer, choose bulbs marked dimmable. Before installing, switch off the power at the breaker and make sure the ceiling hook supports the weight. A pendant in a bathroom must respect the safety zones and the required IP rating: if in doubt, call an electrician.