The Best Pendant Lighting

Sometimes lighting is just a way to highlight the decor in a room. And sometimes, as with pendant lights, it can be part of the decor. Pendants have been a popular choice for generations when it comes to kitchen lighting, but they can work well in just about any room of the house.

So, what is a pendant light? It can be hard to classify given the variety of styles, but in general, any light suspended from the ceiling by a cord, chain or tube is a pendant light. That can include fixtures where the bulb is encased in glass, metal or sometimes nothing at all. Technically, a chandelier is a very elaborate pendant light.

When you get a pendant lighting kit, it will usually consist of a few basic parts. There’s a canopy that mounts onto the ceiling and encases the electrical wiring. That wiring can be wrapped around a chain or threaded through a tube, and it goes down to the pendant holder, which incorporates the light bulb socket. In most cases, that bulb is protected by a glass bowl, metal cage or a shade of some sort. This last part of the kit can take many forms, and it can be fun to pick the type that suits your style.

But first, you’ll want to make sure the light is a good practical fit for your space. If you’re going to have your pendants in an open space like the living room or foyer, it’s a good general rule to hang them about 7 feet from the floor to the bottom of the bulb (or the holder that encases it). If they’re lighting up a dining room, kitchen island or bar top, make sure that there’s at least 30 inches of space between the table surface and the light. This might require you to shorten the wiring, either by securing it inside the canopy or splicing it (which should really be done by a trained electrician).

Now, on to those all-important decor concerns. Globe pendants are by far the most common, but that encompasses a wide variety of styles, from minimalist  glass orbs to elaborate painted ceramics. There are multi-light pendants like chandeliers that make a big statement and provide plenty of illumination, making them perfect for dining rooms. You can even buy kits where the pendant holder casts mood-setting shadows or colors the light in interesting ways. It’s all about buying the right light for your space.

The design can have practical applications, too. Many pendant lights have a shade over the bulb, and that will direct more light down onto a table or desk below (especially if the shade is made of metal or a non-transparent material). Conversely, you can buy “up” light configurations where the bulb sits on top of the shade, causing the light to reflect up into the ceiling. You won’t get nearly as much brightness with the latter option, but it does set a low-key mood.

Finally and most importantly, make sure the kit is one that you can install. If you’re not too confident in your electrical skills, downloading the instructions beforehand is a good way to see what you’re in for. As a general rule, if you’re putting your pendant lights into a pre-wired fixture, it shouldn’t be too much trouble as long as you’re somewhat handy. If you’re planning to put it in a space where there’s no existing wiring, you’ll definitely want to call an electrician.

• Most pendant lighting kits will come with everything you need to switch on, apart from one essential ingredient: the light bulb itself. Many modern pendants are made to go with a certain shape of bulb, such as the trendy and rustic “Edison” bulb.
• Make sure to check the kit manual for what kind of bulb you need, and make sure not to exceed the recommended wattage.
• As a default, you’ll want to go with energy-efficient LED bulbs. Compact florescents tend to consume a bit more energy, but they do emit a warmer glow if that’s what suits your decor.