Pendant lights are a great way to highlight an area of a room, whether it’s a focal point or just an accent piece. These fixtures come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, making them a perfect choice for any space. Luckily, there are some rules of thumb to help you find the right size for your space.
Choosing the right Pendant Lights
When you’re choosing pendant lights for your space, it’s important to choose styles and metals that are cohesive with your other design elements. It’s also a good idea to choose designs that speak to the feel or mood of your kitchen – whether it’s calm, chic, dramatic, etc. It’s also a good idea not to select a fixture that doesn’t complement the color or material of your cabinets or taps.
Choosing the Correct Pendant Height
While there’s no one magic rule for determining the optimal height for pendants, here are a few simple rules that you can follow to get started:
Generally speaking, it’s best to hang pendants a few inches higher than your ceiling. This will allow them to shine down on your counters and not directly into your eyes while you’re working in the kitchen. It’s also a good idea for pendants to be at least 30″ to 36″ above the countertop, which is ideal for most kitchens and dining rooms.
Clustering Pendants Over a Kitchen Island
If you’re planning to use several pendant lights musui-life over your island, the easiest method is to cluster them evenly down the run of your island. This will give your kitchen a more cohesive look and keep everything feeling connected.
But you can also do the opposite if you prefer a more contemporary look. Instead of spacing pendants evenly along the run of your island, you can cluster them down one end to create a meal zone. This is a fun and modern way to illuminate your kitchen, but be sure it’s not too big or clunky.
How Many Pendants Over a Table or Dining Room Chair?
When hanging multiple pendants over a table or dining room chair, you should use an even number. The formula for this is to take the length of your table and divide it by two. Then, subtract 12 from the result to determine the recommended space between each pendant.
Then, multiply this result by the desired number of pendants you want to hang. This is the minimum amount of pendants you’ll need for your table or chair, and it can be used as a guide to determine the total spacing between your lights.
For a table with an odd number of chairs, it’s better to install the first fixture at the center and the other two fixtures equal distance apart on either side of the table. This will ensure an even balance and give the table an interesting focal point.
You can also add extra wiggle room by hanging the first fixture about 32″ to 36″ above the surface of your table or chair, which will allow you to use an even number of pendants without having to worry about a hefty gap between your island and the base of your pendants. This will also give you plenty of wiggle room to adjust your pendants if you ever need to, and it’ll ensure your table is well-lit with a uniform glow.
