A designer pendant light sets the tone for a living room, kitchen or dining table. Glass globes, black or gold metal, one oversized piece or a row of small ones: it shapes the light where you live.
Size and height for each setting
Sizes range from under 15 cm to over 100 cm in diameter. For a central pendant, (room length + width in metres) × 8 gives a rough size in centimetres: about 70 cm for a 4 × 5 m room. Above a table, base the diameter on the tabletop instead, at between half and two thirds of its width.
Where people walk underneath, keep at least 2 m of headroom below the light, ideally 2.10 m. Some models have an adjustable drop, handy for fine-tuning the height once the pendant is up.
Shapes, materials and styles
- Industrial: black, copper-toned or raw metal shades, often with an exposed bulb, above an island or a wooden table.
- Glass: clear or opal globes, balls and domes that give a softer or brighter light.
- Fabric, plastic or acrylic: large, lightweight shades for a living room or bedroom.
- Crystal, wood or marble details: for a pendant that stands out even when it is switched off.
Modern style leads the way, alongside vintage and retro, Art Deco, Scandinavian, and rustic and country. For a kitchen, see our kitchen pendant lights; for a dining table, our dining room pendant lights.
Exposed bulb or integrated LED
Most designer pendant lights take a bulb, with an E27 or E14 cap depending on the model: a decorative LED filament bulb suits designs where the bulb is on show. Choose 3,000 K warm white above a dining table, and 2,700 K in the living room. Most can be dimmed with a dimmable bulb. For a built-in light source, see our LED pendant lights or all our pendant lights.
Frequently asked questions about designer pendant lights
How high should a designer pendant light hang above a table?
Allow 70 to 80 cm between the tabletop and the bottom of the pendant: the light reaches the plates without dazzling your guests. For the diameter, aim for half to two thirds of the table's width, so 45 to 60 cm for a table 90 cm wide. See also how to light your dining room.
How many designer pendant lights should go above a kitchen island?
Hang the pendants 75 to 90 cm above the worktop and space them 60 to 80 cm apart. On a 2 m island, two or three small models in a row spread the light well; a single long pendant is another option. For the worktop, 4,000 K neutral white makes food preparation easier.
Does a large designer pendant light suit a low ceiling?
Yes, if it hangs above a table, where nobody walks underneath: all that matters then is the 70 to 80 cm height above the tabletop. Where people walk through, under a ceiling lower than 2.50 m, choose a short pendant or a ceiling light instead.
