A designer pendant light sets the tone for a living room, kitchen or dining table. Choose its size and drop, glass or metal, and exposed bulb or LED.
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.
