We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Decor

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Advantages of Pendant Lighting?

By Andrea Campbell
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 20,886
Share

Interior designers and consumers are turning to pendant lighting in almost any style of home or office. Typically, home builders often add one ceiling fixture in the middle of a room and call it finished. Pendant lights can help to break that monotony with style, and one of the best things about them is they don’t leave a “footprint” or take up valuable tabletop space. This makes them the ideal fixture over a kitchen sink for washing dishes, or over a bathroom vanity where horizontal space is minimal, yet the light needed for the task is still so important.

Think of pendants as providing a bigger pool of light, too, because it is often light directed down, illuminating a larger area. Most commonly considered as task lighting, pendant lights provide a decent-sized wash of light for eating, working at a desk, or playing billiards. Another important feature for larger homes is that pendant lighting can be used to bridge high ceilings. Because the fixture is normally suspended by a cord, pendants can be hung in a huge foyer with a 20-foot ceiling and not only make the light more accessible, but it brings the light down to where the guests are. Generally though, pendant lights are hung 32 to 40-inches over a work surface.

Traditionally pendant lighting was thought of only as contemporary lighting, but today there are inverted pendants that would fit in with classical furniture and decor befitting Queen Anne to Louis XIV. Designers look to use pendants in groupings as well and they might choose to hang three pendant lights over a breakfast bar to add a punch of color to an otherwise dull area.

People often feel more comfortable with pendant lighting because it is soft, like a decorative spotlight, but not as harsh. With colored glass shades you can reflect a glow on both objects and people. And the variety of pendant sizes—from a wineglass-sized light to a gigantic vertical shade—means you can sculpt the area overhead just as if it were art. Plus, pendant lights help to divide up the space in a large room by creating multiple task areas. For example, a great room can have pendants over the dining table, in a bar area, and again, over a desk or computer corner. And pendant lighting often comes in sets to coordinate nicely.

So, from fixtures that look cool like otherworldly satellites, to old-school Tiffany shades with butterflies, Murano glass, or even old world style lanterns, pendant lighting can make an updated statement in almost any decor. And there are optional track lighting systems for pendants that help to accommodate a larger expanse of space. The custom look that pendants provide can be had for a reasonable price point too; in most cases they cost no more than a traditional lamp.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-pendant-lighting.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.