Pendant Lights

For many, pendant lights are the starting point of any lighting project, or possibly even the main focus point of the whole interior design of a room. 

There are a vast amount of styles and finishes to choose from, so there are a few things to bear in mind when you get started choosing your light pendants. 

Pendant Light Colour

Sometimes the easiest way to start the ball rolling when choosing a new pendant light is to choose a colour or finish that you like. This can be the finish of the fitting itself, such as chrome, copper or black light pendants. On other occasion it is the finish of the shade that counts. You can often marry the colour with the rest of the room, whether it's matching sockets and switches, or tying the colour in with the wallpaper. 

Pendant Light Style

There are many distinct styles of pendant lights available. We find that they are mainly broken into the following styles; traditional, contemporary, scandi, industrial. If you are struggling to narrow down your selection by colour we would recommend starting with the style first, it should help focus on the lighting you are looking for within the large range available. Once you've chosen the style, the colour or finish should flow from there. 

Ceiling Height and Light Pendant Drop

When browsing for pendant lights you should see that most pendants have a minimum and maximum height. Most pendants have an adjustable height, so that it can be fitted to the specific height at the time of installation. This is important for two reasons. The first is the minimum height, which usually includes the ceiling rose. It is important that you fit the light fitting high enough to not cause an obstruction in the room, especially if it is in a walkway. There are instances where you would deliberately want a longer drop on your pendant, especially in the stairwell or sometimes when placing the light over a solid object, such as an island light or dining room light, where the fitting is not going to cause an issue with people walking past. 

How the Light is Cast

When it comes to the light shade on the pendant, the type of shade can make a big difference to the way the light is cast in the room, so bear this in mind when you are buying. 

Some shade are solid, such as a metal fitting. This normally stops much light projecting upwards, instead casting the light down into the room. This can concentrate the light into certain areas, but be aware, it can also cast shadows in other areas. Other fittings have shade that allow some or all the light through, such as glass shades. This can spread a more even light in the room, but doesn't offer the same level of light concentration, so if you are trying to focus the light onto a table or breakfast bar, it may not have the desired effect.