Top 12 Pendant Light Fixtures

Pendant light fixtures are hanging lights suitable for any room requiring task-oriented lighting and ambient illumination, such as kitchens and dining halls. They are very much in vogue for such spaces and come in all kinds of modern and vintage styles. They help separate parts of a room by creating zones of gently directed light, add a unique decorative element through the choice of material and style of fixture, and lead the eyes to focal points such as centerpieces on tables and dishes on kitchen islands. This guide is written to help shoppers pick the right kind of pendant light for their spaces.

Aesthetic considerations

The lights used in a room can’t clash with the overall aesthetic of the space. Fortunately, pendant lamps come in an impressive range of styles, shapes, and colors, and the decorator can choose what they feel suits the room best. For example, a vintage-style kitchen with wood and antique bronze accents would benefit from a rustic caged pendant light, while a more modern space could benefit from frosted glass, metal, or plastic lights. Relaxed spaces could use rope chains to suspend simple blown-glass fixtures.

Material matters

What makes up your pendant light affects both its looks and its performance. Using opaque shades focuses the light down, which is excellent for task-focused spaces but not general lighting purposes. Use translucent materials for that, such as plastic and frosted glass. These can offer a softer diffused light perfect for living rooms and similar spaces. The use of transparent glass--or indeed no shade at all, as is popular with caged lights--is best when you need light throughout the room. Avoid materials such as fabric and paper, as these pose a fire hazard so close to a lit bulb.

Letting it shine

Pendant light fixtures are often designed to show off the bulb, as with blown-glass and caged lights. Using exposed-filament bulbs that mimic antique light fixtures (but work with modern dimmer switches and voltages) can lend a delightfully retro feel to any space. These "squirrel cage" filament bulbs come in many sizes for all kinds of cage fixtures. However, they aren't the best for life and energy savings, so if looks aren't prioritized or the lamp has a shade covering the bulb, always go for compact fluorescent or LED bulbs for the brightness and cost benefits they offer.

Categories Simillar to Pendant Light Fixtures includes Track Lighting Pendants, Island Lights and Track Lighting

Track Lighting Pendants

Island Lights

Track Lighting