How to choose pendant lights? Every person loves to see their house looking spectacular, especially the kitchen. Pendant lighting is one of the ways to give your kitchen that lovely look. But to achieve that, you must know how to choose pendant lights that match your personality.
There are different options available for your kitchen lighting. This article overviews the style, finish, shape, and how to arrange pendant lights over the island.
What is pendant lighting?
A type of a pendant light
Pendant lights are single-bulb ceiling light fixtures. Usually, one can hang them from the ceiling or suspend them using a chain, rod, or cord.
Though pendants hang from one location, they hold several light bulbs. They are available in different sizes and made of other materials. You can find pendant lights made of glass, plastic, or concrete.
With modern technology, you will get pendants with low voltage. Others use halogen and fluorescent bulbs.
Types Of Pendant Lights For Over A Kitchen Island
Ceiling light fixtures come in a variety of styles, including pendant lighting. Pendants come in different sizes, shapes, and types to accommodate any kitchen island design.
Glass Pendant
Type of glass pendant
Glass pendants are ideal for your kitchen island, bathroom, or anywhere in your house. Most people love glass shade pendants because they illuminate light and have a wide variety to choose from to suit your preference. You can get transparent, opaque, seeded, or tinted.
Mini Pendant
Type of mini pendant lighting
Mini pendant lights are small. This makes them work well in groups. They are also ideal for task lighting.
Drum Pendant
A kitchen with drum pendant lighting
The drum pendant gives ambient lighting, provides shade, and brings color and character. Drum pendants are available in different sizes, and you can place them at the center of your island to give it enough light.
Bulb Pendant
Bulb pendant in a modern kitchen
The bulb pendants’ lighting doesn’t have any shades. You can use them with Led bulbs to bring in enough light in your kitchen. The beauty of bulb pendants is their simplicity. They are clean with an architectural look that doesn’t clash with the interior design of our kitchen.
Bowl Pendant
Bowl pendant lighting
These are lighting features with a small bowl. The bowl is adjusted at the bottom, usually at the center rod. Other options for holding the bowl include bars and chains attached to the central pendant.
How Do You Choose Pendant Lights over a Kitchen Island?
With a lot of pendant lights available, it can be tricky to choose what suits your kitchen. You must consider factors like; how far apart pendant lights should be over an island or how far down pendant lights should hang over an island. Besides these, consider the following;
Ceiling Height
A kitchen with a high ceiling
Ceiling height is the first option to consider. This will help you determine the pendant lighting suitable for your kitchen island. For instance, if you have a kitchen that is above 8 feet, a chandelier is the perfect fixture. But if it is less than 8 feet, consider having a flush or semi-flush light fixture mount.
The Fixture Diameter
To get the size of your kitchen space, measure the height, length, and width (in feet). Take the length and add width. For instance, if the island is 2 feet deep and 4 feet long, the sum is 8. That’s the diameter of your countertop. You can go ahead and purchase your pendants according to this measurement.
If you intend to install pendants in your bedroom, cabinets, or foyer, always use this standard calculation.
The Fixture Height
You can get the height by multiplying 2.5″ by 3″ per foot. Once you convert that to inches, you have the height of the fixture. This will guide you when choosing the island pendants.
Benefits of Pendant Lighting
- Pendants are easy to customize and energy efficient
- They don’t ruin your ceiling and are easy to install
- They spice up your kitchen space bring out a decorative feature
- Pendants distribute light where you need it, thus making everyday tasks easy.
- They are classy and affordable.
How Many Pendants Over Kitchen Islands?
A kitchen with three pendants over the island
Whether to choose 2 vs. 3 pendant lights over the kitchen island depends on the size of the island. For instance, if a kitchen is 5 feet, two pendants are enough. But how do you measure? You should leave 6” and between 30-32” at the edges. That will help you determine the number of pendants to install.
How to hang plug-in pendant lights?
You can hang them using the following;
- A hook
- Pipe Clamp
- Ceiling plate
- Chain
- Cord
- Extension cord
- Nail, etc.
How to install pendant lights
You can follow these steps to install your pendant lights.
Prepare for the installation by;
- Take out your fixtures.
- Turn off the light
- If you are installing for an old house, remove the old fixture first.
- Check if the electrical wiring has support to avoid malfunctioning.
- Ensure the junction box is well fixed.
Installing
Attach the power wires following the correct procedure. If the wire is black, attach it to black; if it is red, do the same. Ensure you cover all the bare wires and screw well to ensure you do not expose any wire.
How far apart should the pendants’ light be?
A kitchen with good pendant spacing
From the edge, the pendants should be 6” and between 30” to 32’ apart. However, this depends on the number of pendants you are hanging. The above applies if you are hanging around three pendants. If you intend to hang two, measure from the center, whereby you should leave 30”.
How low do you hang pendant lights over an island?
The excellent recommendation for pendant lighting over an island is three feet. That will not interrupt your sightline when you are standing. But as a rule of thumb, ensure you know the height of your clients. Also, learn how to arrange pendants over the island. Thus, it will help you stick to the correct measurement.
Takeaway
Choosing pendant lighting that meets your requirements when renovating your house is ideal. Though there are several in the market, you can get the help of an expert to help you pick the best. With the above tips, you can DIY and still achieve that excellent finish.
