Butbefore you start installing fixtures, it’s important to considerwhat pop in of light you’ll need.
Accent lighting highlights specific areas, and can serve as a decorative element.
Often hung over an island or sink, kitchen pendant lights provide brilliance and make a design statement.
Credit: Peter Molick
Use our guide to kitchen pendant lighting to learn about the various styles available and how to use them.
Pendants made of glass or chrome, for example, often exhibit sleek, modern style.
Fixtures with woven shades can lean into boho or coastal styles.
Credit: Werner Straube
Industrial-style metal shades or exposed bulbs fit well infarmhouse-style kitchens.
Translucent glass shades reduce distracting glare, while opaque shades will provide a softer glow.
To avoid circles of super-bright light, consider a pendant with a light-diffusing shade, or use semi-opaque bulbs.
Credit: Joyelle West
If you need overall light, space pendants evenly throughout the room or over the work area.
Cluster small pendants or hang a pendant with three or morelights over a kitchen islandor dining table.
In general, the larger the area you want to light, the bigger the pendant light should be.
As a general rule, pendants should hang 12 to 20 inches below an 8-foot ceiling.
For each additional foot of ceiling height, add three inches.
For example, in kitchens with a 9-foot ceiling, the pendant should hang 15 to 23 inches below.
The pendant height can also be measured up from the surface you intend to light.
For the most practical height for task lighting, provide a 30- to 36-inch clearance above tables and countertops.
Additionally, consider sight lines, and adjust the chain length as needed.
Pendants should hang over work surfaces at a height that doesn’t block views across the kitchen.
For instance, pendant fixtures with retractable cords are easily adjustable to suit lighting for different tasks.
Retract the light for all-over diffused light, or pull it close for intimate dining.
You should also choose lightbulbs that best suit the pendant’s function.
Dimmable bulbs offer opportunities to adjust the level of light to adapt to a project or mood.
