We believe home design should be stylish and distinctive. From the statement appeal of a multi-tiered drum shade to the sleek elegance of a metal dome light, pendant lighting helps elevate a space, making it personalized to you. At Lulu and Georgia, our thoughtfully curated collection of pendant lights is perfect for your home, beautifully blending form and function.
Not sure what style fits your space best when searching for lighting elements? Don’t worry; we have got you covered. Check out our tips below for ideas and inspiration as you choose the best pendants and hanging light fixtures to buy for your space.
A (Quick) Guide to Pendant Lighting Styles
It can be easy to take ceiling lights for granted. Few of us fall in love with a particular pendant light fixture or curate mood boards full of hanging lights. But a well-lit space is a well-designed space, and being intentional with your lighting plan—choosing and placing ceiling pendant lights for maximum impact—can literally and figuratively change the tone of your whole space.
There are several types of pendant light fixtures, each with its own distinct silhouette, lighting pattern, and impact in the room. Here’s just a few—
Most of these designs are self-descriptive. When shopping for ceiling pendant lights, think about how their shape diffuses or throws light. A milk glass globe pendant—like this Kikki Pendant Light—can strike a chic look overhead, but it also offers warm diffused light throughout the room. Bowl pendants similarly cast light up to reflect off the ceiling and fill your space with ambient, indirect illumination.
Sometimes, style may be your first criterion—such as a lantern pendant or woven light to imbue cozy warmth or natural texture in a nursery or child’s room—or a statement pendant that becomes a focal point in the space. Even when you’re shopping by material or looking for that hanging light that doubles as a work of art, like this ceramic showstopper Shado Pendant Light by SIN, you want to think about how it will cast light and how that works with other elements such as sconces and lamps to create full and layered light in the room.
Drum, cylinder, and dome pendants direct light down, which is ideal for task lighting. Drum pendants can also cast light up and diffuse light out depending on the material of the shade, making them perfect over a small dining nook. Similarly, cylinder pendants can be used in multiples over a kitchen island—but we’ll talk more about room-by-room pendant lighting later. For now, the important thing is to think about how the shape of the pendant and its design will suit your overhead lighting needs—finding that ideal union of form and function for your space.
Room by Room: How to Use Pendant Lights In Your Design
Overhead light fixtures are often already set into your home’s layout. Finding spaces to install or upgrade a pendant or hanging light to enhance your design is one of the most effective ways to refresh a room’s tone. This design element takes up no footprint but touches every corner of the room. From large, open-concept living areas to intimate nooks and functional spaces, we want the perfect pendant in the perfect place—so let’s look at pendant lighting room by room.
Entryway Pendant Lights
You want to center the pendant over a major element in your entryway, such as a console table or rug. Chandeliers are often used to create a grand impression at the entry of a home—you can achieve this same effect in a smaller space with a statement pendant. Over a table, a pendant light should be mounted about 30” to 36” over the surface. If you are styling an entryway pendant light as the only fixture in the space, mount it higher for a wider spread of light.
Kitchen Pendant Lights
Pendants work in every space, but the kitchen is where they really shine. This is where you may look to smaller pendants such as this cylinder-style Putnam Pendant Light that can be used in multiples over an island counter or in a galley kitchen. In an eat-in kitchen, a pendant can be the perfect touch of light over the table. You want bright illumination with a good spread from kitchen pendant lights, as cooking and food preparation require a lot of task light and you may not have as many other lighting elements as you would in another room.
Dining Room Pendant Lights
As we mentioned, drum and dome designs make great dining room pendant lights over a small table or can be used in multiples over a longer one. You can also use them to highlight a sideboard or hang them at varying heights to create a brilliant statement feature in an open-plan layout. In smaller spaces, pendants can be used with other dining room lighting elements to create a cozier, more intimate feel. Hanging lights should be about 30” to 36” above the table or lower if you’re curating that more intimate space.
Bedroom Pendant Lights
Looking for that new bedroom feel without changing your bed. Look to a stylish pendant as a jumping-off point for a bedroom lighting redesign. Ceiling pendant lights can be styled over a vanity or dresser area, hung as an accent light in a corner, or placed over the center of the bed to cozy up a grand layout. In the bedroom, you can go for warmth and character with woven lighting or add a pop of pattern with our Jordan Pendant Light—the soft-textured shade is a natural fit for a tranquil space.
Living Room Pendant Lights
Living room lighting often involves more elements working together to create a layered approach that can transform from a bright social space to a cozy, quiet haven with the flip of a few switches (or voice prompts). Depending on your layout, pendant lights can play an essential role in ambient, task, and even accent lighting. As a rule, pendants sit over features—such as a coffee table, console table, or in a corner lighting a reading nook. You can also use them in multiples for more general lighting in the space.
However you style it, remember that lighting allows you the flexibility to showcase the nuances of your design aesthetic. Loved ones and visitors can immediately get a sense of who you are by seeing how you have augmented your space with thoughtfully chosen light fixtures.
Lulu and Georgia Pendant Lights
When you shop for lighting for your home at Lulu and Georgia, you’ll find pieces that complement your style while making it feel more elevated. Choose from our wide selection of pendants and hanging light fixtures to find the perfect purchase for your project, no matter what you’re looking for. Check out our shop-by-room page for more ideas and inspiration on creating stylish everyday living spaces.
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