How to Style Pendant Lighting

Finding our Roots

Pendant lighting is a timeless example of an elegant statement piece. With the rise of art deco and mid-century modern during the 1930's, interiors began to focus on sleek shapes underlined with elegance. Pendants were seen as a space-saving alternatives to the unwieldy chandelier, correlating with the decline of the latter. There have been substantial innovations to pendant lighting in the last century, which is why it's time to get to grips with Industville's best practices in contemporary pendant design.

All Shapes and Sizes

20th century pendant conventions emphasised central arrangements in broad spaces, serving as a focal point. In the 21st century, we have abandoned this restrictive structure for more dynamic impressions. Even limited spaces can now experiment with pedants, leaning further towards the wall space or snuggled in the corner. Make your friends eat their hearts out, evoking elegant sophistication, without consuming precious space. Alternatively, our large, opulent pendants will serve as a striking focal point to catch attention. Explore the full range here.

Placing pendants in different areas creates sectional spaces with clearly defined zones. When layered with alternative lighting, such as a wall light or a table lamp, the pendant underlines remarkable ambient texture around your space. Generating variously diffused hues for a more refined and ornate room composition. We can achieve these sophisticated compositions due to the flexible form of the fixture, trading precious floor space for an otherwise empty ceiling. We have a wide range of dynamic pendant shapes, discover more here.

Cutting Shapes

The position of your pendant is heavily influenced by the shapes around it. Contrast sleek, rounded shades with refined straight lines, comparative to square counters or rectangular sofas. This supplements a dynamic and fluid interior with a rich blend of shapes for substantial depth. Additionally, the distinct form of metal dome lighting is a timeless design which fosters a better sense of scale around your space with clear definition.

Pendants bring the light down from the ceiling and closer to eye level to create an inviting ambience. Alternatively, you can take advantage of the flex cord affixed to our fixtures for atmospheric, low-level lighting, providing intimacy. The versatile flex cord encourages you to adjust the layers of your lighting for intricate character. For a comprehensive guide on varying pendant heights, find out more here. Glass lighting will project a stronger glow, which makes it perfect for highlighting specific areas of your space, alternatively serving as a striking focal point.

Contrasting Structures

Cluster Pendant Lighting

Sometimes, a single pendant won't cover a broad space, casting shadows caused by the limited glow. This can reduce the sense of scale in your interiors. As previously discussed, layered lighting can assuage this problem, however, another alternative lies in clustered pendants. A cluster pendant is defined by multiple hangings suspended in a single arrangement. Do a deep dive into clusters here.

These clusters consist of odd numbered pendants, typically in 3's 5's and 7's, since odd numbers provide a better sense of scale to evenly distribute the light. Consequently, clusters do offer greater depth and functionality than when considered in a broad setting, although these benefits are somewhat limited in more intimate areas of the home. You can view our full range of cluster lighting here.

The unique and captivating form of the cluster evokes the qualities of a chandelier; channeling sleek opulence, without the substantial space required. Exposed bulb clusters are invariably popular, taking on the appearance of a deconstructed chandelier, for a more sophisticated and abstract impression. It's important to note that when fitting clusters, always maintain 45cm between the individual fixtures.

Flush Mount Lighting

Although not a pendant, flush mounts offer a more conservative statement with a focus on functionality. These fixtures excel in small rooms to conserve space, whilst maintaining sleek refinement. Flush mounts are a great example of how to effectively use lighting in rooms with low ceilings. They're less flexible than pendants, given that they're directly affixed to the ceiling. Much like single pendants in broad spaces, flush mounts can compromise a sense of scale in expansive interiors. See our array of flush mounts here.

Finding Room for your Pendant

Bedroom

Pendants are flexible fixtures that enhance any interior, the important part is tailoring the fitting to the setting. In bedrooms, they can be styled as a pair, elegantly framing the bed for a consistent glow across the space. More confined chambers comparative to attics can invoke swag lights, attaching the flex cord to a hook for a more tailored style.

Note: pendant lighting should be fitted 45-60cm above the mattress. At the bedside, keep it 120cm above the floor.

Living Room

Two pendants can also feature in living rooms, performing a similar function in framing your sofa. Two fixtures split evenly over the sofa will provide a strong glow that covers the entire room, without distracting from your focal point.

Note: pendant lighting should be fitted at least 200cm above the floor, depending on the height available.

Kitchen

For small island kitchens, one hanging will suffice to diffuse a consistent, warming glow around the counter. If you're island consumes considerable floor space, you will need to think bigger, with a 3-pendant minimum. Kitchens represent a more functional side to the house, requiring plenty of space and visibility. Always remember to hang the base of the fixture just above eye level.

Note: pendant lighting should be fitted 70-100cm above surfaces.

Dining Room

Small spaces should stick to single pendant lighting, however, additional room provides a great opportunity to embellish your decor with statement lighting, whether that's an ornate pendant or an intricate cluster. Cage pendants are perfect for expansive interiors, where you can enrich your decor with artistic flare. A soft glow gracefully suspended above the dining table can create considerable warmth and an inviting ambience.

Note: pendant lighting should be fitted 150-160cm from the floor.

Particulars

When considering materials, bear in mind that metals will funnel light downwards, projecting a more focused glow on the highlighted space. Although, glass proves much more flexible at dispersing light, casting a wider glow to reduce shadows. We also offer ridged glass finishes, with vertical grooves which soften the bulbs' glow for a warming ambience.

Maintaining a sense of scale in your space is a delicate balancing act. If you're planning on hanging one above a table, the shade diameter should be 30cm shorter than either side of the table. This creates a visual buffer around the shades' pool of light to accentuate your decor.

Conclusion

Pendant lighting offers a versatile and stylish solution for illuminating various spaces in your home. With a confident understanding of modern design practices, you can create dynamic and inviting environments tailored to you. Remember to consider the function, placement, and materials to enhance the ambiance and aesthetic of your space. With thoughtful planning and creative use, pendant lighting can transform your home into a sophisticated, modern marvel.