Pendant Lights: A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right One
A pendant is the one light everyone looks at. How to choose one that suits the room: styles, sizing rules, what different shades do to the light, clusters and globes.
A pendant light hangs from the ceiling on a cord, chain or rod, bringing the light down closer to where you need it. Because it sits at eye level, it is also the light people notice most: in many rooms it is as much a piece of design as a source of light. Choosing well comes down to four questions: what the light is for, how big it should be, what the shade does to the light, and how it hangs.
What is the pendant for?
| Job | Where | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Task light | Kitchen island, desk, reading corner | Opaque shade that directs light down |
| General light | Living room, bedroom, hallway | Glass, fabric or paper that spreads light all round |
| Feature | Stairwell, entry, double-height void | Sculptural shapes, clusters, larger scale |
| Mood | Dining table, bedside | Warm globes, dimmable, softer diffusers |
Main styles
- Dome: metal or opaque shade, strong downward light; classic over benches and tables.
- Globe: opal or clear glass sphere; even, all-round glow.
- Cone and bell: focused pool of light with a softer spill above.
- Drum: fabric shade, soft light; suits living and bedrooms.
- Bare-globe: a decorative filament globe on a cord; needs a dimmer to avoid glare.
- Linear: one long fitting over a long table or island instead of several pendants.
- Cluster: several pendants hung at different drops from one canopy.
Sizing a pendant
- In a room: a common rule of thumb adds the room's length and width in metres and reads the total as centimetres: a 4 × 5 m room suits a pendant about 45 cm across.
- Over a table: a pendant roughly half to two-thirds the table's width looks balanced, leaving at least 30 cm to each edge.
- Over an island: two or three medium pendants or one linear fitting; see kitchen island lighting.
- Height: in our guide how high to hang a pendant light you will find drops for tables, benches and walkways.
What the shade does to the light
| Material | Light |
|---|---|
| Metal (brass, steel, aluminium) | All light down; bright pool, darker ceiling |
| Opal glass | Soft, even glow in all directions |
| Clear or ribbed glass | Sparkle and pattern; globe is visible |
| Fabric, linen | Warm, diffused light |
| Paper, rice paper | Very soft, ambient glow |
| Rattan, timber slats | Patterned shadows on walls and ceiling |
| Concrete, ceramic | Directional, like metal, with a heavier look |
Globes and dimming
Most pendants in Australia take an E27 (Edison screw) or B22 (bayonet) globe; check the fitting before you buy (see E27 vs B22). For homes, warm white (2700–3000 K) LED globes suit most rooms. A dimmer turns a bright task pendant into a soft mood light; make sure the globe is marked dimmable and compatible with the dimmer. More in our guide to LED light bulbs.
Room by room
- Kitchen: opaque or semi-opaque shades over the bench for task light.
- Dining: one statement pendant or a linear fitting centred on the table, on a dimmer.
- Bedroom: soft fabric or paper pendants, or a pair hung low beside the bed in place of lamps.
- Entry and stair voids: larger or clustered pendants that read from both levels.
In Australia, any fixed wiring, including installing a new pendant or downlight, must be done by a licensed electrician.
Questions
What size pendant light do I need?
For a room, add the length and width in metres and use that number in centimetres as the diameter. Over a table, about half to two-thirds of the table width.
Are pendant lights good for general lighting?
Glass, fabric and paper pendants spread light well; metal domes mainly light the area below, so pair them with other sources.
Can I install a pendant light myself in Australia?
Not if it involves fixed wiring. Installing or replacing a hard-wired light fitting must be done by a licensed electrician.
