Pendant & Ceiling Lights

Since every home is different, it is impossible to name what might universally be considered the best LED pendant lights for every home. Even so, there is one thing that remains true regardless of your design style: LED lights are the way to go.

Not only do many LEDs afford the ability to dim them, keeping you in control of the brightness at any given time, but they also have practical benefits as well. Alongside the adjustable ambience,dimmable LEDs provide energy efficient ceiling lighting that will last longer than traditional bulbs.

LEDs are rated for use for tens of thousands of hours as opposed to the 1,000 hours you can expect from traditional light sources. This is because they use 80 percent less energy than halogen or incandescent bulbs.

Their efficient energy consumption also makes them friendlier on the environment and on your wallet. Since their long life means fewer replacements are needed, you won’t have to spend as much money on new light purchased, either.

The size of the pendant ceiling lights must be considered in relation to the size of the room or furniture you want to place them above. Below are some tips on choosing pendant lights in the appropriate size.

Pendant Size:

• Add together the width and length of the room. Divide that number by 12 to find the best pendant width.

• Measure the room’s height and multiply it by three. Divide that number by 12 to find the best pendant height.

Hanging Pendants Above a Table or Island

• If you want to install breakfast bar lights the kitchen, you’ll first need to measure the diameter or the width of the surface. Take 12 away from that number, and you’ll arrive at the maximum suitable width for the island pendant lights. Keep in mind that a fixture that has a complex design will look larger and eye catching, so if you don’t want it attracting too much attention, you may want to use a smaller width than even that.

• When hanging the pendants, begin with them approximately 85 centimeters above the surface. Be sure to consider the line of sight of those who will be near the lights, so no one has to deal with glare or worry about hitting their head on the light.

• Space the pendant every meter or so above the counter.

• Smaller surfaces no longer than two meters look fine with two medium pendants or one large pendant. Islands two meters or longer look fine with three medium or two large pendants. Over a dining table, arrange pendants in a row with a space of 71 to 91 centimeters from the tabletop to the bottom of the pendant.

Hanging Pendants As Ambient Light

• Begin by adding the length and width of the room to determine the best diameter for the light fixture you want to install. A good rule is to have ceiling pendants hanging at approximately 50 centimeters below a 2.5-meter-high ceiling. For every additional 30 centimeters of ceiling height, add 8 centimeters to the hanging level.

• In entrance halls and hallways, hang the lights at least 15 centimeters higher than the top of the front door.

LED pendant lights can be used in several ways in your kitchen. Some of the most common areas you’ll see Kitchen ceiling lights are:

• Over a kitchen island to serve as task lighting

• Over a breakfast bar, commonly with more than one hanging light

• Over a dining table

There are three types of lighting commonly found in kitchens. These include:

• AMBIENT LIGHTING. This is the main light source and can be achieved through the use of pendant lights and chandeliers.

• TASK LIGHTING. Task listing is good for illuminating shadowy areas that need more illumination to navigate. They can also be lined up in the form of pendant lights above a counter or breakfast bar.

• ACCENT LIGHTING. These are any other pendant lights you want to hang elsewhere to enhance the appearance and atmosphere of the room.

If you want ambient pendant lighting, space the pendants throughout the room or cluster smaller pendants close together. Generally speaking, the larger the area you want to light, the larger the light should be. That said, small pendant lights are perfect for sink areas.

For task lighting, op for a pendant that has an open top such as a drum shade to reduce the harshness of the light beneath. If you choose opaque shades, it will offer a softer glow, while translucent glass shades will reduce any glare. Use a pendant with a light-diffusing shade to eliminate any unsightly light circles.

To help you to determine the right size for your kitchen pendant lighting, follow these steps:

• Measure the width and length of the island or breakfast bar

• Minus 12 from the number

• Use the new width and length and add them together to find the best width

Figure out how many pendants you should have hanging from the ceiling by:

• Measuring the length and width of the island or breakfast bar and adding them together

• Take away 12 from the total and then divide by any number from the allowable width

• Divide that answer by two to find the number of pendants that can be hung

Determine how far to space the pendant lights by:

• Measuring the length of your island, breakfast bar or table

• Choose how many pedants you want to hang and then add 1 to that number

• Divide the length by the number found in step 2 to find how much space should be between each light

Colour temperature, or CCT, is how manufacturers discuss the warmth or coolness of a light. It exists on a spectrum between 1,000 and 10,000 Kelvin, with warmer lights toward the bottom and cooler lights at the top.

Both light colour ranges have their place. In residential spaces, most people prefer to have warm white light between 2700K and 3300K. This provides a more relaxing vibe while still being bright enough to see. That said, those who prefer more vibrant, energising lighting may prefer to use cooler lights around 4000K.

Generally speaking, one watt of LED light is equivalent to 80 o 100 lumens. This means:

• A three watt LED light is the same as a 25-30 watt halogen bulb

• A five watt LED light is the same as a 45-50 watt halogen bulb

• A nine watt LED light is the same as a 60 watt halogen bulb

Because pendant lights are accent lights as opposed to task lights, they are best with 40 to 60 watt bulbs that have a warm white colour temperature of 3000K. Varying colour temperatures might be needed in different areas, however, such as a dining room that should be comfortably lighted for relaxation and not too bright. On the contrary, in the kitchen, you need enough light to be able to easily cook by.

Though some lights simply have a long cord you can plug in, not all do. Any pendant light that needs wiring work should be handled by a qualified electrician.

• Hanging pendant lights are particularly popular in hospitality settings due to their contemporary appeal. Most commonly, you will see pendant lights hanging in entryways, reception desk areas and hotel lobbies, as these tend to be the largest spaces.

• Pendant lights look particularly beautiful when used to highlight the straight, long desks often found in reception areas. Lining them up on the ceiling above the length of the desk can make the space seem less clinical and more welcoming. It can also provide ample lighting to make sure the guests feel welcomed and safe when approaching at night.

• Hotel entrances that have high ceilings can also benefit from pendant lighting. This will make a statement to the guest as soon as they step inside. Hotel lobbies are also excellent settings for pendant lighting, as they are usually quite spacious and have high ceilings. Filling that empty space with attractive, yet functional hanging lights can go a long way to warm up the atmosphere and make it feel more inviting.

• If your hotel has a restaurant on the property, pendant lighting can also be very useful there. Installing interior pendant lighting in restaurants can create a specific mood or atmosphere, enhancing the customers’ dining experiences. Furthermore, since the lights can be turned on without a warm up period, and some can even be dimmed, you can set brighter lighting for employee meetings. This turns the restaurant into a multipurpose area.

Above all, LED pendant lights are energy efficient, as mentioned, and will therefore assist in reducing the hotel’s energy costs.

The placement of your LED pendant lights is important when it comes to your lighting design. When well-spaced, the lights provide even illumination and leave no dark spots behind. 

Kitchen Islands and Breakfast Bars

Install up to three hanging pendant lights over smaller islands, and up to five over larger ones. Space the lights about 24 inches apart, and around 36 inches above the countertop.

Dining Tables

Ceiling pendant lights should be hung over dining tables at distances around 24 inches. Generally speaking, they should be hung about half the width of the table itself. Hang them between 28 and 34 inches above the tabletop itself.

Living Room or Bedrooms

Hang a cluster of odd-numbered modern pendant lights hung at various heights add a sense of depth to your space. Space them about 24 inches apart to avoid a cramped look.

Knowing which LED pendant light fixtures go with which space is half the battle. To figure it out, first consider what the purpose of the room is.

Kitchens need bright, focused task lights for food prep. Recessed lights over counters or hanging pendants over worktops work well here.

Living rooms thrive with atmosphere and ambiance, so diffused, soft light from flush mounted fixtures is ideal. Accent lights such as dimmable pendants can help improve upon the overall mood of the room.

Bedrooms also need to be tranquil and relaxing, so choose flush mounted lights with warm white illumination. Hanging small, single pendant lights over bedside tables can provide nice task lights for reading.

Dining rooms require soft lighting that facilitates conversation but is still bright enough to easily see by. Choose modern ceiling lights that make a statement with size or design.

Once you know what sort of lights belong in the room, you can measure the space to determine whether to go with large or small fixtures. You can also decide whether to have bright and colourful finishes, or simple black ceiling lights, depending on the needs of your space.

For example, in small rooms with low ceilings, recessed or flush ceiling lights will eliminate the risk of a cramped, cluttered looking space. Larger rooms can get away with larger pendant lights to help balance some of that extra vertical space.

The quality of your lights matter. Ceiling lights made of high quality materials will last for longer without wear and tear and needing constant replacement. They will also produce better quality lighting that you can rely on for years to come.

LED lighting is more energy efficient than halogen bulbs, using up to 80 percent less energy than their counterparts. This is not only more gentle on the environment, but may also help lower your energy bills. If you are looking to lower your carbon footprint, then LED lights are the way to go.

Another cost-saving effect comes from the long life LED bulbs are capable of giving. LEDs last tens of thousands of hours as opposed to the 1,000 hours that traditional bulbs give. This means fewer replacements, which can reduce your upfront costs.

Beyond that, quality lighting simply provides better illumination. Because LED bulbs are so versatile, you have many brightness and colour temperature options to choose from. So, alongside staying in better control of appearance, including light colour and brightnesses, you won’t have to worry about flickering.

Yes, the length of our pendant lights can be adjusted. They each come on long cords and cables that give you more to work with, ideal for large and small rooms alike. We recommend that you have a qualified electrician make these adjustments.