Perfect for Your Home: Pendant Lighting

At first glance, you might think of pendant lighting fixtures as chandeliers, and you would be correct. A pendant hangs down from the ceiling as does a chandelier, but unlike a chandelier, a pendant hangs down from the fixture, thus suspended in the air. Generally, a chandelier is a single hanging fixture attached directly to the ceiling, with multi lamps. A pendant lamp fixture can add interest with diffused or direct light to an entryway or a dining table by directing the light downward.

If you are looking to make a decorative lighting change to your kitchen counter, bar, pool table, or bedroom, pendant lighting is a perfect choice. When used over end tables or nightstands, it frees space for other uses. Add a dimmer switch to control the flexibility of illumination and ambience to suit whatever the occasion and atmosphere calls for.

Pendant lights come in a wide variety of different finishes and styles, with shades of a wide choice of shapes and colors. With the popularity of blown glass, glass pendant lamps have grown, too. Blown glass pendants beautifully allow light to shine through the glass. These shades can be mass produced or individually produced by glass blowers, making the colors and designs in glass endless. Metals forged or molded into interesting shapes lends to another popular type of pendant lamp. Metals like brass, copper, stainless steel, wrought iron, brushed nickel, and more range in finishes from antique to bright and shiny. They go with almost any decor. For a view of some examples of pendants, you can go to ThisOldHouse.com.

Placement and size of a pendant is very important:

• A pendant over a table would need to be about 12 inches narrower than the table for clearance.
• In the kitchen, use a mini-pendant above a kitchen nook for a perfect lighting accessory or group several pendants together to illuminate the seating area.
• Pendants are not usually used in the living room, but if you have vaulted ceilings or your dining room and living room are in one large area, pendants work great over the central areas of each space.
• The foyer/entryway, is a perfect place for a pendant lamp. A bright light is usually preferred to welcome people into your home. Your homes style and design will give a first impression here, so it needs to look good.
• Other areas of your home, such as a hallway or stairway with vaulted ceilings, are perfect for pendant lamp illumination.

If you are looking to add some real interest with diffused lighting or bright light to illuminate a darker area, choose pendant lamps that match your style and decor. Remember, for all electrical installation, use caution and turn to a professional electrician for help.

Sconces / Pendants / Monorail / Dimmer Switch