Pendant lights are a popular way to add lighting to a space. They are very versatile and come in a wide range of styles, colors, shapes and designs. They are also a great option for lighting areas of the home that are typically too small to hang a recessed light or wall sconce.
What Are Pendant Lights Used for?
There are many different uses for pendant lighting, from illuminating a room to adding a dramatic accent to a piece of furniture or fixture. Whether you’re designing your kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom or any other area of the home, it’s important to know what types of lights are available and how to choose the best ones for your specific needs.
Choosing the Right Size of Pendant Light for Your Space
Pendant lights should be scaled to the size of the room they’re in. For example, if you have a dining room with 10 foot ceilings, you would want a pendant that is about 8 feet in diameter and about 6 feet long to provide adequate light.
How to Measure Your Space for Pendant Lights
To calculate the maximum diameter of a pendant that you can use in your room, measure the length and width of the space in inches. Once you have these measurements, subtract 12 inches to determine your maximum diameter. You can then multiply this number by the total number of pendants you’d like to hang in your space, which will give you a number that is proportional to the size of your pendant.
Depending on the type of bulbs you’re using, wattage and light color will influence your choice of pendant light. Generally speaking, you want to use the lowest wattage bulb that will still illuminate the area without wasting electricity. You can also look for LED or CFLs, which use a fraction of the energy that an incandescent bulb uses and emit light with a wider spectrum than incandescent bulbs.
When selecting lightbulbs for your pendants, read the lighting facts label to see how much wattage each bulb can put out and what color or appearance that wattage will create. For example, a halogen bulb will produce more white light than a standard bulb, and a CFL or LED will produce more yellow or amber light.
How to Determine the Height of Your Pendant Lights
When hanging pendant lights in a bedroom, it is recommended that they hang 18 inches to 24 inches above the top of the night stand or table. This helps to provide focused task lighting that won’t disturb your bed partner when they get in and out of bed.
The ceilings in a master bedroom should be at least 7 feet tall. If your ceilings are lower than that, you will need to consider a dimmer or a motion sensor for your pendants to make them more energy efficient.
Pendants are a great addition to a bedroom. Not only do they add a unique and distinctive aesthetic to the space, but they also offer a variety of lighting options that you can’t get with a traditional nightstand lamp or table lamp. They can be hung over the bed to provide additional illumination for reading or over a vanity in a master suite, providing an additional focal point to the room.