Talking all about kitchen pendant lighting tips and kitchen lighting ideas today!
Because, if you want to give your kitchen a fresh, new look, you should consider your light fixtures.
Our kitchen industrial style large pendants with clear glass shades, see more of our kitchen here.
Kitchen Pendant Lighting Tips
There are dozens, if not hundreds of options for hanging lights in your kitchen.
However, if you’re looking for a timeless, classic look for your light source – pendant lights are the way to go.
Regardless if you have a small kitchen or a large one, pendant kitchen lights are a fantastic way to add some additional design to your kitchen, not to mention some extra light.
As a general rule of thumb, when it comes to the heart of the home, there’s no such thing as too much light.
You can add these fixtures to your kitchen right along with your existing ceiling lights, even if they’re recessed lights, it’s fine.
Whatever your personal aesthetic might be, pendant lights are the perfect solution.
With this in mind, here’s what you need to know about them.
What are Pendant Lights?
A pendant light is a style of light fixture that is mounted to the ceiling and hangs down from the ceiling on a rod or a chain of some kind.
There are a wide variety of styles and options to choose from.
A hanging pendant light is a fantastic option for your kitchen.
Kitchen pendants are typically a popular choice over a kitchen island.
However, when done right, they can look just as beautiful over your kitchen sink.
If wall lights aren’t your cup of tea, these are a great interior design option.
Kitchen island pendants are a great option in that they provide a beautiful focal point.
They can highlight and complement stone countertops.
If you want to take your home’s interior design to the next level – hang a chandelier or pendant light above your kitchen table.
The nice thing about pendant lights is that they can give you additional control over where the light falls in the area you’re adding them to.
If the natural light in your kitchen runs out in a certain area or you find that you’re constantly squinting in one corner of the kitchen because you don’t have enough light, pendant lights and the shades that you choose can stream light directly to where you want it.
If you have a naturally dark kitchen and want some ambient lighting, you can choose a light that is directed up to the ceiling so that it feels like a naturally lit area.
And if you want accent lighting or specific tasks lighting for one particular area (like a breakfast nook) you can do that too!
Also, don’t forget to add dimmers to your switches.
Most modern pendant lighting will come with dimmer options, but you can add this feature on your own if needed.
A great addition and an easy thing to install, dim lights look so pretty when your entertaining and are also energy efficient (making these such a good option: win/win!)
Kitchen with glass shade pendants – more of this house here.
How To Install Kitchen Pendant Light Fixtures
There are a few rules of thumb that you should keep in mind if you’re planning on installing kitchen pendant lighting.
Regardless if you have high ceilings are not, they typically hang from 30 to 36 inches above the kitchen counter.
This ensures that the lights don’t get in the way of your culinary projects and block views in your kitchen.
In the case of your dining room, where they’re over a dining table, as a general rule and as a good rule of thumb – hang lighting around 30 inches above the table.
It helps to always measure carefully and then, measure again!
Installing your own lights can be tricky and it can be best to leave it to the professionals.
But there are a few things you should consider and steps you can take to make the process easier:
Carefully select your lights and the light bulbs you want to go with them.
Evaluate the spacing you want between the lights and the number of lights involved.
Check the height that will work for you to be sure your lights won’t get in the way.
When it’s installed, kitchen island lighting should enhance the natural light in the room.
They should also perfectly tie into your interior design, whether that’s country farmhouse chic or a sleek mid century modern kitchen.
There are plenty of options of island pendants to choose from.
Mini pendants, multi light pendants, glass pendants, lantern pendants, the list goes on and on…it’s truly a personal preference.
Below, I’ve gone ahead and sourced some of my all-time favorite pendants for you to consider.
PS: For even more kitchen design inspiration don’t miss these posts:
- Kitchen Island Decor Ideas.
- Five New Kitchen Trends.
- 5 Of The Chicest Interior Designers’ Owned Shops.
- Bathroom Ceiling Light Ideas.
- The Best White Paints For Your Kitchen Cabinets.
- Different Styles of Modern Kitchen Cabinet Hardware.
- Non White Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color Picks.
- Etsy Finds For Your Kitchen.
- The Best Cream Paint Colors For Your Kitchen Cabinets.
- Marble VS. Quartz Countertops: A Detailed Review.
Here’s a few of my all-time favorite pendant lighting ideas (many of these include free shipping!):
Just a few more things…
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