A pendant hangs from a cord, chain or rod and brings light down to where you need it. The right size and hanging height matter more than the style – get those two right and almost any pendant will look good.
Over a kitchen island
Hang island pendants 30–36 inches above the countertop and 24–30 inches apart. Two pendants suit islands up to 6 feet, three suit longer islands, or use one linear pendant.
Over a dining table
Choose a pendant half to two-thirds the width of the table and hang it 30–34 inches above the tabletop. On ceilings over 8 feet, add about 3 inches for every extra foot of height.
In entryways and stairwells
In a hallway or foyer, keep at least 7 feet of clearance under the pendant. In a two-story space, hang the fixture so it sits near the level of the second floor and can be seen from both.
Beside the bed
Bedside pendants hang about 20–24 inches above the nightstand, or roughly at shoulder height when you sit up in bed.
Outdoors
Covered porches need at least damp-rated fixtures; anything open to the weather needs a wet rating. Browse our outdoor pendants for porches, patios and pergolas.
Shades and bulbs
Open glass spreads light across the room, metal and opaque shades point it down onto a surface. For exposed-bulb pendants, a decorative LED bulb at 2700K keeps the glow warm without glare.