Pendant Lights

A pendant light, sometimes called a drop or suspender, is a lone light fixture that hangs from the ceiling usually suspended by a cord, chain, or metal rod, often used in multiples, hung in a straight line over kitchen countertops and dinette sets or sometimes in bathrooms.

Pendant lights are still very much in style for their intended use. In fact, they are growing in popularity. While recessed lighting and flush mount lights are more commonly used in homes and used in more rooms of the home, for some rooms and locations, pendant lights are the first choice are used extensively.

While there are examples of pendants used in every room, there are two distinct rooms and placements where they are very commonly used. Those placements are the kitchen and the dining room.

As kitchen islands grow in popularity, so too does the use of pendant lights. Pendant lights not only offer great light to counter surfaces, but they look great. The reason they work well over peninsulas and islands is you can’t walk in those areas so there’s no risk of bumping your head. Since they can look fabulous (in some cases be the star of a room), they’re  a great option.

Specifically, ideal over dining room tables for the same reasons that they are really good above kitchen peninsulas and islands.

Taller foyers offer a great opportunity to hang a chandelier which is technically a type of pendant light. Mind you, 8 or 10 foot ceiling foyers aren’t ideal for a chandelier, but as more and more foyers are built with really tall ceilings, a chandelier or several pendant lights are a great option.