Pendant lights are one of the biggest modern lighting trends, and given the chance, they can be statement works of art that look beautiful in your home. There are so many different pendant lighting designs on the market that it can be difficult to choose the right one for each room. If you’d like to get in on the pendant lighting trend but you’re not sure where to start, here’s a guide to pendant lighting, room by room.

Kitchen/dining room

The best place to put pendant lights in the kitchen or dining room is over the island or table. Pendant lights are functional as task lighting as they provide a bright, focused light so placing one over your island or table will allow you to work or prep food comfortably. Pendant lights also work as décor so when it’s daytime, you can opt for a statement light to add style to the room. Popular styles of pendant lights include drum, geometric and vintage styles. One of the top tips for pendant lighting in the kitchen or dining room is the rule of three. You should have three of the same pendant lights hanging over the island or table for a symmetrical look that has an impact. Pendant lighting should hang low, but not so low that they are in your eyes when you sit down. To create ambience, add a dimmer switch to your pendant lights – this means you can take the light from bright and focused down to a lower level that’s perfect for entertaining.

Living room

For the living room, pendant lights work best as a central feature. You can use them to brighten up your seating area and make a statement – make sure to use a dimmer switch so that you can change the ambience. The style of pendant lights that you should choose depends on the décor of your living room. If you have a retro living room, try a vintage-style hanging Edison bulb. If your living room has lots of white, use a metallic fixture to draw the eye upwards. If you prefer an industrial vibe, go for a geometric style. You should always consider size too – if you have a low ceiling, opt for a smaller pendant with minimal drop.

Bedroom

If you don’t have enough room for bedside tables but you’d still like a reading light, consider hanging a pendant on either side of the bed and using a dimmer switch. You’ll save space, and get a modern, stylish result. You can also use a pendant light as a central fixture by hanging it over your bed – just remember to position it so that you don’t bang your head when you get out of bed!

Top tips for hanging pendant lights

• Think about what you’re trying to achieve – do you need more light in the room, or is the pendant light going to be mostly decorative?
• If you want the pendant light to work as task lighting, you’ll need to use down-lights in it for best results.
• Consider the environment. If you’re looking at pendant lights for your kitchen or bathroom, remember that these can be a haven for steam and dirt. If the room is small, a pendant light may not be the best option.
• Colour temperature is very important. Warm lights work better for homes, as it’s more ambient, whilst cool light is ideal for the study or office.
• If you’re using more than one pendant light, go for odd numbers; i.e. three or five pendants.
• For pendant lights in hard to reach places, it’s best to use LED bulbs as they don’t require any maintenance and rarely need to be replaced, so you don’t need to worry about accessing it.

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