Think of pendant lighting as jewelry in your kitchen. It can add just the right finishing touch. Whether your tastes are farmhouse chic, industrial or modern, there are a few simple rules to follow in picking a pendant that will light up your kitchen remodel.
Style
Pendants come in all shapes, styles and sizes. Modern pendants made of glass and chrome exude sleekness. Shaded chandeliers or lanterns can be either traditional or transitional. Glass orbs and shades have a retro look. Translucent-glass shades help reduce distracting glare. Select shades to match your kitchen design and lighting needs.
Quantity
If your island is big enough, use the rule of three to create balance. Place your pendants in a row equal distance apart over the island. Pick three of the same pendant or go wild and pick three different pendants in the same materials, but in different shapes.
Placement
Pendants should be hung above work surfaces at a height that doesn’t block views across the kitchen. The pendant height can be measured up from the surface to below the light. Put a 30 to 36 inch clearance above the island. This is the most practical height, especially for pendants used for task lighting.
Purpose
Task lighting illuminates a targeted area to help you see clearly while working. If you want your pendants to help illuminate kitchen tasks like chopping or to brighten the pages of a cookbook, you’ll want a fixture that aims the light downward, preferably with an open or translucent bottom to let a high degree of light out.
Ambient lighting gently illuminates the whole room or area, rather than targeting a spot. If you want your pendants to help brighten your kitchen remodel, bigger is not always better. A large pendant light with a single bulb won’t add more light than a tiny fixture with the same bulb, so consider using multiple lights spread across the area, or fixtures with multiple bulbs for an even glow. If you tend to use your island more for mingling and snacking than for prep work, draw inspiration from restaurant tables and choose a softer light that creates an intimate mood.
Our designers can assist you in selecting pendants that will make your kitchen remodel stand out. Call for your free home remodeling consultation.