Pendant Lights

A pendant brings the light down closer to the thing it is lighting. That is the whole point of it. Over a bench, a dining table or a stairwell, a flush fitting sits too far away to do much, while a pendant puts the light where the work and the food and the conversation are.

It is also the fitting people notice. A pendant hangs at eye level, so it is read as an object as much as a light, which is why the shapes in this range run from woven rattan to crystal and bubble glass. This collection covers single pendants, rings and multi arm chandeliers, and each product page lists the drop, the shade diameter and the lamp fitting.

What's in this range

There are 15 pendants in this collection, priced from 40 to 1,400 AUD. Shade diameters run from 14 cm to 40 cm, and overall heights run from 5.5 cm on a shallow flush mount chandelier up to 170 cm for a long drop piece. The recorded wattages sit between 12 W and 26 W.

Materials listed include metal, wrought iron with acrylic, woven bamboo and rattan, bamboo with a wood structure, a metal frame with crystal accents, and stainless steel with crystal. On the light source, some fittings have the LED built in, including a 28 W integrated LED and an integrated LED strip, while others take a bulb. Where a socket is listed it is E27 or E14, and the E27 fittings are mostly listed with the bulb not included, with one rated at a maximum of 60 W per bulb. Mounting is cord pendant ceiling mount on most models, with one listed as compatible with flat and slanted ceilings and one as surface mounted. Colour temperature is stated on the fittings that offer a choice, including warm 3000K, neutral 4000K and cool 6000K. Dimming is not a feature of this range: the products that record it are listed as not dimmable, or as depending on the bulb and switch setup. The rooms named most often on these products are kitchen islands, dining areas and dining rooms.

How to choose

Drop length against ceiling height

Work out the drop before anything else, because it decides whether the fitting is usable. Over a dining table, the bottom of the shade should sit above the eye line of anyone seated, so people can see across the table. Over a kitchen bench, it should clear the head of anyone standing at it. In a room with a low ceiling and no table underneath, a flush fitting from the ceiling lights range will usually serve better than a pendant.

Shade diameter against the surface below

The shades here run from 14 cm to 40 cm. A narrow shade throws a tight pool of light and suits a row of two or three over a bench. A wide shade covers more of a table on its own. As a rule, the pendant should read as narrower than the table it hangs over, so pick the diameter against the surface rather than against the room.

One pendant or a row

A single pendant works over a round table or a small bench. A long island or a rectangular table is better served by two or three smaller pendants spaced evenly, because one fitting large enough to cover the whole length will hang too heavily in the room. Check the diameter on the page and allow a clear gap between fittings.

Socket type and whether bulbs come with it

Several pendants here take an E27 or E14 bulb that is not included, which is normal for this kind of fitting and gives you the choice of colour temperature. Others have the LED built in, which means no bulb and no socket to match. Read the source line on the product page before ordering, because the two require different things from you.

Flat or slanted ceiling

A cord pendant hangs vertically, so a raked or sloped ceiling needs a fitting made to allow for it. One model here is listed as compatible with flat and slanted ceilings. If your ceiling is not level, confirm this on the product page rather than assuming a cord will adapt.

Frequently asked questions

How high should a pendant hang over a dining table?

High enough that the bottom of the shade sits above the eye line of a seated person, and low enough that the light lands on the table rather than spreading across the room. Measure from your table to your ceiling and compare that against the drop listed on the product page.

Can these be dimmed?

Generally no. The pendants in this range that record dimming are listed as not dimmable, or as depending on the bulb and the switch you fit them to. If dimming matters, look at the fittings with a stated dimming function in the LED lights range instead.

Do I need an electrician?

For the wired ones, yes. Most pendants in this range are hardwired ceiling fittings, and that installation must be done by a licensed electrician in Australia. A few decorative hanging pieces are not wired at all, and the product page says so. If you want the look of a hanging light with more sparkle, the chandeliers range covers the multi arm and crystal pieces.