Hanging Light Fixtures: What to Know & Where to Place Them
Get your hanging-light lingo right.
Lighting in your home is essential – you need to illuminate each space while finding a fixture aesthetic that works for you. Hanging light fixtures are great for casting ambient or task lighting, so knowing which style to use will make the decorating process smoother.
The two hanging light fixtures mentioned below will become your go-tos. Keep reading for an in-depth guide to get inspired.
Types of Hanging Lights
When looking for hanging light fixtures for your home, you will be choosing between two types of indoor hanging lights: chandeliers or pendants.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers are statement light fixtures used to create general or ambient lighting in any space. Not only are they ideal for illuminating entire rooms, their design can also elevate your aesthetic. Chandeliers have multiple branches to hold more bulbs for a brighter light. They used to be reserved for more traditional and formal spaces in the home since they can be quite extravagant, but today you can find a range of designs or shapes that are more contemporary and casual for any space you see fit.
Chandelier Designs
Make your chandelier decision easier by narrowing your options down by design.
Statement Chandeliers: Statement chandeliers are ideal for larger rooms, like an entryway, dining room, or living room. Higher ceilings are best for this type of fixture since they are more extravagant and need plenty of hanging space.
Lantern Chandeliers: We love lantern chandeliers for rustic and farmhouse-style spaces. This lantern-style chandelier adds an agricultural charm to any space, especially a dining room.
Sputnik Chandeliers: This style of chandelier is the ultimate modern fixture. The style consists of a core surrounded by multiple arms to create a burst effect that gives off the perfect ambient lighting.
Candle-Style Chandeliers: Just as it sounds, candle-style chandeliers have candle-style lights for a more traditional take on a chandelier. This style comes in many shapes and materials, making it a great choice for most aesthetics.
Shade Chandeliers: Add texture to your fixture style with shaded chandeliers. Shades can be made from a range of materials including fabric, glass, and steel.
Pendant Lighting
The difference between pendant lights and chandeliers is the amount of bulbs. Indoor pendant lights are traditionally a single-bulb fixture, making them perfect for direct or task lighting as opposed to ambient or general lighting. The exception to this is linear indoor pendant lighting, which strings together multiple lights in a line to cover a larger space. Pendant lighting can be used on its own, like on opposite sides of your bed or a vanity mirror, or you can string pendants together to focus a lot of light in a specific area, like over a kitchen island or a bar.
Pendant Designs
Pendants are more versatile than chandeliers since they tend to take up less space and focus light on a specific area.
Single Pendants: For small areas like nightstands and vanities, hang a single pendant.
Unique & Statement Pendants: Make a statement in your dining room, bathroom, or bedroom with statement pendants.
Kitchen-Island Pendants: Illuminate your kitchen island with a kitchen-island pendant, which traditionally consists of more than one pendant strung together to light an entire island space.
Lantern Pendants: Perfect for entryways or covered patios, try a lantern shape for a traditional lighting style.
Cluster Pendants: Experiment with modern silhouettes and materials with glass cluster pendants, perfect for dining rooms, entryways, and bedrooms.
Hanging-Light Features
Before you officially “add to cart,” make sure you know all of your feature options and determine which works best for your design and logistical needs.
Dimmable: Many hanging lights have a dimming option which allows you to create the perfect ambience for any mood whether you’re hosting a dinner party, reading, or getting ready for the day. Dimmable lights give you more control over your lighting situation.
Swag Light: This lighting feature means your hanging lights will be powered by a cord and outlet instead of being hardwired into your ceiling. Swag lighting is more affordable and doesn't require a professional for installation, so they’re perfect for anyone looking to handle setup on their own. Since you put a swag light together yourself, the cord is adjustable, giving you the ability to play with length and positioning in your room.
Compatible with High or Sloped Ceilings: Consider the space you want to hang your lighting fixture in before making any purchases. If you have high ceilings, you’re going to want to make sure your light has enough length that it will come down to an appropriate height to emit light in the room. Alternatively, if you want to hang your light on a sloped ceiling, it’s important to make sure the fixture comes with a sloped-ceiling adapter.
One of the most popular places for a lighting fixture is the dining room. Chandeliers or twin pendant lights work best for this area since they provide a great illumination over the whole table. While traditional chandeliers will always be timeless and a great fit for most dining spaces, don’t hesitate to try a modern take on the chandelier that plays with geometric shapes and contemporary materials. Metallic light fixtures add sparkle to a wood or concrete dining table. We recommend having 30" – 36" of space between the table and the bottom of the light fixture so no one bumps their head.
Pro Tip:
For more dining room lighting inspiration, check out our guide Our Top 8 Dining Room Lighting Ideas.
Bedroom
Both chandeliers and pendant lights work in a bedroom setting, so there’s plenty of room to experiment with your favorite shapes, materials, and placement. For a unique look, place a pendant light over each nightstand. They provide task lighting without taking up surface space. Go for a pendant light that has dimming capability so that you can choose the level of lighting you need. Again, we recommend hanging them 30" – 36" from the top of the nightstand, to avoid bumping your head when you reach over to grab your phone or latest read.
To elevate your bedroom lighting, you can also hang a chandelier to act as the ambient light instead of installing a flush mount. Whatever style you choose, just make sure to always have 7' of clearance between the bottom of the chandelier and the floor. This amount of space is recommended to avoid overwhelming your room and making it feel smaller; it also helps you avoid accidentally damaging the lighting or bumping your head!
Light up a kitchen island with a pendant or two. Hanging lighting fixtures are great for providing light over the main area of the kitchen, where cooking, cocktails, and casual meals take place. Bonus: If you have an open kitchen floor plan, choosing a hanging light style that complements adjacent rooms will make decorating each space more cohesive. We recommend hanging the pendant lights along the centerline of the island and keeping lights 30" apart from each other.
Pro Tip:
Learn more about kitchen-island lighting with these Kitchen-Island Lighting Ideas to Elevate Your Most Used Space.
Bathroom Vanity
Add to your bathroom vanity decor with stylish pendant lights. Choose a material like glass or metal hardware for a touch of modern style. These side fixtures are great for creating complementary lighting – crucial for any needed primping! For safety purposes, make sure the light you choose is made for moisture-rich environments.
Pro Tip:
Get creative with your bathroom decor and check out these 9 Bathroom Decor Ideas to Get You Inspired.
Living Room
Add a hanging light fixture to your living room to make your lighting part of your aesthetic. Having a light that hangs closer to the rest of your furniture allows it to double as decor as opposed to a more subtle flush mount or recessed light fixtures. We love how this woven fabric shade plays on the warmth of the room and the yellow throw pillows – it fits the airy vibe perfectly and adds another texture to the decor. Again, we recommend having at least 7' of space between the floor and the bottom of the fixture.
Make your entryway inviting with a chandelier that lights the room and introduces your aesthetic. Chandeliers are best for an entryway to ensure you create enough light to illuminate the way into the rest of your home and to create a welcoming glow. Be aware of where you place your chandelier in relation to your door, it should be far enough away that the door won’t hit it as it opens and the bottom of the chandelier should be at least 7' off the floor. If you have a two-story entryway, the bottom of the fixture should hang at the same level as the second floor.
No outdoor oasis is complete without the right lighting. If you have a covered patio in need of lighting, why not go for a bold chandelier or a string of pendant lights? Play with different light lengths to create a staggered grouping that really makes a statement. Choose an oasis-inspired material like wood, wicker, or bamboo to add to the vacation feeling.
Pro Tip:
Explore other decor ideas with 9 Outdoor Oasis Ideas to Transform Your Backyard.
Ready to hang some lighting?
