What Is a Pendant Light? Everything You Need To Know To Brighten Up Your Space

When it comes to deciding how to light your home, there are many factors to consider. Not only do you need to think about what type of lighting you like and need for each room, but there’s also the small matter of taste! One popular option for home lighting is the simple pendant light—a classic fixture that never goes out of style. But just what is a pendant light, and how do you know if it’s the right choice for your space? Let’s take a look.

The Difference Between Pendant Lights and Other Fixtures

All of the many types of pendant lights have one thing in common: They serve to suspend a single bulb in the air from the ceiling. Pendant lights are fairly easy to identify—they are a type of hanging light, suspended by either a durable cable or a rigid downrod. 

You can tell pendant lights apart from other fixtures fairly easily. When comparing a pendant vs. chandelier, for instance, you’ll know which one you’re dealing with based on the number of bulbs—a pendant light will only ever have one, while a chandelier of any kind will have multiple bulbs.

Pendant Light Styles

Aside from hanging from your ceiling and incorporating just one bulb into the fixture, a pendant light fixture can really be anything. Some will have shades, covers, or globes that go over the bulb, but other fixtures just feature a bare light bulb for a more rustic look. Their simplicity and versatility make pendants one of the most popular types of light fixtures.

Pendant lights also come in a variety of sizes, ranging from less than 10” in diameter to larger than 20” across. If you’re not sure which size will be best for a given space, you can always have a look at a pendant size chart to get a better idea.

Average Pendant Light Cost

Because of the huge variety of sizes and styles of pendant light fixtures, the cost can vary greatly. The average pendant light fixture costs between $50 and $250, though some higher-end designs can exceed $500. Plus, you’ll need to factor in the cost to install a light fixture if you don’t plan to DIY it. Labor costs for this kind of work will vary depending on project specifics, but you can generally expect to pay between $100 and $300.

Why Use a Pendant Light?

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It’s hard to go wrong with a pendant light. They’re an attractive, elegant way to add light to spaces of all kinds. Most people use pendant lights for one of three main purposes throughout the home: general lighting, brightening a specific area in a room, or overhead task lighting.

Pendant Lights for General Lighting

If you’re searching for a simple, understated central fixture for a room, a pendant light could be the perfect thing. Depending on the bulb and the design of the cover or shade you’re using, even a single pendant can be enough to light up a smaller space, such as a hallway, a foyer, or a porch. Many pendant lights also throw some light up to the ceiling, brightening up a space even more.

Pendant Lights for Area Lighting

If you’re looking to add a little additional light to a room, or perhaps highlight a certain area of it, pendant lights can be a very cost-effective way to do it. A pendant light off to the side or in a corner of a larger room can help brighten the space and make it feel warmer and more inviting. You can also place a pendant light over spots that get used often, such as a kitchen table or an island.

Pendant Lights for Task Lighting

A pendant light is a great choice for adding specific light to areas that need it. For example, think of a pendant light hanging over the counter in your kitchen, the workbench in your garage, or the desk in your home office. These are work areas, and you want to be able to see what you’re doing at any time of day. For a small but bright beam, you can hang the fixture a little lower to make sure you have the light you need to get stuff done.