How to choose a pendant lamp: what to consider

A pendant lamp lights a place, marks it out, and hangs in the middle of your eyeline. These are the things worth settling before you choose one. The numbers are common rules of thumb, not fixed rules.

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Height and size

Over a dining table or kitchen island, the lower edge is commonly hung about 75-85 cm above the surface, so nobody has to look around it. Hang lower in a low room and higher in a tall one.
Over a walkway or stairs, keep the lower edge well clear of heads, at least about 2 metres above the floor.
Over a table, choose a lamp (or a group) clearly narrower than the table, so it does not crowd the edges.
If you want several pendants in a row, decide the number and spacing first: it changes the cost and the fixing.

Light

Check the fitting (for example E27, E14 or a built-in LED), the maximum wattage, whether it can be dimmed, and whether a bulb is included.
Warm white light (around 2700 K) is the usual choice for dining and living spaces.
An opaque shade sends light down and leaves the ceiling dark. Glass, paper or fabric spreads it more widely. A bare bulb at eye level can glare, so think about how visible the light source is when you are seated.

Installation

A hanging lamp needs a ceiling outlet where you want it. Fixed wiring should be done by a qualified electrician, and the rules differ by country.
Heavy glass, stone or ceramic shades need fixings that suit your ceiling (concrete, joists or plasterboard).
Check the cable or rod length and whether it can be shortened or adjusted. Plug-in versions need a visible cable to a socket.

Materials and care

Metal: raw brass and untreated metals darken with age; painted or powder-coated finishes keep their look but can chip.
Glass shows fingerprints and dust. Paper and fabric suit dry rooms and are less suited to kitchens, damp rooms or hot bulbs.
Bathrooms and outdoor spaces need a fitting rated for damp or wet conditions (look for an IP rating).

Longevity and repair

A lamp lasts longer if its parts can be replaced: the bulb or LED module, the cable, the socket, the ceiling plate. With a built-in LED, the whole lamp is effectively the part that wears out.
A shade that can be cleaned or taken apart is easier to keep looking good.

Questions worth asking the maker

What are the exact dimensions and drop? Is the bulb included and replaceable? Can the cable be shortened? Are spare parts and finishes available later? What are the delivery and return terms?

Sources and further reading

A label covers one aspect of a product, such as where the wood came from or which chemicals are in a textile, not its whole footprint. These pages explain what each covers; they are not endorsements, and Formground does not rate products.

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