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A guide to contemporary pendant lighting
05 October 2023
Project Inspiration
Pendant lighting is a captivating and versatile lighting solution that can elevate the ambiance of any space. Whether you're looking to add a touch of elegance to your dining room, create a cozy reading nook, or brighten up your kitchen island, pendant lights offer a stylish and functional option.
In this guide, we'll explore the world of contemporary pendant lighting, from the various styles and materials to installation tips and design considerations.
So what is a pendant light? Pendant lights are fixtures that hang from the ceiling using cords, chains, or rods. They come in various sizes, shapes, and materials, ranging from classic to modern, making them suitable for a wide range of interior styles. They provide both task and ambient lighting, allowing you to craft a well-lit and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.
The history of pendant lighting
The concept of hanging light sources can be traced back to ancient civilizations. Early pendant lights were simple vessels, often made from materials like clay or metal, filled with oil or fat and equipped with a wick hung using rope stems. This progression led to the large ornate candle bearing chandeliers (you can read our guide to chandelier lighting here).
During the 17th to 19th centuries, pendant lights began to incorporate glass shades, which allowed for more even and controlled illumination. Glassblowers in Europe created intricately designed glass shades that added an element of beauty to the fixtures which is where we started seeing lighting as forms of art as well as illumination.
Towards the end of the 19th Century the introduction of gas and then electric lighting revolutionized pendant lighting. Gas-powered pendant lights, equipped with gas jets, allowed for a more consistent and brighter source of light, however as electric lighting became more accessible, gas lights were gradually replaced by electric pendants which increased safety throughout the home.
As pendant design progressed through Art Nouveau and Art Deco Periods with both natural forms and more abstract geometric shapes introduced to home and hospitality design.
Modern pendant lighting
Modern pendant lighting has seen a progression of materials, with an introduction of new textures and forms enabling lighting design to explore both minimalistic and ornate designs.
LED lighting has become a popular choice for pendant fixtures due to its energy efficiency, versatility and ability to control lighting (read our details on LED’s here).
Designers experiment with various materials, shapes, and sizes, creating pendant lights that cater to diverse interior styles and preferences.
Pendant lighting in modern interior design
Pendant lighting is one of the most popular lighting forms due to lending itself to all spaces, residential and hospitality alike. The importance of layering lighting in design can affect the atmosphere, (read our insight to layering lighting), with pendant lighting offering a way to bring ambience into any room.
We have seen a variety of different formats when it comes to using pendant lighting in interior design, with examples such as using a cluster of pendant lights to create a focal point through a staircase, others use a collection of pendants over a kitchen island, and even using pendant lighting as task lighting either side of a bathroom mirror or over bedside tables.
Creating visual balance with pendant lighting
Pendant lighting’s versatility doesn’t stop at the lighting form. Variety can be seen in how the pendant is hung, pendants offer a multitude of different stems. For example, traditionally pendant lights were hung on rope, this can still be seen in modern pendant design with Gabriel Scott’s Luna A Pendants featuring a suspension cable that offers a flexible hanging style as well as option for varied hanging drops.
Other pendants come with rigid metal poles to carry the weight and offer rigidity to larger pendant designs. Designers have also used metal chains to suspend the pendants and create impact within the design.
The versatility and buildability of pendant lighting lends itself to unlimited opportunities within interior design projects which is why it is one of the most popular lighting designs.