Pendant lamps are more than just a source of light, they also make a design statement in your home. Whether you’re designing a modern, rustic, or farmhouse kitchen, a pendant lamp will play an important role in the overall mood and aesthetics of your room.
When hanging pendant lights over a table, there are some things to consider in order to get the most out of your fixtures. For one, you want to ensure that the pendant lamp will be in the right distance from your table. This is so you don’t have any issues with glare, knocking into people’s heads, or anything else that would not be pleasant in your dining room.
The best way to determine this distance is to practice. Try sitting down at the table and holding the pendant light in place to see how it affects your view and whether or not the light is knocking into your head. You can even try to walk across the room with the light in place and test out how it impacts your movement.
This will give you a better idea of how high the light should be from the table and also how much space you need around the perimeter of the table. If you have a narrower table, this is especially crucial because you don’t want the light to be too close.
You also want to keep in mind the height of your guests and family members who will be using the table. If you have a very tall person in your home who will be regularly leaning over the table to prepare and serve food, it is essential that the light is far enough above the table so that they do not hit their heads on it.
It is a good idea to measure the length and width of your table in feet, then subtract 12 inches from each measurement. This will allow you to have 6 inches on either side of the pendant for proper clearance and headroom.
Once you have the dimensions, calculate how many pendants you can fit over the table. The easiest way to do this is to divide the length of your table by the diameter of the pendant you’re considering. This will give you the maximum number of pendants that you can hang over your table or kitchen island.
Another thing to take into consideration is the height of the ceiling. Depending on the ceiling height of your room, you may need to install your pendants higher or lower than what you might expect to find in a traditional home.
If you have a ceiling that is 8 feet or lower, most designers recommend installing your pendants at a height of approximately 3 feet above the table. This will provide the most direct and focused lighting as well as enough clearance for people to avoid bumping into them while working on their dishes.
Alternatively, you can hang your pendants at the same height as your ceiling for a more modern look that will help to create a dramatic effect in your space. This will allow you to have a pendant above your table that doesn’t interfere with the natural light in your room and will be comfortable for everyone who uses it.
