Buying Pendant Lighting For Your Kitchen Island

It may seem simple on the surface, but there's a lot to consider when choosing hanging lights for kitchen islands. It is not uncommon to start shopping for pendant lighting near you and become overwhelmed with all the choices. There are so many sizes, styles, and finishes to choose from.

What Is Pendant Lighting?

Pendants have become one of the most popular types of lighting, especially for kitchen islands. They are mounted to the ceiling and hang down from one rod or rods or one chain or chains. It looks like a pendant on a necklace, which is where it gets its name. The difference between a pendant and a chandelier is that a pendant is generally one bulb incorporated into a single fixture. In contrast, a chandelier is many bulbs incorporated into a single fixture.

Different Types of Pendant Lighting for Your Kitchen Island

Pendant lights come in a variety of decorative styles that beautifully merge form, function, and fashion. Before purchasing any lighting, it's a good idea to figure out the type of light needed in the kitchen before concentrating on aesthetics.

Determining additional illumination for the kitchen island depends on what type of lighting is already available in the space. If the kitchen features large windows that let in plenty of light, it may already get enough ambient lighting, but task lighting may be required in kitchen work areas. A kitchen with pot lights over work areas may require that extra touch of decorative sparkle to please the eye.

Taking a look at the lighting in the entire space can direct the type of pendant lighting needed. Just like any space, the kitchen needs a mix of a variety of lighting types.

• Task Lighting—targeted light for work areas. For this purpose, use downlights (lights that aim downward).
• Ambient Lighting—general light that illuminates the entire kitchen. Consider using a pendant with multiple lights or bulbs that provide an even glow.
• Accent Lighting—light that brings attention to a design feature. Typically, pendant lights don't supply targeted light but can send a wash of light over a beautiful stone or wood countertop.
• Decorative or Mood Lighting—this is decorative lighting that emphasizes the kitchen's style. If the kitchen has enough task and ambient lighting, select pendant lighting that emits a soft glow softly and makes an impression but doesn't cast targeted light.

Lights That Can Multitask

These lighting categories are not exclusive, and a pendant light can fill more than one of them. For example, a pendant light can be decorative and also provide task lighting or outward or upward ambient lighting. This is where a little bit of planning pays off. Knowing what role or roles the pendant light will play ensures that all the lighting needs are filled with lighting that looks great and fits the space's style.

Different Styles of Pendant Lighting for Your Kitchen Island

In many instances, pendants are not the only visible lighting in the kitchen, especially in open concept homes where the dining room is part of the space. In this case, the pendant lights generally make a subtle statement rather than take a starring role. Or if the kitchen is large enough to require more lighting than one pendant can provide, such as sconces over the sink and a pendant over the island, the lights can be of a similar style.

Another option is to contrast pendant styles, which can create a designer look. However, choose lights with matching metal finishes or share another type of material so that the lights relate to each other. This makes the use of different lighting types, such as a pendant over the kitchen island and a chandelier in the dining room, look mindful and considered.

Create Interest with Pendants over the Kitchen Island

Whether subtly beautiful or fun and flashy, pendant lights always create interest in the kitchen. Connecting lights to other materials or finishes in the space make the design concept feel integrated in a modern way. This means matching finishes such as copper or brass on the lights with the same finish on cabinet pulls and knobs. Or, play off of colors on items such as countertops or tiles.

When larger pendant lights are hung high, the shade's interior is visible. An interesting finish inside the shade adds extra drama to the look. However, it can affect the light, so use a warm hue to provide an inviting glow.

Oversized pendant lights give off plenty of light but can take up a lot of visual space. Choosing large pendants with clear glass shades keeps the scale dramatic enough to make a statement while giving plenty of light. Another way to get a breezy feel is to install pendants with opaque or translucent glass. This balances traditional and modern sensibilities and works well in any kitchen, especially one with transitional style décor.

To achieve the look of a chandelier without the huge size in a smaller space, choose a pendant with many small lights. If the space is traditional, a cage pendant brings a little sparkle to the space.

Benefits of Adding Pendant Lighting

It's easy to see that the main benefit of pendant lighting is the aesthetic style they bring to the kitchen. But, they also have a purpose. They light the kitchen without taking up much space. The many benefits of adding pendant lighting include:

• Available in a wide range of styles
• Saves space and keep the work area uncluttered
• Adds flair and ambiance over the kitchen island

There are so many benefits to adding pendant lighting, not the least of which is their flexibility in offering task, ambient, and decorative lighting. When considering where to buy pendant lighting, a lighting store is the best bet. These stores have experts to help and the best selection of quality pendant lighting.