Modern Pendant Lights
That item has been discontinued, but here are similar options.
A modern pendant light puts light where you need it and little anywhere else. Over an island, a table or a bedside, it lights one surface and marks it as the place where something happens. By day it hangs at eye level, so its shape matters as much as its glow.
This collection is part of our luxury home lighting: matte black iron, antique brass, frosted and clear glass, glass beads, cotton shades, rope and bamboo. Sizes run from a narrow single pendant to wide statement pieces.
Modern pendant lighting: hang it at the right height
Height is where pendants go wrong. Over a counter or island, hang the bottom 30 to 36 inches above the surface. Over a dining table, 30 to 34 inches. Beside a bed, about where the top of a table lamp would sit. Too high and the pendant lights the ceiling instead of the task. Measure from the surface, not the floor, because counters, tables and nightstands all sit at different heights.
One pendant or several
A single large pendant suits a round table, a small island or an entry. A long surface wants two or three smaller pendants spaced evenly, which also evens out the light along the counter. Repeat one shape instead of mixing three: a row of matching pendants reads as a single decision.
Kitchen pendant lights
The kitchen island is the classic home for pendants. Space them about 24 to 30 inches apart and keep the end ones at least 6 inches in from the edges of the island. For a full island plan, including linear fixtures and compact chandeliers, see our kitchen lighting.
Luxury pendant lights and glare
A bare bulb at eye level tires the eyes. If people sit at the island, choose frosted glass, a cotton shade or a deep metal dome that hides the bulb from a seated view. Clear glass looks good, but it needs a warm filament bulb and a dimmer.
Brass pendant light or matte black
A brass pendant light warms white kitchens and wood tables. Matte black reads cleaner and pairs with black hardware and window frames. If you need more presence over a table than a pendant gives, compare our modern chandeliers.
Glass pendant light options
Frosted and milk glass spread the light evenly. Colored glass beads throw a warm, patterned glow. Clear glass shows the bulb as a feature. Match the glass to the job: task light wants diffusion, while mood light can afford to show the source.
Pendant lighting over the dining table
Two or three pendants spaced evenly over a long table feel more relaxed than one chandelier and light its whole length. For a more formal table, our dining room chandeliers are sized to sit centered over it.
Hang one first
Put the first pendant up at the height you planned and use the space for a few days before adding the rest. Sit under it at the island and at dinner, then raise or lower it an inch or two if the light sits wrong.