Whether you are having a new custom home built or renovating your existing kitchen, you have many choices when it comes to lighting. Pendant lighting is one available option that can be very effective in the kitchen as it is both elegant and practical.

What Is a Pendant Light Fixture?

A pendant light usually consists of a single bulb inside an open shade or a fully enclosed bulb. Usually, the base is on top while the bulb hangs down. The whole fixture hangs from the ceiling from a chain or a rod. It is called a pendant light because it resembles a jewel or charm hanging from a chain at the end of a necklace.

If the base is on the bottom with the bulb above, or if there are multiple bulbs, the fixture can more accurately be called a chandelier.

What Are the Benefits of Pendant Lighting in the Kitchen?

While pendant lighting can be used anywhere in the house, it can be particularly effective in the kitchen.

Task Lighting

When you are preparing food, it is very important to be able to see clearly what you are doing. Not only may the food not turn out right if the lighting is bad, but you could also hurt yourself due to poor visibility in the kitchen. If you have a kitchen island, pendant lighting can hang right over it, directly illuminating what you are doing with your hands. If your kitchen island is large enough, you may have several pendant light fixtures hanging over it.

Versatility

Even if you don’t have a kitchen island, you can still benefit from pendant lights. There are three aspects to interior lighting: Task lighting is one; accent and ambient lighting are the others. Pendant lighting can combine all these aspects into one.

Size and Shape

A pendant light is typically less bulky than a chandelier. Its streamlined silhouette may be more appropriate for a small kitchen where a chandelier might overwhelm. Nevertheless, pendant lights come in different sizes, meaning that you can choose a bigger fixture for a larger shape.

Definition

A pendant light can add definition to a space. For example, if you have a kitchen with a high ceiling, a pendant light can fill in the empty space and give the eye a point to focus on.

What Options Are Available With Pendant Lighting?

Today, there are many different options available with pendant lighting, more so than there were in the past.

Material

The material that you use for your pendant light fixture can enhance the overall design scheme of your kitchen. As you might expect, pendant lights are available in metal, such as aluminum, copper, or brass. They are also available in materials that you might not expect, such as wood or rope, with paper shades.

Color

At one time, black, white, or wood grain were essentially the only colors available for lighting fixtures. Now there are many more color options available, making it easier for you to coordinate the fixtures with the rest of your kitchen.

Trust Horizon Construction and Renovations With Your Project

We work with a team of designers and onsite crews with over 60 years of combined experience. Contact us at (919) 542-4457 to schedule a free consultation.