With a wide variety of shapes, styles, and materials available, chandeliers and pendant lights are great for lighting all sorts of spaces within your home, from kitchen and hallways to bedrooms and dining rooms.
But can you fit pendant lights in a bathroom? And how can you use pendant lights to layer lighting and set the right mood? Read on to learn more about some of the most frequently asked questions about pendant lights.
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Pendant Lights for Bathroom: Is it Recommended?
Pendant lights for bathrooms can be used as long as they are not too close to water sources. Using standard light fittings in some parts of your bathroom is okay. However, safety guidelines cover installing electric light fittings in specific designated ‘zones.’
Any lighting close to a water source like a bath, shower, or sink needs to use ‘ingress protection’ or IP-rated fittings.
In almost all cases, this will be a wall light rather than a pendant; for most purposes, a rating of IP44 is enough.
If you fit your pendant light outside the designated zones, it is okay to use non-IP-rated fittings so you can select any pendant you like. Brass pendant lights are an excellent choice for adding warmth to a bathroom setting, while glass pendant lights offer a sense of elegance.
Where to Hang Pendant Lights in a Bedroom
The primary ambient light source in a bedroom normally comes from the ceiling light. Hanging a statement chandelier or a stylish pendant light over the bed can offer a beautiful decorative focal point.
You should consider positioning the light about 8-12 inches from the ceiling for maximum effect.
A pendant light can also offer excellent task lighting in a bedroom – in place of a bedside lamp, or above a dressing table, for instance.
Meanwhile, introducing some dimmable pendant lights as accent lighting in the corners of the room will aid in creating a relaxed ambiance and give a lower-level alternative to the main light.
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Best Type of Pendant Light to Use in a Dining Room
Your dining table is the focal point of your dining room; therefore, you should base your lighting design around it.
Using a single pendant light as the central lighting feature in the dining room can help in adding a sense of intimacy and elegance – and if you want to make a dramatic style statement, consider a striking chandelier suspended over the center of the table.
For instance, the multicolored Orb chandelier is a real show-stopper that will offer an instant ‘wow’ factor – and the glass roundels can even be customized with your select colors.
Chandeliers are like works of art in their own right, from traditional crystal style affairs to minimalist contemporary designs using metal, brass, or colored glass.
You may be pleasantly surprised by how affordable they are. Browse elegant chandeliers at affordable prices here.
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How to Use Pendant Lights in a Kitchen
Pendant lights make an amazing feature in the kitchen. On top of offering good ambient lighting, they are handy for providing focused task lighting over a kitchen counter or sink to help with those practical tasks like chopping vegetables or washing up.
Also, pendants can make a striking design statement when suspended over a dining table or a kitchen island.
When using pendants over an island, it is best to use odd numbers: hanging three pendant lights in a row offers a balanced look, gives plenty of task lighting, and acts as a great focal point.
When hanging pendant lights over an island, it is critical to account for the size and scale of the space, the diameter of the island – and your height.
As a rule of thumb, aim to hand your pendant lights so that they sit at least two feet apart for an even effect. Most pendant light fixtures can be adjusted to the desired height if necessary. You can talk to your electrician for further advice.
Meanwhile, if you have a dining table in your kitchen, hanging a single pendant light or a row of pendant lights over the table can be a stylish way of delineating the dining area from the rest of the kitchen.
