You need lighting in your kitchen — why not make it fabulous?
Pendant lighting is a top 2021 kitchen design trend. A well-placed pendant light can be a breathtaking focal point or simply a wonderful accent in a beautifully styled kitchen. The sheer number of incredible options can, however, feel overwhelming. We’re here to help with the basics of pendants so you can narrow down your choices and find your perfect light.
Pendants With a Purpose
First, consider the lighting’s purpose. Do you need light above your kitchen island to better read a recipe, or will it light up the entire room? Is the light purely functional, or do you want it for more decorative purposes? Let’s look at how pendant lights fall into each of the four lighting categories — task, ambient, accent, and decorative.
Task Lighting
Pendant lights that aim downward to light up a targeted space are task lights. These are the best choices if you need a strategically well-lit area, like where you do most of your cooking or helping the kids with their homework.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient light gently illuminates an entire room. This light is cast upwards or in all directions, spreading throughout the room for a soft glow. These open, metallic globes show off the vintage Edison bulbs and light up the kitchen with character.
Accent Lighting
These beautiful pendant lights are a perfect example of accent lighting. Do you have a stand-out feature in your kitchen that you want to enhance with a lighting fixture, like this incredible ceiling? An accent pendant light might be the right choice for you.
Decorative Lighting
Sometimes lights enhance décor, and sometimes they are the décor. Focal-point pendant lights like these can be colorful, creative, or just plain stunning conversation pieces.
Keep in mind, there’s no rule against mixing lighting styles and types. These homeowners chose simple cylinder lights above their breakfast bar and striking, intricate candelabra fixtures above the center island.
Size
Pendant lights come in all different sizes. Multiple small fixtures can be hung together for a more delicate look, or if you’re feeling bold, you may decide one large light would be better.
Placement
In addition to choosing the style of light, you also need to think about placement. This will depend on your ceiling height, where in the room your pendant lights are going, and how many you’re putting up. Pendant lights can hang in a straight line or staggered as seen here for more visual interest. You can have them grouped together, or evenly spaced out to light up a larger area.
When it comes to pendant lighting, the choices are endless. The designers at Lenton Company will help you narrow down your options by considering the light’s desired purpose, size, and placement. Ready to start your remodeling journey? Contact us today.