How to Pick the Right Pendant for Your Kitchen Island

Your kitchen is where everyone comes together. It can sometimes be a hectic space, but other times it is full of laughter, love, and cherished memories. For some homes, it's the focal point of the house. It might seem like a small feat, but picking the lighting for your island can make (or break) the aesthetic of your kitchen. But don't worry! We are here to help you with some simple tips on how to select your pendant lighting so you can get it right the first time.

After years of working with clients we have learned that most people overlook the amount of time and thought that goes into picking the right pendant lighting for their kitchen. There are so many options -- length, color, finish -- and it can be overwhelming to find the best solution for your home.

Here are some frequently asked questions we have received over the years to help guide you in the process of selecting the perfect pendant lighting.

First things first, what are pendant lights?

A pendant light, sometimes called a drop or suspender, is a lone light fixture that hangs from the ceiling usually suspended by a cord, chain, or metal rod.

Do I have to have pendant lights above my kitchen island?

Absolutely not! Your home is YOUR home, my friend! The reason people hang pendant lighting over their island is for task lighting as well as decorative purposes. If you have ample task lighting in your ceiling, there is no need for pendants if you don’t want them for decorative purposes.

Should I Match The Finish On My Pendant Lights To My Other Kitchen Finishes?

If you are wondering whether or not to match the finish on your lighting to your faucet or cabinet hardware, you’re not alone. This is probably one of the more common questions we receive on this topic.

Sometimes being too "matchy-matchy" can actually make your home look cookie cutter. But, having too much character and blending too many styles or finishes can make your home look chaotic and disorganized. It's all about balance.

To keep things looking cohesive, try to stick with no more than two metals in the space.

Similarly, if your cabinet knobs are gold and your kitchen faucet is black, you will probably want to have your light fixture be either a black or a gold, to make sure it ties in well with the rest of the space.

What size pendants do I select and how do I measure?

To pick the right size of your pendant lighting you first need to determine how much lighting you need. The bigger the pendant, the more lighting. If you have a lot of windows in your kitchen and the surrounding areas are well-lit already, then you may not need to have the lighting output be a key factor and you can focus more on the aesthetic you desire. However, if the opposite is true and your kitchen is in need of more lighting then you should consider the pendant size to be on the larger end to provide the right amount of lighting.

That isn't all when you are picking the right pendant sizing. You should consider the width and height of the pendants as well as your ceiling height and island length. All of these measurements (pendant width, pendant height, ceiling height, and island length) should be taken into consideration when choosing pendants.

A longer kitchen island with a high ceiling means your pendant lighting can also be wider and taller. The shorter the island and the lower your ceiling, the smaller (narrower and shorter) your pendant should be.

How many lights do I need?

The number of lights over your island is dependent on how large of a pendant you choose as well as the length of your kitchen island. Just like pendant sizing! The number of pendants will also be dependent on the look you’re trying to achieve.

Where do I buy the best pendant lights?

We would love to have you come into our showroom to see our latest lines of lighting! We carry Kichler (Kichler, Arteriors, Curry, Veraluz) and Generation (Generation, Tech Lighting, Monte Carlo, Visual Comfort) in our showroom and would love to have you stop by to let us give you a tour!

At the end of the day, there are a lot of tricks and tips that go into finding the right pendant lighting for your space. This is YOUR kitchen, and you don't want to simply wing selecting your accents as it could lead to more work and costs. Our team would love to assist you to make sure you are designing the space exactly how you envision it. Click HERE to contact us and book a consultation with our team today!