All About Pendant Lights for Kitchen Islands
Pendant lights are a popular choice for kitchen lighting, especially in those kitchens with island fixtures. But, did you know that there are a few rules of thumb regarding how you should arrange pendant lighting for your kitchen island? From how high your pendant light should be above your island, to how many pendant lights should hang about the island, there are a few interior design rules to follow when hanging pendant lights above a kitchen island. In this post from the Illuminaries blog, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about pendant lights for kitchen islands.
What Are Pendant Lights?
Pendant lights are light fixtures that are suspended from the ceiling using only a single bulb to illuminate an area. This is different from chandeliers, which utilize multiple light bulbs to light an area. Another difference between pendant lights and chandeliers is the cost; pendant lights tend to be far cheaper than chandeliers. Chandeliers are typically reserved for living rooms or dining rooms, while pendant lights are popular choices for kitchens and even outdoor areas (if the pendant lights are weather appropriate.) Overall, you can get much more utility from pendant lights due to their small size and fairly simple installation process when compared to chandeliers.
Using Pendant Lights for Kitchen Islands
One of the most popular applications of pendant lights is to illuminate kitchen islands. But, to properly illuminate a kitchen island, there are some rules that electricians and interior designers stand by to provide the most light to the kitchen area, as well as to look as clean and well put-together as possible.
How Many Pendant Lights Should Be Over A Kitchen Island?
The size and placement of pendant lights over a kitchen island are best determined by the size of your kitchen island. In most cases, it’s recommended to use an odd number of pendant lights over a kitchen island. To figure out exactly how many pendant lights to fit over your kitchen island, you divide the length of your island minus 12 inches by the diameter of your pendant, then divide by two. The number that you get at the end of this equation is how many pendant lights you should hang over your kitchen island.
How Far Apart Should Pendant Lights Be Over A Kitchen Island?
The spacing of your pendant lights is largely dependent on the diameter or width of your pendant light. For example, if your pendant light is 12 inches in diameter, you will want to put 12 inches of space between one pendant and the next. Even if your pendant lights are hung at staggering heights, they should be placed the same amount of inches apart that your pendant light is around.
How High Above A Kitchen Island Should Pendant Lights Be Hung?
As a rule of thumb, pendant lights should be hung 30 to 36 inches above your kitchen island. You should consider the height of your ceiling when hanging your pendant lights, as you want to ensure that you can see across the counter without the light hanging in your way. If your ceiling is too high or short for the 30 to 36-inch rule, there is an equation you can use to discover the right height. First, measure the distance from the floor to where you will install the pendant light. Next, multiply the number of feet by two and three. The numbers you get after multiplying by 2 and 3 are the appropriate range to hang your pendant lights after converting to inches. For instance, a 9-foot ceiling should hang 18 to 27 inches above your kitchen island.
For Pendant Lighting Perfect For Kitchen Islands, Choose Illuminaries Lighting
At Illuminaries, we’re a top provider of wrought iron pendant lighting to match the style of any home. Our classy, durable wrought iron pendant lighting provides excellent illumination to any kitchen, allowing you to prep, cook, and enjoy in a well-lit and safe environment. To learn more about our wrought iron pendant lighting, or the various other wrought iron light fixtures we offer, browse our products or contact us online or over the phone today.
