Great Ways to Use Pendant Lighting
According to Bob Vila, pendant lighting is gaining ground as a versatile answer to lighting needs for just about every room in the house. People are discovering the pendant and swag lamps and just how versatile they can be with so many different decorating styles.
Upgrade and Update
If you have older lighting, DoItYourSelf.com says that updating from line voltage to low voltage fixtures is a great way to help save energy and money. Low voltage fixtures do not emit as much heat, last up to 50 times longer than incandescent or halogen lights, and can help to cut down on your utility bills. On the other hand, line voltage fixtures are going to be less expensive because there’s no transformer involved. Keep in mind, too, that transformers can be noisy unless you are buying top-quality fixtures, so if you are especially sensitive to noise, you may want to stick with line voltage. Additionally, if you are looking to sell your home, Realtor.com advises that new lighting can add value to the resale price. Buyers don’t like old fixtures and appliances, and will gladly part with a little extra cash to have something better and newer.
- Bathroom Lighting: There’s something so predictable about vanity lighting and bathroom lighting in general. Replace the usual vanity lighting with a pendant, or ditch the generic ceiling fixture for a pendant. If you have a separate bath area, create a romantic or relaxing ambiance around the tub.
- Kitchen Lighting: These lights are great when hung over an island or prep area, and can fit the theme of any kitchen from the ultra-modern to the renovator’s delight. Hung singly or in groups, you’ll want to place the controls in a nearby spot so that they’re convenient to where you’re working.
- Dining Area: Whether it’s the breakfast nook or a formal dining area, or even an outdoor dining area, hanging a group of pendants makes a great look, though you will want to choose pendants that give a softer, more diffused light. Taking a cue from chic restaurants, you may even want to hang a collection of Edison lights over the table and use a dimmer switch to raise or lower the illumination.
- Bedroom: Unclutter your bedside table by hanging a pendant at your bedside. With books, a clock, phone, tablet or reader and other items, the night stand can end up being cluttered. Using a dimmer switch on the wall next to the bed helps you to control the intensity of the illumination without having to get up to do it. You can also create a focal point by placing a larger pendant or group in the middle of the room, or create a cozy reading nook.
- Living Room: Create a focal point by using a single pendant over the main conversation areas, or use them to create different areas within a larger room. Using a suite of lighting fixtures can also pull a room together and make an eclectic furnishing scheme work. If your recessed lighting is looking dated, create interest by hanging multiple pendants from some of their locations instead.
- Entryways and Hallways: Unclutter the entryway and hallways, while at the same time creating an aesthetically pleasing sight. Highlight a staircase or an interesting ceiling treatment, while at the same time making sure that nobody trips over the winter boots. If you use multiple pendants down a long hallway or to highlight a staircase, it creates a lot of visual interest.
- Outdoors: Use pendants in wind-protected areas or as seasonal accents when you plan to spend the evenings enjoying your backyard. Putting pendants over an outdoor dining or seating area helps to create outdoor “rooms” and areas of interest.
- Replace Table and Floor Lamps: As any pet owner or parent can tell you, table and floor lamps are expensive to replace. Looking around your house, how many lamps do you have that are vulnerable to both toddler and terrier? You can clear the floor, declutter your end tables, and have a safer home simply by replacing some of the floor and table lamps with pendants.
When you check out pendant lights at retailers like Lumens, you’ll find a lot to choose from. Think first about the room you’re decorating, and what type of ambiance you want to create, then thinking about the size of the room versus the size of the fixtures. You want something that draws the eye to a certain area, but a fixture that’s too large can overpower the whole room instead, while a fixture that’s too small can disappear. If you need some help choosing the right lighting for your home, a decorator can help you work with what you have to make a perfect choice for your budget and taste.
