The key to choosing the right size pendant lights is to look at the space you’re looking to illuminate. The size of the room, the height of the ceiling, and the purpose of the space — these are all considerations to take into account when choosing pendant lights.
Pendant light size guide
What size should pendants lights be over a kitchen sink?
When you’re working at a kitchen sink, you need bright lighting. Using a pendant light over a kitchen sink is a unique choice, but it can make a statement — and provide a good amount of light — when the right size is chosen.
Keep the width of the sink and the height of the ceiling in mind — and remember that the height of the pendant light is important, as you will be standing directly underneath it. Generally, a medium-sized pendant light works well to deliver the right light intensity for the task area without being too visually dominant.
Our pick: The Philips Hue Being pendant light offers white ambiance lighting and a sleek design, perfect for your kitchen sink tasks.
What size should pendant lights be over a kitchen island?
If you are using pendant lights for your kitchen island lighting, you’ll need to choose your pendants based on the size of the island and the height of the ceiling. Instead of hanging just one pendant light, many opt to hang multiple, smaller pendant lighting fixtures in a row. Not only does this create a more even distribution of light along long kitchen islands, it creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Our pick: The Philips Hue Enchant pendant light features a slender design and small size that make it ideal to hang over a kitchen island without stealing all the attention.
What size pendant lights should be used for a stairwell?
Staircases are often darker areas in homes, so you’ll need to add a lot of light. Pendant lights, especially when hung in multiples, can make a statement in a staircase — and provide more than enough light. One of the most important considerations when choosing pendant lights for a stairwell is the height, as they need to be high enough for people to pass underneath them without knocking into the light. Large, bright pendants are ideal for stairwells — and, if you’d like to make even more of a statement, opt for color-capable lights.
Our pick: The Philips Hue Flourish pendant light gives ample light and endless color light options, a perfect choice for a stairwell statement.
*When a bulb displays "Up to" a certain number of lumens in its specifications, it displays the maximum lumen output of the bulb. It shows how bright the bulb can get at 2700 K (White bulbs) or 4000 K (White ambiance or White and color ambiance bulbs). Learn more about brightness.
