Kitchen Islands: Pendant Lights Done Right

The most basic rule that isn’t really a rule is something called “The Rule of Three.” Essentially, The Rule of Three states that an easy way to achieve balance is to repeat an element three times. I like to think of it as the rule of odd numbers. Human brains are pattern-recognition machines, and the most basic pattern there is an odd number. In this kitchen there are three pendants over the island and a fourth coordinating pendant over the sink. This room’s balanced because the three pendants over the island are on a single plane, and the one pendant over the sink is on another plane all together.

Work with a kitchen designer to determine the best lighting for you

The Rule of Three takes a back seat to scale, always. This kitchen has a smaller island and larger pendants. The two pendants here illuminate the island and they're large enough that three of them would be overwhelming. The amount of light you require and the proportions of the pendants you're using always trumps The Rule of Three or any other rules.

Sometimes, pendant lights are a way to inject some color and interest. These three pendants over the island are the focal point of this kitchen and that's due to their bright color in an otherwise neutral room.

They are small enough that three of them fit comfortably in the space and they produce enough light to do their job.

Sometimes, a pendant isn't really a pendant at all. These articulated arm lamps provide an unexpected twist as well as flexible and effective task lighting. Their visual weight is offset by the graphic of the diver to the right. Despite its apparent simplicity, this is an exceptionally well-designed room.

The lights hanging over this island, like the lights from most manufacturers, come in a variety of sizes. In this case, the designer went with two larger sizes instead of three (or more) smaller ones. The cloud-like appearance of the Logico Suspension Pendants disguises the fact that they're hanging in a pretty rigid line. The line formed by these pendants, when combined with the crown moldings in the room, combine to imply a ceiling. This technique is a way to take high ceilings and draw them down to a more human scale by focusing a line or series of lines between eight and nine feet above the floor.

This kitchen is a study in how to light a room properly. The focal point of this room is the hood on the wall over the range. The three pendants that are in line with that hood don’t distract from it at all. Notice how the curved shapes of the pendants complement the curved shapes on the sides of the hood, the corbels below it and the valance on the hood’s face. Add the curves on the back of the chairs and stools and a motif is born.

Finding balance among all of these competing elements is difficult, and this designer pulls it off beautifully.

Make a statement with trendy bar stools

In this kitchen, the designer went with two larger pendants rather than three. The metallic highlights scattered around this room are repeated in the pendants and keep the focus low and centered. That the island is the center of this room is a point made with a combination of the lighting, the aluminum stools and the white, brick base. This is a kitchen that feeds multitudes and does it with grace and efficiency.

The focus in this kitchen is the interesting T shape made by the wall cabinets and the backsplash tile on the far wall. This island is set on the diagonal to that far wall, and the pendants follow that diagonal line. There’s a bit of forced asymmetry at work here that keeps things subtly interesting.

Tip: Pendants are usually hung 60 to 66 inches from the floor to their bottom rim. Those guidelines are subject to change, however. The height of the inhabitants, the design of the pendant and the task to be illuminated all work together to determine the proper height for a given installation.

Add some extra countertop lighting with undercabinet lighting

This kitchen is stunning for a host of reasons, not the least of which is its perfectly balanced use of dark colors in an otherwise white room. Spreading around those dark colors makes this island appear to be larger and, at the same time, expands the whole room.

An island such as this is going to have activity going on all around it. The lighting needs to do its job while not creating a barrier. If you’re lighting an area that people will stand around, the pendants should be high enough so that people can see each other, but no so high that those same people are blinded by light bulb glare.

Find more industrial pendant lights

In this kitchen, three pendants bring in a shot of color and draw up the red-toned stain on the island cabinetry. Long, conical pendants like these can be hung a little higher than some other shapes.

Here's how to determine how high to hang your pendants (you'll need three people, but it's worth it): Before installing your pendants, have one person climb a ladder and hold the light fixture in what looks like a good position. Have a second person measure the distance from the bottom of the pendant to the floor. The third person's job is to decide which height works best. Keep in mind that you want the pendant low enough to hide the glare of a light bulb but high enough so that the pendant doesn't act as a barrier. No room and no fixture will have the same sweet spot. When you find yours, record it.

Do you have a pendant light success story or tip?