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Spotlight On: Hanging Lights
Want a new pendant light? Here's everything you need to know – from the hottest styles to the perfect hanging height
In this new series, we put key home-design elements under the spotlight, exploring everything from the latest innovations and arrangement ideas to practical tips on making them work in your space.
A fabulous hanging light can bring a room to life, so this would be the perfect place to kick off. We’ve asked three design experts to reveal all you need to know about these appealing design features.
* THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *
COMMENT TO WIN!
To celebrate the launch of this new series, we’ve teamed up with Beacon Lighting to give one reader a stunning pendant light from their new winter range. Choose between a trio of Mele lights, worth RRP $447 total, or the Koralky pendant light, worth RRP $895 (images below). To enter, simply answer this question in the Comments section in 25 words or less.
I need new lighting in my life because…
Competition ends at 5pm AEST Tuesday, 1 May 2018. Competition is open to Australian residents only. Click here for full terms and conditions.
* THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *
A fabulous hanging light can bring a room to life, so this would be the perfect place to kick off. We’ve asked three design experts to reveal all you need to know about these appealing design features.
* THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *
COMMENT TO WIN!
To celebrate the launch of this new series, we’ve teamed up with Beacon Lighting to give one reader a stunning pendant light from their new winter range. Choose between a trio of Mele lights, worth RRP $447 total, or the Koralky pendant light, worth RRP $895 (images below). To enter, simply answer this question in the Comments section in 25 words or less.
I need new lighting in my life because…
Competition ends at 5pm AEST Tuesday, 1 May 2018. Competition is open to Australian residents only. Click here for full terms and conditions.
* THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *
Trio of Mele pendant lights: Beacon Lighting
What’s trending style-wise in 2018?
“Styles with a rustic feel and those with a slightly roughed-up, Hamptons vibe are popular. Generous glass fittings are making a statement, as well as gracefully beaded and draped styles,” says Hammond.
“Textured ceramic lights look beautiful and work well with other natural materials, such as wood and polished concrete,” says Clare Le Roy, interior designer and decorator at The Little Design Corner.
“Oversized pendants (perfect for a foyer) and those made from fabric, paper and ceramic are looks I love,” says Carole Whiting, interior designer and principal at Carole Whiting ID.
What’s trending style-wise in 2018?
“Styles with a rustic feel and those with a slightly roughed-up, Hamptons vibe are popular. Generous glass fittings are making a statement, as well as gracefully beaded and draped styles,” says Hammond.
“Textured ceramic lights look beautiful and work well with other natural materials, such as wood and polished concrete,” says Clare Le Roy, interior designer and decorator at The Little Design Corner.
“Oversized pendants (perfect for a foyer) and those made from fabric, paper and ceramic are looks I love,” says Carole Whiting, interior designer and principal at Carole Whiting ID.
Where should I put them?
Our experts’ favourite spots include:
Our experts’ favourite spots include:
- Over a kitchen sink
- In a row over a kitchen benchtop
- Suspended over a hallway console table or a dining table
- Hung on either side of a bed
- At the end of a long hallway
Any tips for success?
Hammond’s top tips are:
Hammond’s top tips are:
- Choose a lighting style that harmonises with your furniture and palette for a consistent look.
- Don’t forget dimmers: ask your electrician to put in dimmer switches so you can control the lighting levels.
- For pendants beside the bed, ask your electrician to install individual switches above your bedside – it sure beats getting out of bed to turn the light off.
Le Roy’s tips include:
- Less is more: avoid using more than one set of pendants in an open-plan area. If you have hanging lights over your kitchen island, don’t also use them over the dining table beside it.
- I’m generally not a fan of hanging lights as the only light source in a main room (such as a single pendant in the centre of the living room or bedroom). A layered lighting scheme works best.
- When using a coloured hanging light, keep the rest of the space neutral or pick up the colour of the hanging light in accessories, such as cushions or a rug.
- Carry textures through: if using a textural hanging light, use other organic textures elsewhere in the room, such as a sisal rug or tasselled cushions and throws.
How high should I hang them?
“This depends on a number of factors, including your ceiling height, what the light is being used for (decorative or task lighting), and the style of the light. It can sometimes take a bit of extra expert help to get the positioning right,” says Le Roy.
“A lot of people hang their pendants too high,” says Whiting. “Don’t be afraid to hang it as low as 1500 millimetres from floor level over a dining table or 1100 millimetres from floor level next to a bed.”
Hammond suggests:
“This depends on a number of factors, including your ceiling height, what the light is being used for (decorative or task lighting), and the style of the light. It can sometimes take a bit of extra expert help to get the positioning right,” says Le Roy.
“A lot of people hang their pendants too high,” says Whiting. “Don’t be afraid to hang it as low as 1500 millimetres from floor level over a dining table or 1100 millimetres from floor level next to a bed.”
Hammond suggests:
- In living rooms, bedrooms or hallways where people might walk beneath a pendant, aim to have 2.1 metres clearance between the bottom of the fitting and the floor.
- In an open hallway, hang chandeliers or pendants with the bottom at least 15 centimetres higher than the door.
- Above the bathtub, have 2.5 metres between the top of the tub and the bottom of the pendant (any lights in a wet room must be IP-rated and installed by a licensed electrician).
What do I need to know about putting them in a bathroom?
Hammond advises:
Hammond advises:
- Electricity and water don’t mix. Consult with your builder or electrician before getting your heart set on a hanging light or position, as any light in a wet room must be IP-rated (the same goes for hanging lights outdoors).
- Poor lighting placement can cast unsightly shadows on your face – awful for shaving or putting on make-up. If placing a pendant light either side of a vanity mirror, ensure they’re spaced evenly. Or hang pendants in one or both corners of the bathroom instead. This will project pretty shadows onto the wall and won’t affect your reflection.
How do I choose a light with the right diameter?
Hammond advises:
Hammond advises:
- Measure the length and width of the room in metres (for example 3 metres by 3.6 metres).
- Add the two lengths together (example: 3 + 3.6 = 6.6 metres).
- Swap the value in metres for centimetres (so 6.6 metres becomes 660 centimetres), then remove the zero. This is the ideal diameter for a light fixture in this room (e.g. 66 centimetres wide).
What are some of the best arrangement ideas?
Some on-trend ideas Hammond suggests you try include:
Make your own cluster: Create your own chandelier by clustering multiple pendant lights together. Choose an odd number for a casual, organic look. Stagger pendants at different heights and hang in a stairwell or a dull corner.
Get creative with cords: Choose a pendant with a long suspension cord and try tying the cord into knots, attaching it to a wall, hanging it off objects or draping it across the ceiling.
Go combo crazy: Create an eye-catching look by mixing up different styles of pendants. By removing symmetry in this way, the eye will be immediately drawn to the pendants, making them the hero of the room. If you are cautious about using entirely different lights, try using the same pendant but in a different size or colour.
Some on-trend ideas Hammond suggests you try include:
Make your own cluster: Create your own chandelier by clustering multiple pendant lights together. Choose an odd number for a casual, organic look. Stagger pendants at different heights and hang in a stairwell or a dull corner.
Get creative with cords: Choose a pendant with a long suspension cord and try tying the cord into knots, attaching it to a wall, hanging it off objects or draping it across the ceiling.
Go combo crazy: Create an eye-catching look by mixing up different styles of pendants. By removing symmetry in this way, the eye will be immediately drawn to the pendants, making them the hero of the room. If you are cautious about using entirely different lights, try using the same pendant but in a different size or colour.
* THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *
COMMENT TO WIN!
To celebrate the launch of this new series, we’ve teamed up with Beacon Lighting to give one reader a stunning pendant light from their brand new winter range. Choose between a trio of Mele lights worth RRP $447 total, or the Koralky pendant light worth RRP $895. To enter, simply answer this question in the Comments section in 25 words or less.
I need new lighting in my life because…
Competition ends at 5pm AEST Tuesday, 1 May 2018. Competition is open to Australian residents only. Click here for full terms and conditions.
* THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *
Tell us
Did you find this story useful? Don’t forget to like it, save it, and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Don’t miss this home where a fabulous pendant is the star of the show, Room of the Week: A Cool Sunken Living Area With a Boho Vibe
COMMENT TO WIN!
To celebrate the launch of this new series, we’ve teamed up with Beacon Lighting to give one reader a stunning pendant light from their brand new winter range. Choose between a trio of Mele lights worth RRP $447 total, or the Koralky pendant light worth RRP $895. To enter, simply answer this question in the Comments section in 25 words or less.
I need new lighting in my life because…
Competition ends at 5pm AEST Tuesday, 1 May 2018. Competition is open to Australian residents only. Click here for full terms and conditions.
* THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *
Tell us
Did you find this story useful? Don’t forget to like it, save it, and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Don’t miss this home where a fabulous pendant is the star of the show, Room of the Week: A Cool Sunken Living Area With a Boho Vibe
Why do I need to know about hanging lights?
Because they are one of the most fun and effective ways to bring personality to a space, according to Denise Hammond, product knowledge specialist at Beacon Lighting: “They’re perfect for adding warmth, colour and texture”.