Kitchen islands and breakfast bars are fast becoming common elements in modern kitchen design, and for good reason. Offering up to 360-degree access to surroundings, and convenient for small gatherings, kitchen islands and bars are both highly functional and visually appealing for family life and entertaining. Not surprisingly, then, more people are opting for pendant lamps when selecting lighting fixtures for their kitchens. If you're considering modern pendant lights for your kitchen, review our practical tips for getting the most from these versatile lighting fixtures.
1. Measure Ceiling to Counter
The distance from ceiling to worktop is crucial. Modern pendant lights should be hung at a height that doesn't block the view across the kitchen, while providing practical lighting for tasks. Typically 76cm to 92cm above worktops is a safe distance. Measure from the bottom of the fixture to the surface area below.
2. Measure Between Lights
Depending on how large you kitchen and kitchen island are, you will likely opt for more than one modern pendant light. If so, a general rule of thumb is to leave about 76cm between pendant lights. This helps produce a more balanced visual composition, but also helps to disperse light evenly across the entire surface below.
3. Don't Forget Dimmers
Having the right amount of light for food preparation, cooking, and cleaning is obviously important. But not all tasks and occasions demand the same amount of light. Modern lighting that can be adjusted for brightness are essential to creating the kind of ambience that makes the kitchen an inviting place for both family and friends.
Why opt for kitchen pendant lights?
Pendant lights are amongst the most visually appealing modern lighting fixtures, and kitchens benefit from them as much as any other room in the contemporary home. While recessed lighting, track lighting, and other ceiling lights are common in kitchens, today's open plan homes, high ceilings, and large kitchens—often outfitted with statement islands and breakfast nooks—lend themselves particularly well to hanging light fixtures.
And with the broad range of options available in today's contemporary lighting market, finding the optimal modern pendant light and arrangement for you kitchen is not only easier, but exciting—offering a broad range of colours, sizes, and material options to complement the overall layout and style of your kitchen.
Where do kitchen pendant lights look best?
Depending on the layout and style of our kitchen, modern pendant lights can look beautiful almost anywhere in a kitchen—by a window, above a sink, or over a breakfast nook.
But without a doubt, pendants looks particularly striking when suspended over a breakfast bar or kitchen island, which are typically the focal point in a contemporary kitchen. The openness of an island or bar, and unobstructed views to the rest of the kitchen, make it an ideal setting for a single eye-catching pendant or a cluster of modern pendant lights, providing a vertical counterpoint to the horizontal layout of islands and worktops.
How do I find the best modern pendant lights for my kitchen?
Once you've decided to install modern pendant lighting in your kitchen, some basic considerations will help you avoid costly mistakes. Before you start shopping, these simple steps will help you zero in on the perfect lighting scheme for your kitchen's size and style.
MEASURE, MEASURE, MEASURE
Making accurate measurements is absolutely key to the most practical and visually attractive modern pendant lighting installation. By far the most important measurement is between ceiling and worktop. A clearance of 76cm - 92cm is typically safe. A pendant light shouldn't obstruct the view across the kitchen, but be at a distance above the worktop to disperse light evenly to the surface below. The distance should be measured from the bottom of the pendant to the top of the worktop.
DETERMINE HOW MANY LIGHTS YOU NEED
The number of lights you choose to install is dependent on how large your surface area is, and the particular look you're after. If you want a single pendant light over a large surface area, a chandelier or linear suspension lighting might be a better choice. If you decide on multiple lights, though, you'll need to measure the distance between each pendant to ensure that the installation is both visually unified, and distributes light evenly across the surface below. A distance of 76cm inches between lights is ideal, depending on the size and style of your chosen pendant.
ADJUSTABLE BRIGHTNESS IS ESSENTIAL
When installing any modern lighting fixture, dimmers are essential. A light that cannot be adjusted for brightness is lacking in versatility and only half as useful as it should be. Pendant lights, in particular, which tend to be the focal point in a room, should be adjustable enough to illuminate necessary tasks, but also to add to a room's ambience. No matter what style of lighting fixture you choose, ensure that it comes equipped with a dimmer. It's one choice you'll never regret.
FIND A STYLE THAT COMPLEMENTS YOUR KITCHEN
Style, of course is a key element in getting the most from you modern lighting installation. Pendant lights are almost always attention-getting, so they present an opportunity to make a truly striking aesthetic statement. Select a modern lighting design that doesn't overwhelm your kitchen, but one that complements and enhances the lines, colour scheme, and material choices you've already made. Whether your style is Mid Century, minimal, or industrial, there's an ideal modern pendant light waiting to illuminate your space.
