If you are wondering how to size pendant lights over your kitchen island, this guide will explain everything you need to know in order to select the right fixtures, and how many pendant lights you will need for a 7-foot, 8-foot, 9-foot or 10-foot island, or any other size. Read on to learn how to choose the right size pendant light for your kitchen design, how high to hang them and how far apart from each other they should be placed depending on the size of your island.
When many of us think of pendant lights above an island, we picture those small blown-glass versions, or mini pendants. These standard builder grade fixtures have become outdated, and there are many more interesting options available today. Pendants come in a wide range of materials from glass to metal and even rattan.
If you will be using two pendant lights, first locate the center of your island, and then measure approximately 15 inches to each side. These should be the center points from which you hang your two pendants. Check that you have at least 6 inches clear from the outside edge of each pendant and the edge of the island, and adjust as needed.
Pendant spacing should be between 24 inches and 36 inches on center, with around 30 inches as an ideal. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule, but a helpful one to achieve even lighting and a balanced look for your kitchen island lighting configuration. Be sure you space your fixtures evenly if you are using three or more.
We’ve spent a lot of time considering the number of pendants you need and the distances they should be spaced apart; however, don’t neglect the right height at which to hang the fixtures! Pendants installed above islands should hang approximately 30 to 32 inches above the surface of the island from the bottom of the fixture.
For a 7 foot island, you will typically only need two pendants. Position them so that each fixture is hanging approximately 6 to 12 inches from each end of the island, and then allow around 24 to 36” between each pendant. You could potentially use one large chandelier, especially a linear shape. If your island is much shorter than 7 feet, you may only need one pendant, depending on the scale of the fixture.
Just as with the 7 foot island, two pendants is likely all you will need over an 8 foot island. You might want to scale up on the pendant sizes slightly as compared to a 7 foot island, but you can still follow the same rules of spacing from the edge of the island and between each fixture.
When it comes to 9 foot islands, you could go with either two or three pendants, depending on the scale of the space and the size of the fixtures that you choose. At this point, it is more of a personal preference as long as you have adequate lighting for the surface of your kitchen island.
If you have an island that measures 10 feet long, you will need three pendants unless you go with very large-scale pendants (think more than 2 feet diameter). Center one pendant, then allow 24 to 36 inches to place the others on each side. Leave 6 to 12 inches from the edge of the counter to each outside pendant.
Don’t be afraid to go large. Look for pendants that measure at least 1 foot in diameter for most spaces. Mini pendants tend to look, well, too small. You’ll want a fixture that puts out enough light to be functional and doesn’t get lost in the space. When it comes to pendants above an island, typically bigger is better.
The best width for your pendants will depend on the scale of the room. Common pendant sizes are around 12 inches wide, but you’ll likely want to go a bit wider for the best effect. Again, this depends on the size of your kitchen as well as the length of the island and how many pendants you decide to use together.
After reading this pendant light size guide, the process of choosing the right pendants for your kitchen island should feel a bit less daunting than before. Now that you know how to choose the right pendant light size and how to space them, the only challenge left is determining the right aesthetic for your kitchen, but that’s the fun part!
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