Pendant Lights

Start with the job the light has to do. Over a dining table or an island, a pendant is task lighting as much as decoration, so choose a shade that sends light downwards and hang it low enough to feel close. In a hallway or stairwell it is the first thing people see, and a cluster or tiered piece fills the height.

Then get the scale right. A shade that looks generous in a photograph can disappear in a large room, so measure first. Linear bars and multi-light pendants spread light along a table; a single large shade gives one strong pool.

Finally, match the finish to the room. Brass and copper warm up painted walls and dark timber, matt black suits modern and industrial schemes, and chrome and nickel sit comfortably in kitchens. Every pendant lists its bulb cap and maximum wattage.