Using Chandeliers and Pendant Lights to Complement Your Interior Design

Chandeliers tend to be more formal, decorative, and sometimes ornate with a softer lighting cast. Conversely, pendants are more minimal in style, and their light is more direct. Chandeliers have several bulbs, while pendants only have one.

Today, we’ll talk about chandeliers vs. pendant lights in the context of your home’s design. Whether you’re lighting a single room, foyer, or powder room or giving your whole house a lighting makeover, we have some tips and insights to help you choose.

Chandelier vs. Pendant Lighting

If you’ve decided you want a ceiling-hung light, you have two basic choices: a chandelier or a pendant.

We’ve outlined most of the differences between the two types of fixtures above. Still, it should also be mentioned that chandeliers are often quite a bit heavier than pendants, which could be a consideration. When choosing a chandelier, be sure the existing mounting box is rated for the fixture’s weight; otherwise, the installation may be a bit more complicated.

So, when should you use a chandelier vs. a pendant? Larger spaces with high ceilings may require more light. In this case, a chandelier might be your best choice. Let’s drill down.

Chandeliers Make a Statement

Chandeliers are also quite beautiful in a grand foyer or the master suite as they add a touch of elegance and, depending on the style, provide a statement that immediately draws the eye. 

Celestial is an example of a gorgeous statement chandelier that’s as striking suspended above your dining table as it is lighting up your den, living room, or master suite. Its faceted crystals softly play light through the room, matching traditional and modern interior design styles.

The Obsidian chandelier is all modern luxury with stunning layers of black and crystal, but it’s also offered in mini-pendant style to extend your design from one room to the next. It is easily at home with modern and contemporary design styles.

For understated luxury, Angelica complements many diverse design styles from traditional to mid-century and beyond. Choose a larger profile with up to 10 lights for formal dining rooms or six-light models for breakfast rooms, guest rooms, and home offices.

Pendants Are Task-Perfect

Pendants are highly versatile as they can be used as a single light or grouped together to light up larger surfaces or spaces.

We immediately imagine pendant lights in the kitchen, hanging above the island to light up meal prep, but they can also be used more subtly. For example, you might hang a single pendant within a nook inside your front door, providing understated lighting in your landing zone.

Pendants are stylish above your bedside table—and so much more practical than a lamp as they don’t clutter up surfaces. We love Jewels & Pearls for the bedroom, but this style is also gorgeous when grouped.

But pendants don’t always look like a teardrop. Take Luka, for example. This modern pendant fixture uses a band light housed in an elongated metal fixture, the ideal punctuation for an understated minimalist design. We love Luka in the kitchen or a dining room that leans toward a Scandi aesthetic. It’s simple, sleek, and practical, and it almost looks like it’s floating in mid-air.

Ambient vs. Decorative: Chandelier or Pendant?

Another consideration when choosing chandeliers vs. pendants is what type of light you need in the space. We can generally say that chandeliers are more ambient and cast a less concentrated light, so they are better suited to more casual settings that don’t require focused illumination.

Living rooms, dining rooms, and lounge areas are excellent spots for chandeliers. Foyers can also be, but consider the size of the hall, stairways, and ceiling height to ensure the fixture will provide sufficient light.

Pendants can do double-duty as decorative fixtures and task lighting, but they are particularly well-suited to places that need directional light, such as in the kitchen, bathroom, above a work table, lighting up an architectural feature, or by your bedside.

Choosing between chandeliers and pendants doesn’t have to be stressful! If you’re having trouble deciding or need some advice to ensure you select the right fixture to match your décor, the experts at MOD Lighting are here to help. Reach out to speak with us today; we’d be pleased to help you choose the perfect pendant or chandelier for you.