Lightly Dropping In

Let’s talk today about the workhorse of home lighting, the humble (and not so humble) pendant light. A pendant is any light that hangs from the ceiling by a cord, chain, rope, or rod. So what’s the difference between a pendant and a chandelier? Not much! But generally chandeliers have multiple arms with multiple light sources, where a pendant has one or more lights within an single body.

Like in my coastal project below, the rope pendant I used in the living room has four arms and four lights, so you wouldn’t be wrong if you called it a chandelier. But since it’s all wrapped in a rope sphere, I’d probably call it a pendant.

Beth Lindsey Interior Design

The 1960s Italian Brutalist pendant in this chic 19th century Parisian apartment is stylish enough to be called a chandelier, but the light source is contained inside the disks so that really makes it a pendant… with grand illusions.

Just to confuse things, the pendants I used in my University project above the kitchen island are also called lanterns. All hanging lanterns are pendant lights, but not all pendants are lanterns!

Beth Lindsey Interior Design

Here’s an example of a classically shaded pendant, but hung in a group for wow factor.

How stunning and dramatic is this vintage UFO pendant by Italian master lighting designer Gino Sarfatti?

I love when pendants are used as bedside lighting. So chic.

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s look at pendant lighting. For more, please visit my Light It Up Pinterest board!

Warmly,

Beth