A pendant hung at the right height looks effortless. Too high and it floats awkwardly; too low and it blocks the view across the table. Here are the measurements designers use, room by room.
Above a dining table
Hang the bottom of the pendant 75–85 cm above the tabletop. This keeps the light close enough to create an intimate pool of light, while leaving the view across the table clear. With higher ceilings, you can go towards the upper end of the range.
Above a kitchen island
Allow 75–90 cm between the worktop and the bottom of the pendant. Taller household members will thank you for the extra few centimetres, and you keep a clear line of sight across the kitchen.
In a hallway or open walkway
Where people walk underneath, keep at least 210 cm of clearance between the floor and the bottom of the light. In hallways with lower ceilings, a close-to-ceiling or semi-flush light is often the better choice.
Beside the bed
Bedside pendants free up space on your bedside table. Hang them so the bottom sits around 50–60 cm above the bedside table, roughly at shoulder height when you are sitting up in bed.
How to space several pendants
Grouping two or three pendants above a table or island is one of the most elegant ways to light it. As a guide:
- Leave 60–75 cm between the centres of each pendant (a little more for large shades).
- Keep at least 15 cm between the outer pendants and the edge of the table or island.
- For a long table, a single linear pendant gives the same effect with one ceiling point.
| Where | Drop guide |
|---|---|
| Dining table | 75–85 cm above the tabletop |
| Kitchen island | 75–90 cm above the worktop |
| Walkway | minimum 210 cm clearance from the floor |
| Bedside | 50–60 cm above the bedside table |
Choose a pendant with an adjustable cord
Most of our pendants have adjustable cords or suspension, so you can fine-tune the drop once the light is installed. The adjustable length is listed in the Technical Information on every product page.
The essentials
75–85 cm above a dining table, 75–90 cm above an island, at least 210 cm clearance in walkways, and 60–75 cm between pendant centres. Measure twice, and let the cord do the rest.
