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No space is finished until it’s been outfitted with lighting, and as far as fixtures go, best pendant lights are some of the most versatile around. Pendant lights can brighten up your kitchen, illuminate your nightstand, and add ambiance to your bedroom. “When choosing a chandelier [or pendant], pay attention to the other design elements in the immediate vicinity,” says Bryan Johnson, CEO of Shades of Light. “For instance, an island chandelier that is a brighter, yellower brass may wind up clashing with stainless steel appliances, whereas a softer aged brass may be just fine.”
Along with coordinating finishes in your space, you also want to consider the lighting’s purpose—task or ambient lighting—and size in mind. From modern to farmhouse, we researched the best pendant lights for every aesthetic and budget, considering their size, finish, brightness, and ease of installation.
Best Overall: Sea Gull Lighting Dormer 1-Light Pendant
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For an eye-catching silhouette that’ll stun in your home, consider Sea Gull Lighting’s Dormer Pendant. The industrial-style pendant light is budget-friendly and offered in multiple finishes, so it’s easy to create your ideal look.
The lamp’s shade is made up of two parts—a steel ellipse that matches the lamp’s base and a metal shade that fans out. This shade is relatively short, so it exposes the bulb underneath it, adding yet another geometric element into the mix.
The fixture is crafted entirely from steel and is offered in three sleek finishes—solid brass, solid silver, or black and brass. The pendant is damp-rated as well, meaning it’s as suited for bathrooms as it is for a kitchen or bedroom.
Best Budget: Steelside Cadence Single Geometric Pendant
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With an affordable price, an adjustable hanging height, and sleek modern style cues, Steelside’s Cadence Single Geometric Pendant is a light that’ll look great pretty much anywhere. The single-bulb pendant is slim and perfect for open spaces, thanks to its matte metal geometric cage “shade” that wraps around a 100-watt light bulb. This pendant light is LED compatible, which means you can make it energy-efficient, and thanks to its adjustable nature, you can hang it anywhere from 18 to 80 inches. Did we mention it’s also compatible with dimmer switches and sloped ceilings for even more customization?
The durable steel construction of the light also makes it nicely durable. However, it isn’t the brightest pick and may perform best in smaller rooms. Additionally, the hanging cord for the pendant doesn’t straighten out easily; it tends to stay kinked even weeks after being installed. However, for the price, it’s an effective and attractive pendant light that’ll get the job done while looking great.
Best Set: Pottery Barn McCarthy 3-Light Glass Pendant
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Illuminate your space with Pottery Barn’s McCarthy 3-Light Glass Pendant, which makes a great addition in smaller rooms and open, airy spaces. Featuring three pendants (and three lights) hanging from one central plate, each light features its own unique wavy blown glass shape and appearance. There’s a little vintage flair, thanks to the Edison bulbs that illuminate your space with soft yellow light, and the curved silhouettes add a touch of elegance. Best of all, it looks more expensive than its reasonable price implies.
Just keep in mind that this pendant light set can’t be mounted onto sloped or slanted ceilings, which may be limiting in some rooms or homes. Once it’s hardwired in, the fixture also isn’t compatible with dimmer switches; it can be turned on or off only. Ultimately, though, these details don’t detract from it being a great fit in most homes and with many different decor styles.
Best Splurge: Anthropologie Eloise Pendant
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Anthropologie’s Eloise Pendant is a bit of an investment piece, but the vintage-inspired design makes a case for why it’s worth it. The light is offered in two colors, blue, and mint, and you can choose between a hardwired or plug-in style for the white option, making it easy to find an option that works perfectly in your home.
The pendant’s base is crafted from plated metal, which is coated with an oiled bronze finish for an antique look. Take a closer look at this metal, and you’ll notice that ornate leaves have been carved into it, only furthering its vintage appeal. The lamp’s shade is crafted from cloudy milk glass—an opaque material that promises to spread light throughout your space. This cloudiness makes the lamp a great pick for rooms where you crave diffused, ambient light, like in a bedroom or living room.
Though professional installation is required, the lighting comes with a mounting plate and pole kit, so you’ll have everything you need to set it up.
Best for Kitchen: Globe Electric Nate 4-Light Oil Rubbed Bronze Pendant
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Globe Electric’s Nate Pendant replaces the need to stock up on several different pendant lights. The design descends from the ceiling and then branches out into four smaller lamps, which are displayed in a row. This mimics the look and feel of a row of pendant lights but lets you skip out on the process of installing more than one fixture.
This pendant set would be especially attractive over a kitchen island or long dining table. “Island chandeliers tend to be wider and narrower to spread light across more rectangular-shaped areas,” says Johnson. “They also create visual interest that reinforces the home style and decor, and are a natural focal point that draws the eye to the kitchen island, which is oftentimes the heart of day-to-day activity in the home.”
This light will demand a fair amount of space in your kitchen, but since it’s designed to replace four different pendant lights, it ends up being a pretty space-efficient pick that’ll illuminate your kitchen or dining room with ease.