Pendant lights
Setting the scene in the room
Suspended pendant lights come in a wide variety of shapes, colours or materials. Let us enlighten you regarding the most important selection criteria.
THE PENDANT LIGHT PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN MODERN INTERIOR DESIGN
Pendant luminaires, also known as pendant lamps, pendant lights or hanging lamps, are essential elements of interior design as they can influence the atmosphere and create moods.
Their placement and light have a decisive influence on the perception of a room: for example, they can visually enlarge it, create a cosy ambience for relaxation or effectively highlight interesting areas.
In short, pendant luminaires are truly multi-talented. As an expression of individuality, they shape the character of rooms and enrich them in a variety of ways.
THE PENDANT LIGHT - A TIMELESS CLASSIC
This type of lighting has undergone a remarkable development since ancient times. Starting with simple, hanging vessels for candles or oil, pendant luminaires developed into increasingly sophisticated designs. With the cable entry of electricity, the development took a rapid upswing. Today, pendant lights represent an impressive variety of styles and shapes - from minimalist designs to elaborate lighting objects.
Guide: How to find the right pendant lamp
Pendant lights by type of lighting
Pendulum or pendant lights are available for different lighting purposes. The location and purpose of the lighting play a decisive role in the selection.
If your room already has good basic illumination, you can illuminate your dining table specifically, for example.
How can I recognise the effect of the lighting?
- If the pendant luminaire has no shade or the shade is open, the light is emitted in all directions and thus provides basic illumination.
- An opaque metal shade that opens downwards directs the light only onto the surface below, while the surrounding area remains dark. This creates a particularly cosy atmosphere at the dining table.
- The advantage of frosted glass is that it creates a pleasantly soft light that does not dazzle.
Tip: If your pendant light is dimmable, you can play with different lighting moods and adjust the light intensity at any time. You can find out whether your pendant light has a dimmer in the product description.
The right height for pendant lights
Pendant lights are suitable for a wide variety of living spaces. How low your pendant light should hang depends on where it is installed.
How low should a pendant light hang?
- In the dining room above the dining table, the lowest point of the light should be at a distance of around 80 - 100 centimetres from the table surface. It is important that the light does not obstruct your view of the person sitting opposite you, that you do not bump your head when standing up and that it does not hang too low above the table.
- Height-adjustable lights have the advantage that the height can be varied depending on the application.
- The height of the pendant light is derived from the room height and can be calculated using a simple formula: Room height in centimetres / 4 = height of the pendant light in cm.
- To avoid hitting your head, you should keep a distance of at least 2 metres from the floor.
- Stairwells are often somewhat higher. Here, additional consideration should be given to transport and ideally a distance of at least 2.30 metres from the floor should be planned.
- In a reading corner or above the bedside table in the bedroom, a distance of 75 to 90 cm from the light fitting to the table or seat is a good idea.
Design factors
Pendant lights in wood, glass, crystal or copper are popular furnishing elements. The material can influence the look, but so can the type of finish. Industrial look, vintage or country house style? Classic, ornate or modern? Whatever you like is allowed.
Tips for choosing a design
Style
To achieve a harmonious effect, the style of the pendant light should harmonise with the style of the furnishings. However, a deliberate break in style can also be very appealing. For example, a traditionally furnished room with an ultra-modern LED pendant light can look just as good as a simple, modern room with a sumptuous, traditional chandelier.
Colour
Here too, the rule is "tone on tone" or colour for accentuation. There may be a colour scheme in which certain shades or colour groups are repeated. Choose the colour of the pendant light according to the second most dominant colour in your interior. This will create a harmonious overall impression.
Size
A balanced effect is a question of the right proportions. The size of your pendant light can be calculated using a simple formula of room width and room height.
B + L in metres x 10 = diameter in centimetres
Example: If a room has a width of 4 metres and a length of 5 metres, the diameter of the pendant light should be approx. 90 centimetres.
Light distribution
Do you want your pendant light to be 1-lamp, so that a single light source sets the accent? Or would you prefer a dance of several light globes, for example, to illuminate your room even better with multiple lights?
Light sources
Flat LED panels can be mounted continuously on one element of the light or as individual surfaces to set accents and create a modern look. With individual Lamp holders, you even have some design freedom when choosing the light source. From candles to bulbs or even globe bulbs, you can further define the style.
Design
Many ORION pendant lights give you individual design freedom, from the colours of the textile cables to the crystal polish and surface finishes in gold, silver or similar. There is also a wide range of colours to choose from, from black and white to copper.
Lighting effect
A functional aspect that also has an influence on the look of the light. Direct light specifically emphasises the desired object. Indirect light utilises various surfaces to add a soft shimmer to the room.
Combine
At ORION, you can often also find a matching wall, ceiling, floor or table lamp for your pendant light from a series and thus create a uniform lighting concept in your room.
Installation
All ORION lights are supplied with practical installation instructions including a drawing and precise instructions for installation. The use of tools such as drills and cordless drills may be necessary during installation, depending on the condition of the ceiling. If you have any questions, our customer service team will be happy to help you with further tips. For special requirements, we recommend that you consult a qualified electrician.
WE DELIVER YOUR NEW PENDANT LAMP QUICKLY AND CONVENIENTLY TO YOUR HOME
You will find a large selection of pendant lights and other interior lights in our exclusive online shop. Be inspired by our range or refine your search by combining the numerous options. Do you have a particular colour or design in mind? Are you looking for a specific material? Would you like a touch dimmer? You can sort this and much more in advance using filters so that you are only shown the variants that really meet your requirements. Of course, you can also filter our lamps by price. Then click on the corresponding product images to find out more. Then simply add the light you want to your shopping basket. Finally, click on "CONTINUE TO CHECKOUT" to start the payment process. Your items will be dispatched as quickly as possible after receipt of payment and delivered directly to your home.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PENDANT LIGHTS
WHAT KIND OF LIGHT SOURCES CAN I USE IN PENDANT LIGHTS?
Pendant lights can be operated with various light sources, including incandescent lamps, LED lamps and energy-saving lamps. When selecting the right light source, it is important to pay attention to the maximum permissible wattage and the lamp base.
WHICH MATERIAL IS BEST SUITED FOR PENDANT LIGHTS?
Pendant lights are available in various materials such as wood, glass, metal, crystal and synthetic material. The choice of material depends on the desired style and furnishings. Wood, for example, looks natural and warm, while metal lends a modern aesthetic.
CAN I ALSO USE PENDANT LIGHTS IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER LIGHTS?
Yes, pendant lights can be combined well with other interior lights such as wall, ceiling or floor lamps to create a harmonious and varied lighting concept in the room. A uniform design language can also emphasise the overall picture. However, care should be taken to ensure that the designs match each other.
CAN I ALSO USE PENDANT LIGHTS OUTDOORS?
Pendant lights are generally designed for indoor use. However, there are also pendant lights that have been specially developed for outdoor use and are protected against the effects of weather and moisture.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PENDANT LIGHT BREAKS?
In the event of damage, there is sometimes no choice but to replace the entire lamp. But that doesn't have to be the case! At ORION, our extensive stock of spare parts is at your disposal. This means that you only have to replace the component in the event of a defect. So you can be sure that you will enjoy your ORION pendant light for a long time to come.
