Lighting is the quickest way to transform a space.
You see it when the sun emerges from clouds, flooding your living room with natural daylight and making everything feel miles more cheerier. Given daylight is often in short supply on our isle, artificial options offer a gallant alternative.
Small table lamps can imbue a space with cosiness, while full-blown chandeliers can add to the grandeur of a space. Even if you’re a minimalist - or perhaps, especially because you are - a well-chosen lighting fixture instantly brings interest and chutzpah to a space, even if there’s not very much in it.
Pendant lights are particularly good for creating drama. They usually include a cord and drop from the ceiling, finishing somewhere in the top third of the room - a space that isn’t usually visually appealing. Ideal for the living room, kitchen and bedroom, they act as an anchor to a room in much the same way an area rug does with the floor.
Installing pendant lights does require some electrical wiring knowledge, so if your DIY skills don't extend to that, it's best to seek the services of a professional electrician. Botching the job can be a costly and dangerous mistake to fix, and self-electrocution isn’t on anyone’s 2024 bingo card.
If you’re not sure if a pendant light is for you, we’ve rounded up the best-looking options below for practically every room of the house - kids’ bedrooms included. They span budgets too, so if you’re sticking to a certain price range, you should be able to find something to fit the bill.
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M&S Collection Chloe Pendant Ceiling Light
Finding good lighting for kitchens and lounges can be challenging, but M&S manages it beautifully with this ruffle-edged pendant lamp. The cord is hidden behind wrapped fabric and finished with a metal fitting when it meets the ceiling, offering a seamless finish.
Buy now £49.50, M&S
Made Madelyn Ceiling Light
Made is back and it's making a play for your dining room or living room with this four-light pendant light. The dramatic 101cm drop will require high ceilings but if it's showstopping you're after - this pendant light delivers. Available in red and black options.
Buy now £149.00, Made
Pooky hestia chandelier
A glass chandelier is a thing of beauty, but if you're not into those fusty styles of old, Pooky has a contemporary alternative that will knock you sideways. This halo design is made with a brass frame and glass rods, offering a modern take on a classic. It uses 24 long-lasting LEDs to project light across the room, brightening the darkest of corners. A lovely addition to lounges and hallways.
Buy now £570.00, Pooky
La Redoute Interieurs Daphné 69cm Diameter Fringed Rattan Lightshade
Bold curves with a little frill to finish: scallop shapes continue to reign supreme in interiors. Changing your Big Light to incorporate the look is an easy way to buy into the trend.
Buy now £161.25, La Redoute
OKA Ostra Pendant Lamp
Give guests a reason to look up with this handmade design from OKA. The gentle curves and asymmetrical shape remind us of a French beret while the antique gold inside will enhance the glow it gives.
Buy now £296.00, OKA
Rockett St George Terracotta Mesh Pendant Light
Embrace the incoming season with a change of colour and shape courtesy of homeware store Rockett St George. This delightfully plump pumpkin shape can be found on the website in terracotta and black with the shade made from mesh fabric to allow light to filter through.
Buy now £85.00, Rockett St George
Metro Lane 2 - Light Sphere Chandelier Ceiling Light With Crystal Accents
Give your bedroom a swish B&B-worthy lift with coordinating pendant lights over each bedside table. The twin pieces come fully assembled and are height adjustable, so you can suspend them as you wish. Moisture- and rust-proof, they're bound to elevate any space.
Buy now £65.99, Wayfair
John Lewis Clyde Glass Pendant Ceiling Light, Clear
The clear lampshade on this pendant light makes it ideal for kitchens and eating spaces, casting light around the room evenly. The piece has been hand-finished in India while the metal hardware lends itself well to those with an industrial kitchen aesthetic in mind.
Buy now £150.00, John Lewis
Pooky 18cm pendant shade
Pooky offers plenty of stunning lightbulb moments to add character to your interiors. This pendant shade is made from paper that’s been marbled with coloured oils and water. The result? A chic and psychedelic design with stylishly retro leanings. It comes with a fitting so this is one that will need to be installed by a professional. For the looks alone, we say it’s worth it.
Buy now £70.00, Pooky
KRIPINC Ceiling Pendant Light, 3D Printing Moon Light Shade
For budding astronomers, aspiring astronauts or romantics who want to dream under a full moon every night, this whimsical design promises to take bedroom lighting to a whole new stratosphere. The moon-themed pendant is designed to hang from the ceiling and offers three levels of dimness, allowing you to gaze up at the incredible detail in your preferred lighting.
Buy now £62.99, Amazon
LovingSTRING Sweet Dreamer Large Drum Lampshade
Lovingly handwoven around a drum frame with coloured string, this light shade offers a simple yet chic way to inject colour into your space. It can be used as a pendant light, hanging from the ceiling, or to upcycle an old table lamp and give your desk or bedside table the setting it deserves.
Buy now £64.00, Liberty
Oliver Bonas Espiral Natural Rattan Pendant Lamp Shade Medium
Looking like driftwood, this natural rattan lampshade from Oliver Bonas brings beachy vibes home. The curved wood turns your humble lightbulb into an art installation with light peeking through the neutral palette. Suitable for any room but the bathroom or any spaces with similarly damp conditions.
Buy now £45.00, Oliver Bonas
Dunelm Malika Cane 2 Tier Easy Fit Pendant
Rattan and cane are no longer a summer-only interiors trend. The simple look has year-round appeal, and can be found on lampshades too. This two-tier pendant shade uses raffia and cane to create a striking look that will work nicely in boho-style interiors. It can also be used on lamps if you have a base you love already.
Buy now £52.00, Dunelm
Mistana Alor 40Cm H Bamboo/Rattan Novelty Pendant Shade ( Spider ) in Beige/Black
Mixing boho chic with industrial stylings, this pendant light shade is simple to fit over your existing light socket. It’s available in small as well as large, giving you options according to your room’s dimensions.
Buy now £27.99, Wayfair
Dunelm Hot Air Balloon Rattan Easy Fit Pendant
Fuel their bedtime stories with a prop that doubles up as fantastical lighting, ideal for a child's bedroom. Shaped like a hot air balloon complete with a basket, the design is made from sustainable rattan and is compatible with standard ceiling fittings. It comes in three colours: white, grey and natural brown.
Buy now £40.00, Dunelm
IKEA RANARP Pendant lamp
If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchen with high ceilings, a pendant ceiling light can add form and interest to various areas of the room: think over the sink or a kitchen island.
IKEA’s powder-coated RANARP design offers an industrial feel with solid steel details and a striped textile cord instead of a chain. It gives direct light so is better suited to task lighting but in small spaces, can also work as a general light.
Buy now £29.00, IKEA
