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.

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!

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