A pendant over the dining table sets the mood for the whole room. Hang it too high and the light is harsh and far away; too low and it blocks the view across the table. These are the standard guidelines we use.
1. Hanging height
Aim for the bottom of the shade to sit about 30 to 36 inches above the tabletop. If your ceiling is higher than 8 feet, raise the pendant roughly 3 inches for every extra foot. Sit at the table when you check it: you should be able to see the person across from you without leaning.
2. Shade size
For a single pendant, a shade about half to two-thirds as wide as the table looks balanced. A wide stone-look dome gives one calm pool of light over a round or square table. On a long table, two or three smaller pendants spaced evenly and centered on the table work better than one large light.
3. Spacing a row of pendants
Keep the row centered on the table and space the lights evenly, with the outer lights well inside the table ends. Slim cylinders and bottle shapes are made for this: they add light without hiding the table.
4. Bulb and brightness
Choose a warm white bulb (around 3000 K) for a soft, Japandi feel. If the pendant is the main light in the room, check the bulb details and brightness on the product page, and consider a dimmer.
5. Wiring and installation
Hardwired pendants should be installed by a licensed electrician. Turn the power off at the breaker first, and check the product page for cord length and wiring details before you order.
Pendants to look at
Browse our dining room lighting or all pendant lights. A good starting point is the wabi-sabi stone-look dome pendant, which comes in sizes from 12 to 24 inches. All our lights ship free to the US with tracking and 30-day returns.