Best-Rated Hanging Pendant Lights to Illuminate Your Space with Style
Updated: Apr. 15, 2024
From a Mobius loop of acrylic to pastel matte metal, the latest in lighting is here. Check out these 10 trend-illuminating pendant picks.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
Best Built-In LED Pendant Light Fixture
Built-in LED lighting is the future, and the sculptural Ciri pendant from Kichler ($591) exemplifies why.
Lighting designers are no longer constrained by light-bulb sockets; instead, they can create sculptural objects with LED lights wrapped within. The Ciri is a natural style step forward from the popular bulb cage lights that top customer wish lists.
“With sockets, you’re limited how you can engineer designs based around the light bulbs you screw in,” says Jennifer Johnson, CEO of The Light Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. “But integrated LED lighting allows designers the ability to put light in different patterns and shapes they couldn’t have before. It makes it really interesting.”
Best Mixed-Material Pendant Light Fixture
Mixed materials are all the rage, and this Mobius loop by ET2 ($359) exemplifies the tandem trends of integrated LED lighting and mixed materials. Matte-black metal, brass and acrylic all come together in one unending knot to provide light and visual delight in this sculptural piece.
Johnson says she’s also seeing more light fixtures incorporating wood and acrylic.
For another sculptural lighting option, take a look at these doughnut lamps.
Best Mini Pendants
For price (three for $279) and style, the Tangent mini pendants from Article cannot be beat.
“Black has nearly taken over,” says Johnson, adding the combination of black and brass is hot, hot, hot. “Black and gold is really, really popular, more than I’ve ever seen,” Johnson says. The black powder-coated shades on these pendant lights are accented with brass, and hung from fabric-wrapped cords for a sleek, polished look.
One five-star reviewer on Article.com writes: “Well made with solid materials. The look and size I was looking for. Couldn’t be more pleased!”
Best Mix-and-Match Pendants
To create a custom appearance with mainstream pricing, turn to the West Elm collection of glass shades. Prices vary depending on shade, size, bulb and wiring, but a basic hardwired small clear globe and Edison light bulb begins at around $80 and goes up from there.
They’re all here: smoked glass, clear glass, frosted glass, globes, geometric shades. And, Johnson says, you can definitely use them all together. “It is truly anything goes,” she says. She still sees customers gravitating toward Edison bulbs, and using different-shaped bulbs to change the look inside the fixture.
Best Oversized Pendant Light
Johnson says customers definitely prefer oversized pendants to small ones. This giant (24-in. diameter) jute drum pendant from Lulu and Georgia fills a space without making it feel cluttered. And in boho, coastal and other casual indoor spaces, this fixture adds welcome texture.
It features an adjustable hanging height of 18 to 60 inches and a 48-inch cord. It can be hung on a sloped ceiling.
Tara F., a verified buyer on the Lulu and Georgia web site, raved about this light.
“My husband and I had a challenging ceiling in our dining room; there’s no attic space above it and the ceiling is vaulted,” she writes. “It took us a very long time to find a pendant that was light enough to be compatible with our existing wiring. Until we found these!!! Wow, we’re so impressed and get tons of compliments on them!”
Best Outdoor Pendant Light Fixture
For three season porches, protected open air porches and other outdoor living spaces, this pendant from Maxim ($174) perfectly combines the trend toward natural materials and the organic feel an outdoor light should have. That can be hard to find because many materials can’t stand up to weather.
This fixture features woven string in natural or chocolate, with a white inner shade that helps warm the light. It’s also outdoor-friendly, with wiring rated for damp environments.
Best Colorful Pendant
The Renata pendant by Bruck Lighting ($431 for 12-inch diameter) is a showstopper. The ruffled, vibrantly colored shade of this pendant light appears to be fabric at first glance, but is actually wood veneer!
Choose from nine fresh colors — the green is spot-on trend — and three sizes to bring the look to life in your home.
Best Recycled Pendant
Tops for creativity and sustainability, the one light pendant in Java by Maxim ($178) is made from recycled cardboard! Johnson recently attended a lighting design show market where she saw a focus on recycled materials. In this case, the cardboard is re-fashioned into a layered pendant featuring patterned opaque and translucent layers.
Cool-to-the-touch LED light-bulb evolution means you won’t accidentally set your house afire. Besides being easier on the environment, the resulting attractive light adds texture and color to your room, and refracts the light in a flattering way. That wouldn’t be possible without LED lights, which never get hot.
Best Customizable Pendant Lights
The Macaron pendant lights from Rufat Lights on Etsy satisfy the desire for size, shape and color customization without breaking the bank. Price depends on combinations, starting at $116 per light and ranging to about $200.
Find metal shades in seven candy-coated hues from pink to light blue, yellow to black. With three cover sizes, there should be one to fit your exact needs, whether in a powder room, over a nightstand or any space that needs a little light and color.
They also come in two styles — one for standard installation and one with a plug-in cord. Fans of Wes Anderson will likely gravitate toward these light-hearted lights.
Best Splurge Pendant Light
Johnson picks this hand-blown glass pendant light ($775) as the top splurge option for the trend of handmade, blown-glass, organic-shape trends. “We’re seeing a lot more specialized glass and more handmade glass,” she says.
You also get the easily customizable adjustable cord for height, and seven finish options from satin nickel to matte black. Fallen in love already? This pendant is part of a collection of matching fixtures, too, to round out your room’s design.
All prices and links were current as of publication.
Originally Published: January 20, 2022
