14 Creative Ways to Pull Off Bedside Pendant Lights
Free up space on your bedside table by replacing that cumbersome lamp with a hanging pendant light
Suzanne Barker
2 July 2016
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Interior designer. I share my property development and home design lessons learned, to help you make better design decisions as a DIY decorator. Access to my free library of resources, or sign up for my free course http://www.inhowzer.com
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Interior designer. I share my property development... More
The bedside pendant light is certainly a trend that’s enduring, and it’s likely to stick around for some time yet – it’s a style statement that offers so many benefits, both practically and aesthetically. Introducing bedside pendant lights in your bedroom is a surefire way to ramp up the style factor while also freeing up space on your bedside table. And let’s face it, every bedside table could do with a little more room. Here’s how to combine function and form.
How high should the pendant light hang?
Before you think about looks, consider how high to hang your pendant light. Hung too high and they will look horribly out of proportion with your furniture, but if the lights are hung too low they will infuriate you so much that you’ll want them gone.
There is no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to the best height, but there are some useful guidelines. To assess the optimal height of a standard tabletop bedside lamp, sit in bed and make a measurement at chin height. This ensures good task lighting for reading in bed. A little more space is required for a pendant light, however, due to their somewhat precarious hanging nature.
Before you think about looks, consider how high to hang your pendant light. Hung too high and they will look horribly out of proportion with your furniture, but if the lights are hung too low they will infuriate you so much that you’ll want them gone.
There is no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to the best height, but there are some useful guidelines. To assess the optimal height of a standard tabletop bedside lamp, sit in bed and make a measurement at chin height. This ensures good task lighting for reading in bed. A little more space is required for a pendant light, however, due to their somewhat precarious hanging nature.
When you hang a light over a dining table, the lowest point of the pendant light should be between 76 and 86 centimetres from the top of the table. Use this rule of thumb too beside your bed, so there is a visual connection between bedside table and pendant. It also leaves you ample space for your bedside necessities.
1. Master minimalism
The bedside pendant light is a good route for the lover of bedrooms devoid of clutter. A sleek, streamlined pendant light will really stand out for the style statement that it is. This black pendant set against the white walls is the perfect way to draw attention to the light’s cylindrical shape.
The bedside pendant light is a good route for the lover of bedrooms devoid of clutter. A sleek, streamlined pendant light will really stand out for the style statement that it is. This black pendant set against the white walls is the perfect way to draw attention to the light’s cylindrical shape.
2. Elongate the space
If you have low-profile bedroom furniture or your bedroom has particularly high ceilings, a long light should be your go-to pendant shape, as it fills the vast space between the bedside table and ceiling. A teeny fitting will look lost and lack impact.
If you have low-profile bedroom furniture or your bedroom has particularly high ceilings, a long light should be your go-to pendant shape, as it fills the vast space between the bedside table and ceiling. A teeny fitting will look lost and lack impact.
3. Make a sculptural statement
This pendant light is like a piece of art hanging from a wire. An open pendant like this could easily get lost against a white wall, but the designer has cleverly extended the bedhead behind the bedside table to frame and anchor the arrangement, rather like a mount around a painting.
What your bedside table says about your style
This pendant light is like a piece of art hanging from a wire. An open pendant like this could easily get lost against a white wall, but the designer has cleverly extended the bedhead behind the bedside table to frame and anchor the arrangement, rather like a mount around a painting.
What your bedside table says about your style
4. Pair with art
Here’s another sculptural wire construction that could easily be lost in the fray, but with a clever artwork framing the pendant, it’s a composition that can’t be missed.
Here’s another sculptural wire construction that could easily be lost in the fray, but with a clever artwork framing the pendant, it’s a composition that can’t be missed.
5. Go for glass
This light and airy bedroom is kept just so with the choice of the barely-there glass pendant lights. The clear glass goes perfectly with the sheer white curtains and acts as a subtle design feature, on trend and industrial.
This light and airy bedroom is kept just so with the choice of the barely-there glass pendant lights. The clear glass goes perfectly with the sheer white curtains and acts as a subtle design feature, on trend and industrial.
6. Create a cluster
Create a one-of-a-kind lighting arrangement by bringing together a cluster of pendants. For an exciting and unexpected look in your bedroom, hang a different number of pendants on each side. You could also hang the lights at varying heights and distances from one another.
PRO TIP: Continue the play on asymmetry with a sculptural bedhead that breaks all the rules.
Create a one-of-a-kind lighting arrangement by bringing together a cluster of pendants. For an exciting and unexpected look in your bedroom, hang a different number of pendants on each side. You could also hang the lights at varying heights and distances from one another.
PRO TIP: Continue the play on asymmetry with a sculptural bedhead that breaks all the rules.
7. Hunt out vintage
Think outside the box about where you can source lights for your bedroom. These tin lanterns were found at a salvage shop and rewired into light fixtures. A little bit of extra effort can really pay dividends if you’re seeking a unique look.
Think outside the box about where you can source lights for your bedroom. These tin lanterns were found at a salvage shop and rewired into light fixtures. A little bit of extra effort can really pay dividends if you’re seeking a unique look.
8. Share between twin beds
If you have one bedside table between twin beds, a single striking pendant above a shared table can serve both beds. When guests come to stay, they will be thankful for the extra bedside space.
10 thoughtful touches for a guest bedroom
If you have one bedside table between twin beds, a single striking pendant above a shared table can serve both beds. When guests come to stay, they will be thankful for the extra bedside space.
10 thoughtful touches for a guest bedroom
9. Create a bedside, without a table
Pendant lights typically hang centrally over the bedside table. If you don’t have a table, create the same effect by hanging the light just out from the bed frame so there is a clear visual link between the light and the bed.
PRO TIP: Be sure to give the light context with the furniture it is closest to, otherwise it will look out of place – match the materials or colour of the pendant with the bed, bedlinen or bedside chair, for example.
Pendant lights typically hang centrally over the bedside table. If you don’t have a table, create the same effect by hanging the light just out from the bed frame so there is a clear visual link between the light and the bed.
PRO TIP: Be sure to give the light context with the furniture it is closest to, otherwise it will look out of place – match the materials or colour of the pendant with the bed, bedlinen or bedside chair, for example.
10. Make it kid-friendly
The bedside pendant light isn’t a look just for adult bedrooms. Add some flair to your child’s room by placing one pendant light just out from their bed’s frame. Remember to maintain that visual link between the light and the bed.
The bedside pendant light isn’t a look just for adult bedrooms. Add some flair to your child’s room by placing one pendant light just out from their bed’s frame. Remember to maintain that visual link between the light and the bed.
11. Go for boisterous colour
Pendant lights are a great tool to accentuate a playful colour theme in a child’s bedroom. You can’t miss these yellow light shades, echoed in the throw and accent cushions.
Pendant lights are a great tool to accentuate a playful colour theme in a child’s bedroom. You can’t miss these yellow light shades, echoed in the throw and accent cushions.
12. Scout out a Scandi vibe
At the opposite end of the statement spectrum, a modest approach of understated grey pendants oozes Scandi chic. Continue the colour connections around your bedroom, with the same grey tone in the bedspread echoing the shades.
At the opposite end of the statement spectrum, a modest approach of understated grey pendants oozes Scandi chic. Continue the colour connections around your bedroom, with the same grey tone in the bedspread echoing the shades.
13. Drum up impact
A drum pendant is an elegant look that’s difficult to get wrong, and you can easily change the look of the room with a quick visit to any lighting store.
Be careful not to go too big with a drum shade. A good rule of thumb is to keep the diameter of the drum at half or two-thirds the size of your bedside table.
A drum pendant is an elegant look that’s difficult to get wrong, and you can easily change the look of the room with a quick visit to any lighting store.
Be careful not to go too big with a drum shade. A good rule of thumb is to keep the diameter of the drum at half or two-thirds the size of your bedside table.
14. Showcase a designer classic
If your bedroom features black and you want to accentuate these colours, you can’t beat the go-to designer classic: the Tom Dixon Beat Light. If you want to really make a statement, cluster it with its wide and tall buddies.
TELL US
How do you like to light up your bedside table – with lamps or hanging pendants? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more bedroom lamps
If your bedroom features black and you want to accentuate these colours, you can’t beat the go-to designer classic: the Tom Dixon Beat Light. If you want to really make a statement, cluster it with its wide and tall buddies.
TELL US
How do you like to light up your bedside table – with lamps or hanging pendants? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more bedroom lamps
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Nzcookie- if my partner turned on ANY light at night I would have to smother him with a pillow- NOTHING worse. Eat more carrots and leave the room before turning any lights on.
My husband and I have the TV on at times and neither one of us have any issues with sleeping whilst the other watches TV and getting up in the pitch black of night to use the bathroom would be frought with danger if we couldn't put a light on.
Bedside pendants look so good! Tricky to find ones that suit the furniture, different bedding, etc. This lighting give you the flexibility to change pendants yourself whenever you change your bedding style - https://www.snaplighting.com.au/. Hope that helps anyone out there considering bedside pendants!