Pendant lighting has grown in popularity for use in kitchens in recent years. A common place to install them is on an island or peninsula. One of the most frequent questions I see is how high do I hang them and how do I separate them? Both of these questions can be answered in a number of ways and, as with any aspect of home design, there is no absolute or correct answer. However, there are some guidelines that can help you make the right decision.

One consideration about height is with the accessory you choose. If a fixture has an open bottom and is installed too high, it can be very annoying to look up at the bulb all the time. In the same way, an accessory that is designed so that the top is not made to be seen, if installed too low, it can be very unattractive. There is an average height you can use as a guide, around 68 “- 72” from the floor to the bottom of the fixture. This places the device approximately at eye level for the average person. The reason there is no correct answer is in a house where everyone is 6’4 “and taller, this height would probably be too low.

On a dining table this same rule can be applied. A little advice or a word to the wise. If your device is to be installed before there is a table underneath, put something in its place. It can be a large box, a bench, a folding table, or a chair. It will save someone a trip to the hospital for points after walking to the accessory or a broken accessory.

Spacing the pendants when there are more than one is a matter of a bit of math. The most common mistake is simply dividing the space into even sections, but that is not quite correct and I will explain why. Let’s say your island is 60 “long and has two pendants. A common idea would be to divide the space into three sections that are even. This would give each fixture 20” from the ends and 20 “between them. A better option would be 15 “from each end and 30” between them. Why do you ask? Well, first of all, you will see that it is more visually appealing. The other reason is that the light that is spread in most pendants is shaped like a circle. If you can imagine the actual light falling on the counter area, imagine two circles of light. To better illuminate the counter, we want the edge of the circle to hit the edge of the counter. The other two edges should match or overlap at the middle.

If you are not sure what I am describing, take a look at the link below and see the diagrams along with the explanation.