Pendants over a kitchen island are equal parts task lighting and design statement. Get the number, spacing, and height right, and they'll anchor the whole kitchen.
How Many Pendants?
A simple approach: let the island's length decide. Two pendants suit most islands up to about 7 feet; three work well for islands 7 to 10 feet. Odd numbers tend to look balanced, but an evenly spaced pair looks beautiful over a shorter island.
Spacing
Center the pendants over the island, not over the counter edge. Leave equal space between each pendant and from the end pendants to the island's edges — typically 24 to 30 inches between fixtures.
Hanging Height
Hang pendants so the bottom sits about 30 to 36 inches above the countertop. That's high enough to keep sightlines open across the kitchen and low enough to light the work surface well.
Scale and Style
Larger islands can carry wider or taller pendants; smaller islands look best with lighter, more compact shapes. Pick a finish that ties back to your cabinet hardware or faucet for a pulled-together look.
Find your fixtures in our pendant collection, and see our guide to layered lighting for pairing them with ambient and accent sources.
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