A quick step by step guide to installing a pendant light from a ceiling, with a drop cable, decorative cord, chain, wire or stem. Though you can purchase ready-made pendants many people still like to have the option of customizing their lighting with unique styles – which means installing one yourself.
Follow our easy steps below and you’ll be well on your way to hanging a new pendant light in no time!
Table of Contents
The style of suspending a decorative shade or light fixture from a single drop is called a pendant light. The power to the light fixture runs through a flex and can connected to the ceiling in various ways:
The most common technique is to use a cable, which is available in different diameters and lengths. The color of the cable is also an important factor to consider, as it will be visible. Choose a color that either compliments or contrasts the pendant light shade.
A pendant light cord is a more decorative way to hang a pendant and is often used with vintage or antique light fixtures. The power to the light source runs through the cord, which can be plugged into an outlet or into the connection in the ceiling canopy.
If you have a metal wire running through your ceiling, then another option is to use this instead of a cable. This will give a more industrial look to your pendant light. Make sure the wire is rated for the weight of your pendant light.
Pendants can also be hung using a chain, which is often seen in industrial-style lighting or with antique fixtures. The chain can be of any length depending on how low you want the pendant to hang. The power to the light runs through a cable running parallel to the chain. As with the wire, make sure the chain is rated for the weight of your pendant light.
A stem mount is another way to hang a pendant, running power through a cable that runs inside of a hollow stem or metal drop rod. The stem can be cut and adjusted to any length and is often seen in modern lighting designs.
Take a look at how to choose pendant lights for even more on the styles and designs available.
If your pendant is not turning on then turn the power back off and check your wiring.
If you like the look of an industrial pendant light, but don’t want to see a cord, try hiding it with a thick jute rope. First wrap the light’s cord tightly with sisal (a natural fiber). Then add a length of knotted rope to dress it up.
Get the popular industrial look for less. Very basic pendant lamps (even just exposed bulbs) can be rigged to vintage barn pulleys from the flea market for a high-end rustic look—on a budget. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even swing by the hardware store to pick up the items you need to wire the bulbs on your own.
If you have pendant lamps that are used as bedside reading lights and need to hang close to the wall, a shelf bracket can do the trick. Brackets come in many different types of materials and colors, so they are easy to customize if you want them for someone who likes details.
If you don’t want to rewire your house for pendant lights, you can find a place where there is a wall and hang the light over it. Hang the light cords on pipes that are near the wall. This is best with multiples of the same light.
A simple bulb hanging from exposed cord can look sleek and modern. Sometimes you want to change it more though. To do this, take the wire down and put beads on it. You can string beads of any size for different effects. You can also cover some of the wire with masking tape first so that you don’t see the cord anymore.
If you want a dead straight cable or cord then it may need a metal splint for it to run along.
You can you shorten a pendant light cord but it can get a bit tricky. Let us take you through the steps slowly so you dont hurt yourself or break anything!
Install pendant lights at a height of 60-66 inches. Never install them from the ceiling where they would hang low and people could walk into them.
If you want to put a pendant light in a place where there was not one before or if you want to put many lights in a place with fewer before, then you will need to add some wire for the pendant lights. You should contact an Electrician.
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