Pendant lights

10 mistakes to avoid when choosing a pendant light

By the Alméa team 12 October 2026 8 min read

Choosing a pendant light seems simple, until the day it dazzles your guests, looks tiny above the table or refuses to stay up on the ceiling. Here are the 10 mistakes to avoid when choosing a pendant light, with the right guidelines for height, diameter and fixing.

The pendant is often the most visible light in a room. It structures the space, marks out the table or island and sets the tone for the whole decor. A mistake in size or height is therefore noticeable every day.

The good news: most of these mistakes can be prevented with a tape measure and a few minutes spent reading the product sheet. Here is what to check before ordering.

Contents

Getting the height wrong
Choosing the wrong diameter
Forgetting the weight and the ceiling
Confusing ambient light and directed light
Making it the only light source in the room
Overlooking the fitting and the bulb
Ignoring the position of the ceiling outlet
Forgetting the cable length
Choosing a material unsuited to the room
Underestimating a low ceiling
In short
Frequently asked questions

1. Getting the pendant height wrong

Too high, the pendant lights the ceiling and leaves the table in a diffuse, flat light. Too low, it blocks the view between guests or becomes an obstacle in a walkway. It is the most common mistake, and the easiest to avoid.

Position	Indicative height
Above a dining table	75 to 85 cm between the tabletop and the bottom of the shade
Above a kitchen island	65 to 80 cm above the worktop
Walkway (hall, living room)	at least 2.10 m between the floor and the bottom of the light
Bedside (low pendant)	about 50 to 70 cm above the mattress

Every case, room by room, is covered in our guide to pendant light height.

2. Choosing the wrong diameter

On a product photo with nothing for scale, a 20 cm pendant and a 45 cm pendant look alike. Once on the ceiling, the first may look lost above a large table, the second may overwhelm a small kitchen.

Contemporary dining room lit by a pendant light above the table

Two simple guidelines: above a table, the diameter is half to two thirds of its width; in the centre of a room, it increases with the floor area. For a long table, two or three small pendants in a row often work better than a single large one.

Situation	Indicative diameter
Table 80 to 90 cm wide	40 to 60 cm, or 2 to 3 pendants of 20 to 30 cm
Round table of 110 cm	55 to 70 cm
Room of 10 to 12 m²	30 to 40 cm
Room of 20 to 25 m²	50 to 70 cm

To fine-tune, read our article on what size of light to choose.

Alméa tipCut out a cardboard disc at the stated diameter and hold it at the planned height above the table. In two minutes, you will know whether the proportion is right.

3. Forgetting the weight and the type of ceiling

A rattan pendant weighs a few hundred grams, a stone or metal chandelier several kilos. Yet a plasterboard, hollow block or panelled ceiling does not take every load in the same way. Check the weight on the product sheet, then the type of ceiling, before ordering. For a heavy model, our guide to fixing a heavy chandelier to the ceiling details the right wall plugs and reinforcements.

SafetyBefore any installation, switch off the circuit at the breaker and check that there is no voltage with a tester. Connect the light to a suitable ceiling connection point in line with the wiring regulations (BS 7671) and call an electrician if in doubt.

4. Confusing ambient light and directed light

An opaque metal shade sends all the light downwards: perfect above a table or an island, disappointing if it has to light the whole room. Conversely, a woven or paper pendant spreads light in every direction but lights a worktop less precisely.

Type of shade	Resulting light	Ideal use
Opaque dome or bell	Directed downwards	Table, island, desk
Rattan, bamboo, woven fibres	Diffuse, with shadow patterns	Living room, bedroom, dining area
Stone (travertine, alabaster)	Filtered, warm and soft	Ambience, dining room
Opal glass or paper	Diffuse and even	Soft general lighting

5. Making it the only light source in the room

A pendant, however generous, leaves the walls and corners in shadow. On its own, it makes the room look flat. Plan for at least one wall light or extra lamp alongside it. Our guide to the rules for a living room pendant shows how to fit it into a complete lighting plan.

Woven rattan, wood, natural stone or metal: find the pendant light that suits your room.

Discover our pendant lights

6. Overlooking the fitting and the bulb

Many pendant lights are sold without a bulb. Before buying, note the fitting (E27, E14, G9), the maximum wattage allowed and the shape of the bulb, especially if it stays visible under the shade. In a natural fibre pendant, an LED bulb that gives off little heat is the only sensible option. Our article which bulb for a rattan, bamboo or paper pendant will guide you.

Cosy dining area with a wooden table under a warm pendant light

7. Ignoring the position of the ceiling outlet

The connection point on the ceiling is rarely above the table. If you hang the light where the wire comes out, it will light the empty space next to the table. The solution is an offset pendant: a ceiling hook moves the light to the right spot. Everything is explained in our guide to the offset chandelier above the table.

Travertine living room pendant light, Japanese wabi-sabi, stone Ø 15 cm, Maison Alméa — Discover it in the shop: Travertine living room pendant light, Japanese wabi-sabi, stone Ø 15 cm

8. Forgetting the cable length

A cable that is too short stops you lowering the pendant to the right height under a ceiling of 2.70 m or more. A cable that is too long must be shortened or neatly coiled. Measure the ceiling height, subtract the height you want below the light, and compare with the stated cable length. Our method for shortening a pendant cable saves you unpleasant surprises.

9. Choosing a material unsuited to the room

Above a hob, a woven shade catches grease and becomes hard to clean. In a bathroom, humidity calls for a light suited to the zones and the IP rating. Choose the material with care in mind too: our guide to cleaning a rattan or bamboo pendant shows what natural fibres need.

Elegantly designed contemporary dining room with a well sized pendant light

10. Underestimating a low ceiling

Under a 2.40 m ceiling, a bulky pendant that is not above a table becomes an obstacle and overwhelms the room. Choose a flat model, a woven ceiling light or a pendant placed only above a piece of furniture nobody walks through.

Alméa tipUnder a low ceiling, an openwork fibre pendant looks lighter than a solid dome of the same diameter: the light passing through the material visually lightens the volume.

Clean shapes that find their place even under a standard ceiling.

See the modern and design collection

11. In short

Before choosing a pendant light, measure three things: the ceiling height, the width of the table or area to be lit, and the position of the ceiling outlet. Then check the weight, the fitting and the cable length. For the full picture, our complete guide to pendant lights goes through every step, from buying to fitting.

Frequently asked questions

At what height should a pendant hang above a table?

Allow 75 to 85 cm between the tabletop and the bottom of the shade. This height lights the table well without blocking the view between guests. Under a very high ceiling, you can go a little higher, but never more than a metre.

What pendant diameter for a 6-seater table?

For a rectangular table of 180 cm by 90 cm, aim for a pendant of 45 to 60 cm, or two to three pendants of 20 to 30 cm in a row. The light should not extend beyond the edges of the table.

How do I know if my ceiling can take a heavy pendant?

First identify the material by tapping the ceiling: plasterboard, concrete, hollow blocks or wood. Above a few kilos in plasterboard, you need a suitable fixing or a reinforcement. If in doubt, have it checked by a professional.

Which bulb should go in a rattan pendant?

A warm white LED bulb, 2,700 K, that gives off little heat. Respect the stated maximum wattage and leave a few centimetres between the bulb and the fibre.

How do you centre a pendant if the wire is not in the right place?

Use an offset hook on the ceiling: the cable runs from the existing outlet and the light hangs from the hook, above the table. It is a simple solution that avoids creating a new ceiling outlet.

One or several pendants above a long table?

For tables over 1.80 m long, two or three pendants in a row spread the light better than a single one. Space them 60 to 80 cm apart and leave about 30 cm between the last one and the end of the table.

Can you hang a pendant with a 2.40 m ceiling?

Yes, above a table, an island or a bed, where nobody walks underneath. Elsewhere, choose a flat model or a ceiling light that keeps 2.10 m of clear headroom.

What is the difference between a pendant light and a chandelier?

In everyday use, a chandelier is a pendant with several arms or several lights, often more decorative. Pendant light is a broader term that also covers single-light models.

Further reading