Pendant lighting over kitchen benches

Why pendants work over a bench

A kitchen island or peninsula is often the busiest spot in the house. It's where homework happens, where dinner gets plated and where people gather when friends come over. Pendants bring light down closer to the bench than ceiling downlights can, and they give the kitchen a focal point.

They also need a little more planning than a downlight, because size, height and position all affect how they look and how well they light the bench.

How many pendants

A common rule of thumb is to use an odd number for a balanced look, with two being the exception that works well on shorter benches. As a rough guide:

• Benches up to about 1.8 metres often suit two medium pendants or one long linear fitting.
• Benches around 2 to 3 metres often suit three pendants.
• Very long islands can take more, or a linear fitting combined with pendants at each end.

The width of the shade matters too. Big statement pendants need more breathing room than slim glass ones.

Spacing and hanging height

Leave some space between the end pendants and the edge of the bench so the light falls on the work area, not the floor. The gaps between pendants should be even. Measure the bench and mark the centre line before deciding on positions.

Hanging height is usually somewhere around 700 to 850 mm above the benchtop, but it depends on how tall you are and how high your ceiling is. The aim is to light the bench without blocking the view across the kitchen. If the tallest person in the house keeps bumping into them, they're too low.

Ceiling heights and raked ceilings

In homes with raked or extra-high ceilings, common in some of the newer builds around Shell Cove and Kiama Downs, pendants may need longer drops or an adjustable cord. Sloped ceilings may need an angled canopy so the pendant hangs straight. It's worth checking this with the supplier before you order.

Wiring and fixing points

Each pendant needs a power point in the ceiling and something solid to hang from. Heavy glass or metal pendants often need extra support, such as a timber nogging fixed between the ceiling joists. In a single-storey home with roof access this is usually straightforward. In a double-storey home or where the ceiling is directly under another floor, access is trickier and it helps to plan during a renovation.

Think about switching too. Putting the pendants on their own switch, separate from the downlights, means you can use them as soft evening lighting. Adding a dimmer is popular, as long as the globes and dimmer are compatible.

Timing in a renovation

If you're redoing the kitchen, sort the pendant positions before the cabinets and stone go in. Once the island is fixed in place, you'll know exactly where its centre is. Running cables while the walls and ceiling are open is much simpler than retrofitting later. Our renovation and new home electrical page explains how we fit in with builders and other trades.

Don't forget the rest of the kitchen

Pendants are decorative task lighting, but they don't light the whole room. Combine them with downlights for general lighting and consider LED strip under the overhead cupboards for the back bench. If you're putting in a new cooktop and range hood at the same time, our range hood and cooktop installation work can be done in the same visit.

Ready to plan your pendants

See our indoor lighting page for more on what we install. Send Kalani a photo of your bench and the pendants you like, and we'll give you straight advice on what will work.

Call or text 0424 400 346, photos of the kitchen welcome.