Pendant Lighting vs. Chandeliers: What’s the Difference?

A statement light is the crown jewel of a room and an excellent way to display your sense of style and personality. But if you are hunting for lighting options on your own, you may be a bit confused when it comes to chandeliers and pendant lights, and you may have some questions. Pendant lights and chandeliers are the same things, right? In what ways are these lights different? Is it important to know the differences?

PENDANT VS CHANDELIER

Firstly, let’s clarify what a pendant light is and what a chandelier is. The following is a simple definition:

Chandelier: The chandelier is a light fixture suspended from the ceiling with multiple bulbs incorporated into it.

Pendant light: The pendant light consists of only one light bulb attached to its fixture, suspended from the ceiling.

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A CHANDELIER AND PENDANT LIGHT

That is what chandeliers are, but they also have other key differences from pendant lights.

• Comparing the cost of pendant lights and chandeliers

The first thing you will notice when shopping for pendant lights or chandeliers is that chandeliers are much more expensive.

However, keep in mind that some available chandeliers are meant for commercial buildings and must be large and showy. Although you can buy various chrome pendant light at a lesser price from some good sellers.

• Suspension of Chandelier vs Pendant Light

A chandelier and a pendant light differ primarily in the way their lights are suspended. A chandelier will generally hang from a chain to support the weight of branching lights. The traditional look of upright lights is modeled after the historical use of chandeliers when candles were in the place where the bulbs now are situated.

Unlike pendant lights, pendant lights have one hanging light at their terminals and are typically suspended from a cord or chain. There may be more than one light included in the pendant light, but the suspended is unchanged.

Additionally, since installing a chandelier can be more difficult than installing a pendant light, it is often recommended to use professional lighting services to complete the installation safely.

• Style Variation of Chandelier vs Pendant Light

Pendant lighting tends to be simpler, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t attractive. Also, as you go up in price, you can find more artistic and ornate pendant lights. However, most people are looking for clean, simple, and attractive lighting when using pendant lights.

You can choose a simple and functional chandelier, but these lights are meant more as an accent. The dining room and formal living rooms are often the rooms of the house with chandeliers, since they are more public.

• Chandeliers vs. pendant lights – Materials used

Chandeliers are made of a smaller range of materials. The most common materials used for chandeliers are bronze, wrought iron, glass, steel, and crystal. Because these materials are often quite heavy, chandeliers are usually suspended by chains.

Furthermore, pendant lights can be made with a range of different materials. Materials that are popular include:

• Lampshades
• Blown glass
• Bronze
• Stained glass
• Tiffany glass
• Nickle
• Brushed steel

• The Versatility of Chandeliers and Pendant Lights

These lights are versatile because of their styles. Decorative chandeliers may cast shadows on the corners of rooms because they produce ambient light. Chandeliers’ general size makes them difficult to use, if not outright dangerous when it comes to bumping your head on them.

Pendant lights are more useful since they are smaller. Pendant lights are often used as task lighting. Say, for instance, you want some lighting over your kitchen island. There is no problem with a pendant light or two to solve that issue.

WHEN SHOULD YOU USE A PENDANT LIGHT VS A CHANDELIER

Various electricians can help you determine the best light for your particular lighting needs as your local residential electrical service provider. Here are some instances where you may want to choose a chandelier or pendant light before consulting with our electricians.

• Chandeliers can brighten up a large room, such as a living room or dining room.
• Lighting up your kitchen island with a pendant light or several pendant lights can be an attractive and practical addition.
• In order to make a bold statement, a modern chandelier is a perfect complement to adventurous decor.
• You want to add discreet pools of light to an outdoor space. Pendant lights that are weather-appropriate are a great option.