Suspension bar

A bar pendant light brings several light points together on a single horizontal support, above a counter, an island or a table. It shines downward, most often in warm white, is fixed to the ceiling with adjustable cables and is chosen according to bar length, socket and material.

What is a bar pendant light and what light does it give?

A bar pendant light is a fixture that brings several light points together on a single support, above a counter, an island or a table. It shines downward, in warm white on most models, and is fixed to the ceiling with adjustable cables.

Bar pendant or light bar: how to recognise it?

The horizontal support sets it apart from a single pendant: the sources are aligned on a rail, a tube or a hollow bar, and not hung each on its own. Two cables or more hold the whole, which avoids misalignment between the points. The pieces listed among the contemporary pendant lights often play on this continuous line.

One single light point or several fixed on the bar?

A bar can carry only one point, like the RANA 2 tubular pendant in black steel, or line up three, like the ENKEL three-light bar. The choice depends on the surface to cover: one point is enough over a small surface, several avoid shadow areas over a long counter.

What is the ideal height for a pendant above a bar?

There is no single measurement: the cables of our models adjust up to 130, 150, 175 or 200 cm depending on the reference, which leaves room. Above a counter, the bar stays high enough not to cut the view and to clear the passage, while lighting the worktop.

XXL pendant on a high ceiling: playing with cable length

On a high ceiling, cable length becomes the main criterion. Some references go up to 150, 175, 180 or 200 cm of total height. The bar is kept at a distance from the counter that leaves the passage free, without going up to the point of losing the lighting of the worktop.

Clear the view and the worktop before fixing

Before drilling, adjust the cables to the same length and check the line from the entrance of the room. A bar that is too low cuts the view towards the kitchen, too high it lights the floor rather than the worktop. The pendants for lighting a kitchen take up these markers room by room, like the RANA 1 black pendant lamp and its maximum height of 175 cm.

Kitchen and island pendant: how to organise the light points?

On a kitchen island, the light points are aligned with the axis of the worktop to avoid cast shadows. Three-point models like ENKEL 3L or BORRA B 3L cover a bar 60 cm long, and the cables adjust to follow the height of the counter.

Original kitchen pendant: dare a shape or a colour

When the furniture is understated, the bar can carry the colour: a gold finish or a brighter shade warms a white kitchen without overloading the room. The BORRA B 3L gold pendant combines brass, metal and glass over 60 cm, with a G9 socket. To stay in a more understated vein, see the modern kitchen pendants. Multi-layer and Nordic models also complete this family.

Dining room pendant: the same principle above the table

Above a table, the bar is centred on the top and adjusted lower than over a counter, so that the light falls on the plates without dazzling the guests. A narrow bar suits a table for four; a long table requires a wider alignment. The range of dining room pendants covers these formats.

Modern pendant, Italian design or industrial style: which atmosphere to choose?

The style is first read in the shape and the material. Modern and minimalist models play on thin tubes in steel or black aluminium; the industrial and vintage spirit combines metal, wood and visible E27 bulbs; contemporary lines in glass or brass give a more dressed finish.

Italian design pendant light: fine lines and glass

The expression describes a style, not a guaranteed origin: fine profile, clear or smoked glass, discreet brass and low-glare light. For this finish, look at the design pendant light and the modern design pendants, where the support is forgotten in favour of the source.

Industrial, vintage or Japanese style: metal, wood and exposed bulbs

An iron cage, a cable dressed in fabric, a visible socket and solid wood give a workshop or retro spirit. The KELLO A pendant in metal, glass and wood illustrates this mix, just like the EDISON 1 black pendant lamp and its 150 cm cable.

Which materials and colours to choose for a bar pendant light?

Aluminium and metal dominate, often in black; glass brings transparency, smoked glass a softer shade, and gold or brass finishes warm the room. White matches light kitchens and small spaces.

Black, white or gold pendant: the effect in the room

Black blends into a dark ceiling and highlights light furniture. White visually disappears and suits narrow volumes, as in the white pendants. Gold and brass, present among the gold versions, bring a warm touch without aggressive glare.

Glass, smoked glass or aluminium: transparency and diffusion

Glass lets light through and creates reflections, smoked glass softens it and reduces glare, matte aluminium diffuses more evenly. For a counter where you work, a matte diffusion is more comfortable; for a table, glass adds depth. Compare the glass pendants and the metal pendants.

• Aluminium: light body, matte shades, even diffusion, soft dry cloth.
• Metal: fine structure or cage, black, gold, brown finishes, microfibre cloth.
• Glass: transparency and reflections, soft cloth without abrasive.
• Smoked glass: softened light, less glare.
• Steel: fine straight shapes, minimalist spirit.
• Iron: industrial or vintage finish.
• Brass and solid wood: warmth, luxury or Japanese spirit.
• Fabric: dressed cable, workshop spirit, vacuum with soft brush.

Modern living room pendant: how to match it with the room?

In a living room, a bar pendant light is placed above the table or the counter that separates the kitchen. Keep the same family of materials as the room, black metal with light furniture, gold with wood, and a bar length proportionate to the furniture.

Original pendant light: dare a shape or a colour

A ball shape, a green or brown shade, an assembly of several glasses break away from the straight line without complicating the installation. These pieces can be found in the ball-shaped pendants and the living room pendants, where the bar becomes a decorative element.

3-light bar pendant: rhythm a large volume

In a large room, a long bar distributes the light without multiplying the fixing points. The Mara LED bar for large volumes exists in 100, 120 and 150 cm and accepts a dimmer. For a bedroom, prefer a shorter format, like those of the pendants to hang in a bedroom.

Sockets, dimmer and guarantees: what to check before buying

Three points decide the use: the socket, integrated LED, E27, GU10, G9 or E14, the dimmer compatibility, present on some models, and the colour temperature. The power ranges from a few watts to several dozen depending on the model.

E27, GU10, G9, E14 socket or integrated LED: what impact?

With a socket, you choose the bulb and can change shade or intensity later. With an integrated LED, nothing to replace, but the light temperature is fixed at purchase. Across the whole collection, the protection rating is IP20 and the source remains at very low voltage or 230 V depending on the model.

Warm white, neutral white or cool white: which temperature to choose?

Warm white, around 2700 to 3500 K, gives a golden light suited to meals. Neutral white, around 3500 to 4500 K, renders colours faithfully on a worktop. Cool white, from 4500 to 6500 K, lights a counter more sharply. The integrated LED pendant fixes this choice once and for all.

Can a pendant be installed in a bathroom or a hallway?

All the models in this collection are IP20: they are intended for dry rooms, kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom or entrance. For a bathroom, a protection of IP44 minimum is required, so a different light fixture than these.

The entrance and the hallway therefore remain possible, provided the passage height is respected. A room with light walls supports a gold finish, which catches the light without darkening it. The hallway pendants and the Designix lighting catalogue give other leads for these circulation areas.

Ordering a bar pendant light from Designix

The collection has 817 pendants and hanging lamps. The choice is then made on style, bar length and socket, from the most accessible model to the more elaborate piece: the grid shows the current price of each light fixture.

Before validating, check three things: the available cable length, the accepted socket and the dimensions of the bar compared to your worktop. If the budget guides the decision, browse the most accessible models, then move up to the more elaborate pendants and the pieces with a strong design. For an overview, finally compare with all the pendants and the whole range of hanging lights.

Frequently asked questions