Designer paper pendant lights

Start by counting the room and the height, then the diameter: a designer paper pendant light is chosen by its shade (from Ø 300 mm to Ø 600 mm, height 180 to 430 mm) before its colour. All these pendants use an E27 fitting, are for indoor use, and cast a soft light without a glaring hotspot.

What is a designer paper pendant light and what light does it give?

A designer paper pendant light is a hanging fixture whose paper shade, sometimes woven and combined with rope or metal, filters the light. The E27 fitting lets you choose the bulb. The result is diffuse and enveloping: the room is lit without an aggressive point of light. A smooth paper shade gives a matte, even light, while woven paper lets through more contrasting nuances.

Japanese paper pendant light, designer and modern

Japanese paper is recognisable by its fibrous, translucent texture, visible on a white globe with fibrous texture of Ø 300 mm. A simple line, a discreet cable and an E27 fitting do the rest of the modern style. If you are looking for comparable shapes in other materials, browse our designer lighting for the home.

Which E27 bulb should you choose for a paper pendant light?

The E27 fitting takes an LED bulb or a designer halogen bulb, within the power limit stated on the product page: some references are rated at 15 W, others at 40 W. As a general guide, count on around 2700 K for a warm light and 3000 K for a more neutral result, depending on the mood you want.

Where should you install a designer paper pendant light in the home?

These pendants go in the living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen and hallway. A large diameter suits rooms with plenty of volume, while a format of Ø 300 to Ø 400 mm suits tighter spaces such as a hallway or a dining corner. All models are intended for indoor use.

Which paper pendant light for a dining room?

Above a table, a shade that hangs low narrows the light onto the tabletop. The natural woven cone of Ø 400 mm with H 180 mm fills this role without crowding the space. To light widely around the table, a woven globe or cylinder works better, like the rope cylinder of Ø 500 mm.

Designer kitchen pendant light: which format above a worktop?

In the kitchen, aim for a closed shade that is easy to dust, and a height that does not get in the way when you move past the worktop. Ø 400 mm with H 180 mm remains the most comfortable measure. For other options in this room, compare our kitchen pendant lighting.

Which diameter and height should you choose for a paper pendant light?

The models range from Ø 300 mm with H 270 mm to Ø 600 mm with H 200 mm. The wider the diameter, the more the lit area spreads; a tall shade height, such as H 380 or H 430 mm, hangs further down into the room and stands out more against the ceiling.

Ø 300, Ø 400, Ø 500 or Ø 600 mm, which format for which room?

As a general guide, a Ø 300 to 400 mm is enough for a hallway, a corridor or a small dining corner. A Ø 500 mm occupies the centre of a dining room or a medium-sized living room. A Ø 600 mm is reserved for rooms with plenty of volume, where a small shade would look lost. For a tall space, see the staircase pendants.

Height 180 or 430 mm, what it changes at the ceiling

A height of 180 mm keeps the shade close to the ceiling and frees the line of sight: practical above a worktop. A height of 380 or 430 mm brings the shade down into the room and becomes a decorative feature in its own right. Between the two, it all depends on the ceiling height and the distance you want between the shade and the table.

Globe, dome, cylinder or woven cone pendant light: which shape should you choose?

The collection offers the globe, the sphere, the dome, the cylinder and the woven cone. Globe and sphere shapes give an even light and a vintage feel; the dome and the cone direct light downwards. Papier-mâché and the cloud effect are not part of this selection: here the texture comes from woven paper and rope.

For a result close to the cloud feel, look to round shapes in pale paper, which diffuse widely. If the material matters more than the shape, note that other families exist, such as glass pendants or wood versions.

Smooth paper, woven rope or metal: which material should you choose?

Paper gives a soft light and a matte look, woven rope brings a natural relief with a boho feel, and metal features on mixed models, often for the structure or the inside of the shade. The choice therefore comes down to texture, colour and the light you want.

Paper or rope, which texture for which style?

Smooth paper stays understated and suits a minimalist interior. Rope, more textured, creates a natural mood, like the beige fringed cylinder. A rope shade throws back a slightly warmer light, because the fibre filters the rays.

Black metal and a gold interior in a paper shade

On mixed models, the metal forms the structure and the paper remains the shade. A gold interior, as on the black bell pendant with gold interior, throws back a warmer light and shows less contrast against a dark wall. On the outside, the black structures the room. For other finishes, compare the black metal pendants and the gold pendants.

How do you install and care for a designer paper pendant light?

Installation is that of a classic pendant light: ceiling fixing, cable adjustment, screw-in E27 bulb, LED or halogen, within the power limit stated on the product page. The IP20 rating reserves these models for dry indoor rooms, and care is done dry, without products. The warranty is 3 years across the whole selection.

Does a paper pendant light take a designer halogen bulb?

Yes, the E27 fitting takes a designer halogen bulb as well as an LED. Respect the maximum power stated on the product page of the chosen model: a bulb that is too strong heats the shade. An LED heats less and limits the yellowing of the paper over time.

Can a paper pendant light be installed in a damp room?

No. The IP20 rating of these pendants requires indoor use in a dry room: bathrooms, very damp rooms or outdoor areas should be ruled out. Paper dislikes moisture and the electrical connection must stay dry. In a wet room, go for a model designed for that use.

White, black, brown or beige: which colour of paper pendant light?

White throws back the light and lightens a low ceiling; black structures the room and shows marks less; brown and beige, carried by rope, create a natural, boho mood. The colour is therefore chosen together with the wall and the furniture, never on its own. On a dark wall, a black shade blends in; on a pale wall, it draws a crisp silhouette.

The white models suit bedrooms and hallways, where a soft light is wanted. The designer black pendants make more of a statement above a natural wood table. If you are torn between the two, grey tones often serve as a compromise, and a two-tone model can settle the question.

Paper pendant light or designer chandelier for the living room, which should you choose?

A designer chandelier multiplies the points of light and occupies the centre of a large room; a paper pendant light lights with a single shade and can be used alone or in a row above a table. For a living room, the choice depends mainly on the volume of the room and the light you are after. A single wide shade is enough in a medium-sized living room, provided you choose a diameter in proportion to the table.

In a large living room, a Ø 600 mm such as the large black woven paper dome holds the centre without having to multiply the light sources. For more directed light, a model with a pale interior is preferable. You can also compare with the black metal pendants and the modern white pendants.

Two points before you confirm: check the height between the shade and the table, then the bulb power. Once these measurements are taken, add the chosen model to your basket: secure payment, tracked delivery and returns available, with Designix customer service for any question about dimensions. If you want to go further, the Nordic pendants and the dimmable pendants complete the room.

Frequently asked questions about paper pendant lights