Fabric pendant light

Start by choosing the width of the shade according to the area to be lit, then the fabric colour according to the mood you want: a 45 cm disc or a 50 to 60 cm drum structures a large table, an oval or a tube sits above a worktop. The textile filters the light and diffuses it without glare, and it dresses the room even when switched off.

What light does a fabric pendant give?

A fabric shade filters the light from the bulb and diffuses it downwards and to the sides, without glare. The result depends above all on the source: an integrated LED module in warm white 2700 to 3500 K gives an even light, an E27 socket lets you choose the bulb and its intensity.

Soft light rather than direct lighting

With a bare bulb, the source is visible and the light falls in a hard beam. The fabric comes between and spreads it: the bottom of the shade lights the table or the floor, the sides bounce a softer light onto the walls. This avoids having to look away when you glance towards the ceiling. The pendants in all our pendants are IP20, so intended for dry rooms.

What a textile shade changes, on and off

Switched on, the fabric softens the light and tints it slightly according to its colour. Switched off, the shade remains an object in the room: its shape and shade matter as much as the fitting in a living room. That is the difference from a glass or solid metal model, shinier but more pronounced. To get a sense of the styles, browse our range of light fittings.

Living room pendant light: how to choose it?

In a living room, a fabric pendant is chosen first by its width. A round 45 cm disc or a 50 to 60 cm drum marks the centre of the room, an oval shape or a long tube dresses a corner or a large table. The adjustable cable then sets the height from the ceiling.

What diameter above a sofa?

Above a sofa, the shade should not come to face height when you are seated. A 45 cm disc centred on the sofa area suits a standard living room, and the cable is adjusted to keep it at a distance. The Kalano (white circular disc, integrated LED, Ø 45 cm) matches this format. For other placements, see the living room pendants.

Daring to choose a shape that stands out

A wavy tube or a looped cable gives a focal point to a neutral living room. The Jovita, black and gold wavy tube combines aluminium and fabric over 140 cm long: it is intended for a large table or an open living room. Other bold lines are gathered in strikingly designed pieces.

Kitchen pendant: which model above the worktop?

Above a worktop or an island, a shade that hangs low lights the surface without glare. Tube shapes and 50 cm cylinders work well. These models remain IP20: they are suited to a dry kitchen, away from water and cooking areas.

Above the island or the worktop?

Over a linear worktop, one or two slim tubes are enough: the tube hangs close to the surface and concentrates the light where you prepare food. Over an island, a 50 cm cylindrical drum lights all four sides. With a maximum drop of 346 cm on the long-cable versions, there is plenty of margin under a high ceiling. See the kitchen pendant.

Slim lines, tubes and taut fabric

The design effect comes from the lines: constant diameter, discreet join between the fabric and the frame, slim cable or rod depending on the model. A fabric stretched over a metal or steel frame stays crisp and wrinkle-free, a softer voile gives a more diffuse light. These two directions coexist in modern pendant.

Designer bedroom pendant: which shape for a sleeping corner?

In a bedroom, a fabric pendant gives a low, enveloping light, pleasant in the evening. Original shapes, balls and ovals suit small rooms, especially with a light shade that diffuses more. A black or taupe fabric creates a more muted effect, best kept for generous spaces.

Which shape for a small space?

In a 10 to 12 m² bedroom, a 30 to 40 cm oval or a ball takes up little ceiling space and hangs low without getting in the way. A white or beige shade brightens the room and diffuses more widely than a black one. The Vellum and its 60 cm black voile drum is more suited to a spacious bedroom.

Low lines and clean silhouettes

For a understated look, look for an elongated oval or a slim tube, hung low, with no added decoration. The Orestilla and its beige, black, yellow or blue shades plays this card with a textile shade on a steel frame, with a dimmer-compatible version. Other clean silhouettes are in bedroom pendant.

Which format to choose: round, oval, tube or XXL for a high ceiling?

The format follows the area to be lit and the ceiling height. A round shape or a wide drum fills a large volume, an oval or a tube fits in a hallway or above a worktop. The higher the ceiling, the more the cable length and the shade diameter matter.

Under a high ceiling, the drop does the work: an adjustable cable up to 280 or 346 cm makes up the height, and a large diameter stops a small shade from looking lost. A hallway, on the other hand, calls for a narrow silhouette, so as not to brush past: see hallway pendant and, for large tables, above the dining table.

E27 socket, integrated LED or GU10: how to choose?

The E27 socket, the most common, lets you freely choose the bulb and its intensity. The integrated LED module imposes its source, often in warm white 2700 to 3500 K, but gives an even light. G9 and GU10 sockets equip the more compact formats or directed beams.

A fitting with a socket can be upgraded by changing the bulb, an LED module is chosen once and for all. On an E27 socket, take a dimmable bulb if you want a dimmer, and check the model's compatibility. The module references are in LED pendants, and the rigid frames in metal pendant.

Black, beige or white fabric pendant: which colour to choose?

The colour of the shade changes the light as much as the style. A black fabric concentrates the beam, useful above a table; beige, taupe and white diffuse more widely and brighten a small volume. Gold, often paired with black, brings a warm touch without lighting more.

Black fabric pendant: what mood in a living room?

Black draws the fitting in the space and marks the contrast, especially in a light living room. The light itself stays concentrated downwards: perfect above a table, less suited to a room you want to brighten. The Tavi, black looped cable plays this register, also to be seen in black pendant.

Fabric, voile or velvet: which material to choose?

The textile used decides the diffusion: a voile or a taut fabric lets more light through, a velvet holds it back and gives a muted effect. This selection works with voile, taut fabric and velvet, such as the Sparkle, silver velvet drum shade. Linen is not included: for that natural effect, look at the beige and taupe shades, or the white models of white pendant.

Gold works well with a dark textile shade, in the gold pendant. And for a round, compact shape, the ball pendant slip into a small volume.

How to install and care for a fabric pendant?

A pendant is fixed to the ceiling on a ceiling rose, with a cable to adjust to the desired height. Above a dining table, the usual marker is between 70 and 80 cm from the bottom of the shade to the tabletop, more under a high ceiling. Switch off the power at the circuit breaker before any work.

How to fix a fabric pendant to the ceiling?

Switch off the power, check the strength of the fixing point, place the ceiling rose on the ceiling, connect according to the socket, then refit the shade onto its frame. Adjust the cable height before switching the power back on, and check the fitting is vertical. On an LED module, the connection is made directly, with no screw bulb.

How to adjust the height and care for a textile shade?

The cable locks in its cable clamp: push or pull to adjust, then tighten. For care, vacuum the shade with a soft brush on low power, without pressing, and wipe the frame with a dry microfibre cloth. Never use water on the fabric. The most affordable models in the selection are in cheap pendant.

How to decide between two models?

Note three figures on the product page: the diameter or length of the shade, the maximum cable height, and the socket. The diameter must match the area to be lit, the cable height the distance between the ceiling and the area to be lit, the socket the bulb you want or the fixed light of the module.

Then check dimmer compatibility if you need it, and the colour temperature for an LED module. The rest, shape and colour, comes down to taste. Our full selection can be browsed in pendant, and the very understated models in the whole Designix lighting universe.

Ready to make up your mind? Note the diameter and maximum height of the model you like, and order: the pendant catalogue gathers what is still available today.

Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns possible and Designix customer service for any question about a dimension or a socket before ordering.

Frequently asked questions