Pendant lighting

A hanging light is chosen in this order: the room to light, the height available under the ceiling, then the desired light temperature. A model with an adjustable cable is set after installation, which leaves room above a table, a kitchen island or in a stairwell.

What is a hanging light called and how do you recognise it?

A hanging light is called a pendant, or a pendant lamp. It is fixed to the ceiling by a cable or a rod and drops into the room, unlike a ceiling light which stays flat against the ceiling. A chandelier is a hanging light with several light points, reserved for large volumes.

What is a hanging light called?

The common word is pendant, or pendant lamp. The light point drops from the ceiling and draws the eye: above a table, it is what structures the room. The fixing uses a cable or a rod, and the cable is often adjustable, so the drop is set without any plumbing work. The whole selection is rated IP20, for dry interiors, with a socket or an LED module depending on the model. The full families are listed in our lighting universe.

Pendant, chandelier or ceiling light: what are the differences?

A ceiling light stays flat against the ceiling and lights broadly. A hanging light drops on a precise point, a table or a worktop. A chandelier brings together several light points on one structure, which fills a large volume: the gold Edy chandelier for large volumes combines metal and crystal with a GU10 socket, with several possible light temperatures.

What light does a hanging light give and how do you choose it?

The temperature is chosen by use: warm white, around 2700 to 3500 K, warms a living room, a bedroom or a table; cool white, around 4500 to 6500 K, gives a crisper light above a worktop. Neutral white, rarer in the selection, sits between the two.

Warm white or cool white: which to choose?

Warm white leads in the collection, followed by cool white, with neutral white remaining a minority. On a model that offers both temperatures, you switch from one to the other depending on the time of day. The Wave pendant with variable intensity, in acrylic and aluminium, lets you set the mood; the dimmer is fitted on only some models, to be checked on each product page.

Integrated LED or GU10, E27, E14, G9 socket?

An integrated LED saves changing a bulb, but is replaced with the module. A GU10 socket takes a pin bulb, often adjustable. E27 is a wide screw socket, whose bulb can be found anywhere; E14 is its slim version, for small volumes; G9 is a compact pin socket. The maximum permitted power is always shown on the product page.

Kitchen and island hanging lights: which formats and what height?

Above an island or a worktop, a glass or metal hanging light drops the light exactly where you work. It is hung high enough to keep the view and the passage clear, and the same model is repeated in a line for a crisp alignment.

Kitchen island hanging lights

Tube shapes and glass pieces hold the axis of an island well, in white or black depending on the worktop. Repeating the same model two or three times gives a regular line, more readable than a mix of different shapes. The design pendants above the worktop and the modern models for the kitchen cover this need: Éclat Contemporain, in glass and metal with an E27 socket, comes in several diameters.

Hanging light above a worktop: the criteria

Three points decide: the drop height of the cable, the width of the model compared with the useful area, and ease of cleaning, as glass and metal wipe clean with a cloth. A cool white light makes cutting crisper, a warm white relaxes the room in the evening. The adjustable cable allows the alignment to be corrected after installation, without taking the fixing down again.

Dining room hanging lights: which model above the table?

Above a table, choose a model whose diameter stays narrower than the top, centred on the table and not on the room. Ball, oval or tube shapes, in glass or metal, are repeated at two or three points depending on the length of the table.

Dining room hanging lights

The goal is simple: the light falls on the plates, not in the eyes of the guests. The Source Élégante ball pendant, in glass and brass with a dimmer, plays this role over a round or oval table. Ball and oval shapes are the most common, often in glass combined with metal, in gold or white, as in the contemporary table lighting.

Several light points or just one?

Over a short table, a single centred point is enough. Over a large table, two or three aligned points light without creating a dark zone, provided the same model and the same spacing are kept. The Éclat Lévitant ball chandelier, with several sources and a dimmer, shows what a grouping of light points looks like over a wide table.

How do you light a hallway or a stairwell with a hanging light?

For a hallway or a stairwell, pendants with a long cable and cascades with several light points are preferred, as they fill the height. A modular model, with adjustable elements, adapts to volumes where you cannot hang in the centre.

Cascade pendant for stairs

A cascade follows the climb of the steps and fills a void that nothing else lights. The black cascade for a stairwell, in glass and metal, drops on a long cable with a large diameter and an LED module; it also works in a tall hallway. See also the black pendants in a discreet format when the volume stays modest.

Long cable or short rod: what to plan for?

A short rod suits a low ceiling and a narrow room. Over a significant height, the long adjustable cable is more flexible: the drop is set after installation, which avoids redoing the fixing. A model with several heads spreads through the void, with a warm white for ambience.

Original, chic or modern lights: which style to choose?

Contemporary models dominate the collection, followed by the modern style, then by more original pieces. Gold and white lead the colours, often combined with glass or metal: enough to stay chic without overloading an already furnished room.

Original decorative lights: dare without overloading

A piece with an unusual design is enough on its own: place it alone, above a piece of furniture or a reading corner, and keep the rest understated. The creations with an unusual design and the smoked glass pieces work well in a lightly furnished room, where the light becomes the point the eye follows.

Modern and chic lights: the safe choices

The contemporary style plays with glass, metal, aluminium and sometimes brass or crystal. The copper and brass finishes bring warmth without a bright colour, and a high-end selection is first recognised by its materials. A simple matching rule: the hanging light aligns with the dominant material of the room. For a bright, light look, see the LED pendants designed for the living room and the design pieces to hang above the sofa.

Can a hanging light be installed in a bathroom or outdoors?

All the models in this selection are rated IP20, a protection against solid bodies but not against water. A hanging light therefore stays in a dry interior; in a wet room, keep it to areas away from splashes and, outdoors, choose an outdoor light.

Bathroom hanging lights

In a bathroom, the hanging light goes in the dry zone, far from the bath and the shower, with enough height not to obstruct the passage. The IP20 rating only protects against solids: in a very damp room, better to choose a suitable bathroom light. The Cristal Élégance suspended ceiling light, in crystal and metal with an E14 socket, is one of the models that can be placed in this room.

Outdoor hanging lights: why it is not the same thing

Outdoors, rain and humidity require a light designed for it, with a high protection rating. No hanging model in this selection is intended for outdoors. To light a terrace, a porch or a path, turn to outdoor lighting when the room is outside.

Lights for WC and small spaces: how do you do it?

In a toilet or a small hallway, a short, narrow hanging light lights better than a large chandelier. Check the height available under the ceiling and the width of the passage: a model with an adjustable cable is set precisely once installed.

Lights for WC

A small diameter and a short drop are enough to light the whole space without cluttering it. The selection for small volumes and toilets gathers the compact formats. Stay with a socket suited to the volume and a warm white, more flattering in a cramped space, where the light must not cast hard shadows.

Short pendant for a small space

A hallway or a nook also takes a hanging light, provided the model stays narrow and the drop is set so as not to obstruct walking. The Éclat Flottant hanging bedside lamp, with its adjustable cable and small diameter, shows what a compact format allows in a tight volume.

Lighting store in Lyon or online purchase: how do you choose your hanging light?

The Designix selection is browsed online, with secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and customer service. For a search for a lighting store in Lyon, the fastest way remains comparing the product pages: material, dimensions, socket, colour temperature and protection rating are all detailed there.

Lighting store Lyon: what you can check beforehand

Whether the purchase is made online or in a store, the same list settles it: material (glass, metal, aluminium, acrylic), dimensions and shape, socket or LED module, light temperature, protection rating and warranty length. The warranty is shown on each product page. Comparing these lines avoids choosing on the photo alone.

Lighting clearance Lyon: spotting a good deal

A lighting clearance sale in Lyon mainly lowers entry-level models and end-of-line items. The right reflex remains checking what is not negotiable: the socket, the light temperature, the IP20 rating and the warranty. An exceptional piece keeps its value through its materials, glass, brass or crystal, more than through its displayed price.

Order with confidence: secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service. If you hesitate between two formats, compare the shape and the socket side by side in the full range of Designix lights, then confirm your hanging light for the chosen room.

Frequently asked questions about hanging lights