Natural hanging lamp

Allow for a natural pendant light 40 to 60 cm in diameter above a dining table, positioned about 75 cm from the tabletop: this is the reference point that governs most installations. Rattan, paper cord, driftwood and stone filter the light instead of directing it straight, and the room keeps a warm light, with shadows that trace the walls.

• What light does a natural pendant give
• Where to install it in the home
• Rattan, bamboo, cord or stone
• What size and what height
• How to match it to the room
• Installation and care
• Frequently asked questions

What light does a natural pendant light give?

The woven material acts as a diffuser: it breaks the beam and lets a wider, softer light come down than a spotlight. All the references in the collection are IP20, so for dry interiors. The temperature is split between warm white (2700 to 3500 K), the most common here, and cool white (4500 to 6500 K), which is rarer.

The choice of bulb therefore matters as much as the shape. Most models are fitted with LED, and the sockets vary: E27 on about a third of the selection, GU10, G9 and G4 for the rest. An LED version uses little power for a warm result, which counts when the light stays on all evening.

Where to install a natural pendant light?

Priority goes to above the dining table, the kitchen island and in the living room: these rooms come up for almost all the models. Then come the bedroom and the hallway, with smaller diameters, so as not to get in the way and to light without glare.

Above a table or a worktop

This is where the natural look shows most: the light falls on the plates or on the worktop, the material stands out against the back wall. Our dining room pendants range from 37 to 108 cm, enough to cover a table for four as well as a large family table. In the kitchen, a kitchen pendant in paper cord or rattan brings a plant note above an island, and natural stone combined with wood works well against a mineral worktop.

In the bedroom, the hallway and the corridor

A bedroom pendant is placed high, at least 2.10 m from the floor, to light without taking over. In a corridor, a corridor pendant of small diameter is enough to punctuate the passage. The Olen driftwood chandelier is just right for the living room as well as the bedroom, at 108 or 120 cm wide.

How to choose between rattan, bamboo, cord and stone?

Look first at the weave, not the colour: it is the weave that decides the light. A tight mesh reflects little, a wide mesh lets patterns through and casts shadows on the walls. A bamboo or rattan pendant behaves like a warm filter; stone and brushed metal reflect more and light more directly.

The weave changes everything

A metal pendant will not have the rendering of a weave: it lights more strongly and more directly, useful over a worktop. Conversely, a blown glass pendant light lets the light through without stopping it, which suits circulation areas where you want to see clearly.

What socket and what wattage to plan for

The most common socket here is E27, with models in GU10, G9 and G4. As for wattage, you mostly find 40 W, 15 W, 7 W, and lights rated for 60 W maximum. Nearly a quarter of the models accept a dimmer: handy for going from a dinner to a softer evening.

What size and what height for a natural pendant light?

For a table of four to six covers, a diameter of 40 to 60 cm covers the tabletop without overhanging it. Above an island, prefer 30 to 50 cm per point, or two to three small pendants in a row. Place the bottom of the light 70 or 80 cm from the tabletop, and allow 75 to 85 cm above the worktop.

Choosing the diameter according to the table

A ball or round shape concentrates the light in the centre, a wide flat shape spreads it. On a large table, a designer pendant of 90 to 108 cm avoids hanging two. On a round table, a single round piece is enough.

Adjusting the height without getting it wrong

Measure from the tabletop, not from the ceiling: cables vary a lot from one model to another. The Velina fabric pendant covers an adjustable range of 40 to 165 cm, with an oval shade of 60 cm, which leaves room between a low table and a high table.

How to match the natural pendant light with the rest of the room?

Natural materials accept three families of colours: white and beige, black, and gold. In this selection, white dominates, followed by black, brown and beige. Stay with two tones maximum in the same room so that the material remains the highlight.

Neighbouring colours and materials

With light furniture, a white pendant stays discreet and lets the weave work on its own. Against a dark wall or a dark worktop, a black pendant structures the room, while a little gold finish warms a very neutral interior without overloading it.

Several light points in the same room

A single natural pendant on the ceiling is not always enough to light a large living room. Add a wall light and a lamp on a piece of furniture to create three levels, rather than increasing the power on a single point. Browse the shop's lighting to complete the set, and compare the living room pendants if the room is more than 25 m². Spiral cord pendants, of the vertigo type, pair well with a plant-based weave.

How to install and care for a natural pendant light?

Switch off the power at the breaker before connecting, check that the ceiling support holds the weight of the whole thing, then adjust the cable length using a spirit level. Care is limited to a feather duster or a dry cloth: no water, no product, on rattan, cord and wood.

Fixing, wiring and dimmer

A large light is ideally fixed to an existing back box or a plug suited to the support. If you are after a modular atmosphere, check dimmer compatibility before buying, and bear in mind that an LED bulb must be marked as compatible with the dimmer used. The number of light points also counts: a ceiling plate with several glass shades lights more widely than a single pendant.

Three mistakes to avoid

1. Hanging too low above a table: below 65 cm, you see the bulb when you sit down.
2. Choosing a socket without checking your stock of bulbs: go for affordable models in E27 if you want to keep it simple.
3. Installing an IP20 piece in a damp room: all the natural pendants in the collection are IP20, so for dry interiors.

On the most elaborate pendants, allow for a dusting every two months: dust greys the fibres and dims the light.

Delivery, returns and customer service

Your purchases go through secure payment, with tracked delivery and returns if the model does not match the room. Designix customer service answers size questions before ordering, which avoids a round trip: give the width of your table and the available height, and you will get the consistent diameter. The selection is guaranteed for two or three years depending on the model, with a majority covered for three years.

For a first natural pendant light, the ZAMBELIS D530 natural rattan at 53 cm remains the most versatile format, in E27 and compatible with a 40 W bulb. For a more dressed-up effect, the Soirée Enchantée flower pendant plays on the decorative detail. Choose your material and your diameter now, all that is left is to adjust the cable.

Frequently asked questions