Ah, the hallway – an architectural necessity, but often the most overlooked part of the house. Yet, with a bit of TLC, they can help take an interior design scheme to the next level. Adding a statement hallway pendant light can be one of the easiest, and overall cheapest, ways to make your hallways look more chic and expensive.

Often dark and bare, hallways are a place that are a last thought when it comes to interior design. But the introduction of hallway pendant lighting can quickly give your space the uplift is deserves – let’s talk through some common questions when it comes to installing a hallway pendant light, and some of my top picks from across the web.

What light is best for your hallway?

Let’s first talk about what we mean by a hallway! Wikipedia defines a hallway as:

A hallway or corridor is an interior space in a building that is used to connect other rooms. Hallways are generally long and narrow.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallway

When we talk about hallway pendant lighting, we are often talking about an entryway rather than a corridor. However, the sizing suggestions and styling will work the same regardless. Both a corridor and an entryway are typically narrow, dark and bare. They are places where we expect a good amount of footfall, and they are rarely used as places to gather, sit or work.

Hallways rarely have much in the way of furniture, and that is because there simply isn’t space. The space should be clear for people of all heights to walk (or run) through, without bumping into things and ending up bruised and angry!

The same goes for lighting – hallway lighting should not become a nuisance by taking up too much space, or obstructing the pathway.

This does not mean that we settle for spotlights, however! Because hallways are typically dark and bare, they really benefit from some statement lighting to add some interest to the space. Enter pendant lights!

There are a huge range of pendant lights to suit your style, they provide an impact stylistically, and the vast majority have adjustable heights, meaning that you can make it work for your space regardless of if you have a low ceiling or a high ceiling.

Benefits of pendant lights

Pendant lights are an incredibly easy way to make your hallway look more expensive, whilst illuminating a dingy hallway with an ambient light. Whilst spot lights can be quite harsh on the eyes, a pendant light provides just enough illumination to make a small hallway look bigger and brighter, without being overpowering.

They’re also preferred over spotlights as they provide a design accent on the ceiling, whilst being more flexible than typical chandelier lights, which often require higher ceilings. Regardless on the light style you use, invest in good quality lightbulbs to achieve the desired effect – hallway lighting should not be too bright, and a warmer bulb style helps to achieve a cosy feel in the space.

How low should a hallway pendant light hang

Pendant lights should be a minimum of 6’8″ above the floor. This ensures that no-one will be banging their head against it when passing through.

General advice is to hang a hallway pendant light 12-20 inches below your ceiling, depending on the look you want to achieve – however this advice is most often applicable to pendant lighting that will hang over no-foot traffic space, such as a kitchen island or dining table. Hanging your hallway pendant light around 10 inches below an 8ft ceiling should work for your space.

This height ensures that the hallway pendant light becomes a statement in your space, whilst also allowing it to bounce the light in beautiful patterns across the ceiling too.

What size hallway pendant light do I need

Whilst there is no direct advice on the sizing of your pendant light, you’ll want to ensure the light does not touch anything on either side – such as a wall, coat rack or cupboard. Measure the entire width of your hallway before purchasing your pendant light if you are opting for a wider one.

Otherwise, it will depend on your own style. Whether you opt for a wide sputnik multi-pendant, or a simple caged glass pendant, it will depend on your own style. However, when it comes to styling, you should also consider other elements of your hallway and the rest of your home.

You should try to make sure the lighting is cohesive with the existing decor (or your planned decor) for the home. That means traditional rugs should be paired with traditional pendant light styles, or mid-century modern furniture should be paired with globe pendant lights, and so on.

My favourite hallway pendant lights on Amazon

MZStech Modern Gold Copper with Grey Glass Pendant Lamp Shade

Celeste Decorative Pendant Light – Brushed Chrome 3 Way Multi Arm Pendant with a Natural Coloured Fabric Shade

Glass Pendant Light ASCELINA Modern Adjustable Pendant Lighting Diamond Shape Glass Shade Ceiling Pendant Lights

BAODEN 4 Lights Modern Globe Pendant Light Fixture Mid Century Chandelier G9 Base Brushed Brass Finished with White Globe Glass Lampshade 

BAODEN 1 Lights Modern Globe Pendant Light Fixture Set of 2 Mid Century Chandelier Brushed Brass Finished with White Globe Glass Lampshade

Modern Sputnik Chandelier, 6-Light Pendant Lighting Fixture

Dandelion Pendant Light, G9 Lamp Alloy Fixtures with 8 Bulb and 32 Strings Crystal

High Light Glass Ceiling Pendant Light Victorian Aluminum 

kwmobile DIY Puzzle Pendant – Lotus Flower Jigsaw IQ Lamp Shade

Yosoan Vintage Black Pendant Light Fittings with Globe Glass lampshade, Industrial Pendant Light