One of the most common ways to lighten up your room from above is by using pendant lights or chandeliers, so there’s no wonder we have pendant lights vs chandeliers rivalry.
In order to make your room beautiful you need to know what you’re aiming for and the purpose of the specific product. Even if the differences are small, paying attention to the details is always a great strategy to decorate your home.
In this article, you’ll find out about the difference between pendant lights and chandeliers.
Difference between pendant lights and chandeliers
The key difference between pendant lights and chandeliers is the way they’re suspended.
Pendant lights are hung singularly from a central chain, but the chandeliers are made with multiple hanging branches that hold multiple light bulbs.
That is what you’ll distinguish them by immediately without further analysis. It’s pretty easy to spot the difference right away. But there are also various other characteristics by which you can distinguish them.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers tend to look more luxurious and expensive, which means you buy them if you wanna go all in with your room. They are the way if you want to make it glamorous, sparkly, and big. They are greater in size which makes them more adaptable for bigger spaces.
You can find them in different sizes, shapes, and styles, so we cannot generalize and say that every chandelier model is intended for luxury rooms, but in most cases, they are not on the minimalistic side.
Due to their size, type of material, and quantity of materials, chandeliers are more expensive than pendant lights.
Chandeliers often require professional installation since it’s not easy to set them up. You need to navigate multiple hanging branches and their size and materials usually make them very heavy. When making chandeliers, cast iron, ceramics, bronze, brass, and crystal are often used materials.
Their purpose is to provide you with ambient lighting so they won’t be your primary source of light, but more of a decorative piece capable of illuminating your space indirectly. .
Related article: What to do with old chandeliers
Pendant Lights
In the pendant lights vs chandeliers debate, there are a lot of plusses on each side, but when it comes to practicality, pendant lights are the winners. It is very easy to set them up, they are not heavy ( often quite the opposite) and they will fit any room, even the smallest one.
They tend to be more on the minimalistic side, but you can also find the fancier ones if you want to. Since they hang singularly from one cord it’s easy to conclude that they won’t be so extra.
They are sort of a decor chameleon when it comes to desirable aesthetics – you can combine them with any style.
Pendant lights are mostly made of metal, plastic, paper, and glass. Their direct lighting is intended to be your primary source of light, so you can use them to easily carry out your tasks, be it reading, cooking, etc. Given that pendant lights are much smaller and less opulent compared to chandeliers, their price is naturally lower.
Their production does not require such expensive materials, nor such a large amount of material.
Related article: Best monorail lighting pendants (2023)
Are chandeliers out of fashion?
No, chandeliers aren’t out of fashion, but they have been replaced with more modern alternatives lately.
People love to hang chandeliers in their homes, even if they no longer use them. Lately, they prefer to use different types of lights, such as sconces, and recessed lighting fixtures. These lights can be placed anywhere in the room.
If you are looking for a trendy place to put a chandelier, consider putting it above the dining table or a breakfast nook. This will give your room a more modern feel and will make you want to use your kitchen more.
Do pendant lights provide enough light?
Pendant lights are able to provide enough light for the room, but they are not the greatest solution if your room is very big, since they mostly aren’t that big.
However, they are a great option for task lighting. If you need even more clear vision, it is a great idea to hang pendant lights over a desk or a chair. The lights will illuminate the space around it nicely.
Final words
In conclusion, chandeliers are elegant and more expensive, and pendant lights are practical and lower in price.
However, this is not the only criterion by which you will decide on one of them, you will also consider what type of lighting you need when purchasing. Before choosing a lighting fixture for your lighting, consider the room size, the number of fixtures, and the lighting task.
In addition, you should factor in the style of your house, the ceiling height, and the existing lighting. Good luck with choosing your best chandelier or pendant or both!
