Living Room Pendant Lights and Chandeliers

Nearly 2,300 pendant lights and chandeliers from 30 cm in diameter, in metal, glass, rattan or ceramic, by Forestier, Muuto, Gubi, Marset and Market Set.

Choosing a living room chandelier starts with getting the size right: add the length and width of the room in metres, multiply by ten, and you get its diameter in centimetres. The bottom of the light stays 2.10 m from the floor in a walkway and can hang lower above a coffee table. Warm light, from 2,700 to 3,000 kelvins, suits relaxation.

Read our buying advice.

How to choose a living room chandelier or pendant light

The essentials

A living room chandelier or pendant light is chosen on three measurements: its diameter, its hanging height and the light it gives. In a 20 m² living room, a diameter of 70 to 90 cm is in scale with the room. The bottom of the light stays at least 2.10 m from the floor wherever people walk. A bulb of 2,700 to 3,000 kelvins gives the warm light you expect in a room for relaxing.

Diameter: length plus width of the living room in metres, multiplied by 10, which gives 90 cm for a room of 5 x 4 m.
Height: bottom of the light 2.10 m from the floor in a walkway, around 1.60 m above a coffee table.
Light: 2,700 to 3,000 kelvins, a shade that hides the bulb, a dimmer if the light is compatible.
Ceiling lower than 2.50 m: a pendant light less than 30 cm tall, or a ceiling light.

Chandelier or pendant light: what is the difference for a living room?

Both words describe a light fitting hung from the ceiling, but not the same object. A pendant light hangs from a cable or a rod and usually carries a single light source. A chandelier brings together several arms or several bulbs on one frame. In the selection, pendant lights dominate by a very wide margin: nearly 2,200 designs, against around a hundred chandeliers.

Light fitting	Light sources	Size	Ceiling height	Best for
Single pendant light	1	30 to 70 cm in diameter	From 2.50 m	Most living rooms, in the centre or above the coffee table
Large pendant light	1 to 3	70 cm and over	2.60 m and over	Living room of more than 25 m², open-plan room
Multi-arm chandelier	3 to 12	50 to 120 cm	2.70 m and over	Large living room, high ceiling, room with mouldings
Ceiling light	1 to 3	Flush with the ceiling	Less than 2.50 m	Low ceiling, walkway, narrow living room

Size guidelines. Always check the total height of the light, cable included.

A chandelier fills a large space better. A pendant light concentrates the light beneath it and defines a zone, a seating area or a table.

By type of light

What size chandelier for a living room?

A light that is too small gets lost on the ceiling, and one that is too large overwhelms the room. The simplest guide starts from the dimensions of the living room: add its length and width in metres, then multiply by ten. The result gives a diameter in centimetres.

Living room size	Typical dimensions	Recommended diameter
Under 15 m²	4 x 3.5 m	40 to 60 cm
15 to 20 m²	5 x 4 m	60 to 90 cm
20 to 30 m²	6 x 4.5 m	80 to 110 cm
Over 30 m²	7 x 5 m and over	110 cm and over, or two pendant lights

For a light placed in the centre of the room. Above a table, the table sets the size.

Above a coffee table or a dining tableForget the size of the room and start from the furniture. The diameter of the pendant light should be half to two thirds of the width of the table top. For a 120 cm coffee table, aim for 60 to 80 cm. Above a table longer than 2 m, two or three pendant lights in a row give better light than a single one.

The selection follows these guidelines. A little over four in ten designs measure 30 to 49 cm in diameter, one in five 50 to 69 cm, and a third reach 70 cm and over.

How high should you hang a pendant light in a living room?

The height depends on what is beneath the light. Where people walk, you need to pass underneath without ducking. Above a piece of furniture, the pendant light can hang lower and the light gains presence.

In the centre of the living room or in a walkway: the bottom of the light at least 2.10 m from the floor.
Above a coffee table: the bottom of the light around 1.60 m from the floor, since nobody walks there.
Above a dining table: 60 to 75 cm between the table top and the bottom of the light.

Which pendant light for a low ceiling?

With a ceiling height of 2.50 m and 2.10 m to keep clear, 40 cm is left for the light and its cable. Choose a flat pendant light, less than 30 cm tall, and shorten the cable as much as possible. Under 2.40 m, a ceiling light is the safest answer in the centre of the room.

Before fittingCheck the weight of the light and the type of ceiling: a large metal or ceramic pendant light needs a hook and a fixing suited to the surface. Switch off the power at the fuse box before doing any work. If you have any doubt about the wiring, and always for a bathroom or other wet room, call in an electrician.

For low ceilings

Which living room chandelier gives good light without glare?

The quality of the light comes down to two choices: the bulb and the material of the shade. For the bulb, go for a colour temperature of 2,700 to 3,000 kelvins, which gives a warm white. Allow around 100 to 150 lumens per square metre for the general lighting of a living room, that is 2,000 to 3,000 lumens in 20 m², shared between the pendant light and the additional lamps.

The material then decides the direction of the light. Nearly one in two pendant lights in the selection is made of metal, ahead of natural fibres, glass, resin, wood and ceramic.

Shade material	Light produced	Use in the living room
Metal (steel, aluminium, brass)	Directed downwards, sharp beam	Coffee table, dining table, reading corner
Opal glass	Diffused in all directions, with no hard shadows	General lighting, centre of the room
Paper, linen, textile	Soft and subdued, the shade glows	Large sizes above the seating area
Rattan, bamboo, woven fibres	Filtered, with patterns of shadow on the walls	Atmosphere, to be supplemented with lamps
Ceramic	Directed, opaque on the sides	Focused light, small cluster of pendant lights

An opaque shade lights what is beneath it. A translucent shade lights the whole room.

Replaceable bulb or integrated LED?

Most designs take a bulb that you choose and replace yourself, which leaves you free to set the wattage and the colour of the light. Around thirty designs have an integrated LED, slimmer and designed for the light fitting. To avoid glare, go for a frosted bulb when it remains visible, and a dimmer if the product page states that the light is compatible.

By material

Styles and brands: from Scandinavian pendant lights to gold chandeliers

Contemporary style is the best represented, ahead of Scandinavian, retro, boho and industrial. Three colours share first place almost equally: white, black and gold.

Scandinavian: simple shapes, matt lacquered metal, light wood, opal glass. This is the territory of Muuto, Gubi and Belid.
Boho and natural: woven abaca, rattan and bamboo, in large, light volumes. Forestier and Bazar Bizar each offer several dozen.
Retro: pleated linen, brass, opaline glass. The Screen 70's by Market Set, in linen, measures 110 cm.
Contemporary: slim lines, brushed brass, multi-light compositions from Marset, Lambert & Fils and Maytoni.
Industrial: black metal, bell shapes and sheet metal shades, to hang in twos or threes.

A black pendant light stands out against a white ceiling, and a white one blends into it. Gold and brass warm up a room in cool tones.

Four pendant lights for the living room

Hanging lamp in linen 10 screens Screen 70's - Market Set - The Cool Republic

Market Set Linen pendant light 110cm Screen 70's - Market Set €435,00

Black metal pendant 47 cm Semi - Gubi - The Cool Republic

Gubi Black metal pendant light 47 cm Semi - Gubi €444,86

Suspension PARROT XL brown - The Cool Republic

Forestier Woven abaca pendant light in brown XL Parrot - Forestier €1.300,00

Belid Brown pendant light Ø38 Picasso - Belid €183,48

By brand

By colour

Which pendant light for which living room?

In a small living room or a 25 m² flat

Stay between 40 and 60 cm in diameter and choose a light-coloured shade, in opal glass or paper, which lights the whole room without looking heavy.

In a living room open to the dining room

Give each zone its own light. A large pendant light of 70 cm and over marks out the seating area, and two or three smaller ones line up above the table. Keep something in common between them, the colour or the material.

Under a high ceiling

From 2.70 m, a multi-arm chandelier or a pendant light of 90 cm and over comes into its own. Lower it to 2.20 or 2.30 m from the floor: hung too high, it lights the ceiling and leaves the living room in shadow.

With children

Choose metal, rattan or resin rather than thin glass, and keep the light out of reach of a ball or a thrown toy.

With a set budget

Half of the designs are available for under €500, and several hundred for under €200, mainly in 30 to 49 cm. Large sizes and chandeliers from design brands often exceed €1,000. For the same budget, the right size matters more than the material.

For other rooms

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a chandelier and a pendant light?

A pendant light hangs from the ceiling by a cable or a rod and usually carries a single light source. A chandelier brings together several arms or several bulbs on one frame, which makes it bulkier. A chandelier suits large living rooms with high ceilings, a pendant light almost every room.

What size chandelier for a 20 m² living room?

Add the length and width of the room in metres, then multiply by ten: a living room of 5 x 4 m calls for a light of around 90 cm in diameter. Between 70 and 90 cm, you stay in the right scale. Under a ceiling lower than 2.50 m, go for the lower end of that range.

How high should you hang a pendant light above a sofa or a coffee table?

Above a coffee table, the bottom of the pendant light can come down to around 1.60 m from the floor, because nobody walks underneath. Above the sofa seat, keep 2.10 m, or shift the light towards the coffee table. In a walkway, 2.10 m is the minimum to maintain.

Which pendant light should you choose for a low ceiling?

Under 2.50 m, choose a flat pendant light, less than 30 cm tall, with the cable shortened as much as possible. Under 2.40 m, a ceiling light is better suited to the centre of the room. You can keep a pendant light above the coffee table, where nobody walks.

Which bulb should you choose for a living room chandelier?

Choose an LED bulb of 2,700 to 3,000 kelvins, which gives a warm white. Check the cap type and the maximum wattage stated on the product page of the light. If the bulb remains visible, choose a frosted or decorative one to avoid glare.

How much light do you need in a living room?

Allow around 100 to 150 lumens per square metre for general lighting, that is 2,000 to 3,000 lumens in a 20 m² living room. This amount is shared between the pendant light, a floor lamp and one or two table lamps. A dimmer lets you lower the light in the evening, if the light and the bulb allow it.

How do you light a living room without glare?

Choose a shade that hides the bulb: opal glass, paper, linen or a closed lampshade. Use several light sources rather than asking the pendant light to do everything. An opaque metal light, which shines downwards, goes above a table and not above eye level.

How do you replace an old chandelier with a pendant light?

Switch off the power at the fuse box, take down the old light and check that the ceiling hook can bear the weight of the new one. Then connect the wires, adjust the length of the cable and fix the ceiling rose in place. If the wiring is old or if you have any doubt, leave the connection to an electrician.