Bedroom Pendant Lights and Chandeliers

Nearly 1,500 bedroom pendant lights and chandeliers, 30 to 69 cm in diameter, in metal, rattan, glass, ceramic or paper, by Forestier, Marset, Muuto, Gubi or HAY.

How to choose a chandelier or pendant light for the bedroom

The essentials

In a bedroom, the chandelier or pendant light provides the general lighting and must stay easy on the eyes when you are lying down. Allow for a diameter of 30 to 49 cm up to 14 m² and 50 to 69 cm beyond that, around 2 m of clearance under the light, and a 2,700 K warm white bulb. A shade in paper, opal glass or rattan keeps the bulb out of your line of sight from the bed.

Size: add the length and the width of the bedroom in metres, then multiply by 7 to get a diameter in centimetres. A 3 x 4 m bedroom calls for a pendant light of around 50 cm.
Height: around 2 m under the light in walkways. With a 2.50 m ceiling, the pendant light and its cable are no more than 50 cm high.
Light: 100 to 150 lumens per m², that is 1,200 to 1,800 lumens for 12 m², in warm white (2,700 K) and on a dimmer.
Material: paper, opal glass, fabric or rattan for diffused light; metal for a beam directed downwards.

Chandelier, pendant light or ceiling light: which to choose for a bedroom?

All three words refer to lights fixed to the ceiling, but not to the same object. The pendant light hangs from a cable or a rod and most often has a single light source. The chandelier is a pendant light with several arms or several bulbs, wider and more decorative. The ceiling light is fixed flush against the ceiling, with no visible cable.

Light fitting	Light sources	Recommended ceiling height	For which bedroom
Pendant light	1, sometimes 2 or 3	2.40 m and over	All bedrooms, in the centre of the room or above the bed
Chandelier	3 and over	2.60 m and over	Bedroom of 15 m² and over, high ceiling, bold decor
Ceiling light	1 to 3	Less than 2.40 m	Attic bedroom, low ceiling, child's bedroom with a raised bed

Indicative guidelines. A shallow pendant light, placed above the bed, is still possible under a 2.40 m ceiling.

On this page, the selection brings together nearly 1,500 models from 30 to 69 cm in diameter. Pendant lights make up most of them, and around thirty multi-light chandeliers complete the range.

By type of light

What size of chandelier for a bedroom?

A light that is too small gets lost on the ceiling, a light that is too wide overwhelms the room. The diameter is worked out from the dimensions of the bedroom.

Bedroom floor area	Recommended diameter	Example
Less than 10 m²	30 to 40 cm	Child's bedroom or guest bedroom of 3 x 3 m
10 to 14 m²	40 to 49 cm	Bedroom with a 140 or 160 cm bed
14 to 20 m²	50 to 60 cm	Master bedroom with a 160 or 180 cm bed
Over 20 m²	60 to 69 cm, or two lights	Master suite, bedroom with a desk area

Guidelines for a ceiling height of 2.50 m. In the selection, two models in three measure 30 to 49 cm in diameter, one in three 50 to 69 cm.

The quick calculationAdd the length and the width of the bedroom in metres, then multiply by 7: you get a diameter in centimetres. For 3 x 3 m, that gives 42 cm. For 3 x 4 m, 49 cm. For 4 x 5 m, 63 cm. Above the bed, keep the diameter to less than half the width of the mattress: 70 cm at most for a 140 cm bed.

For the same diameter, a white paper globe or a rattan cage looks lighter than a dark metal dome: you can go up a size with a pale or openwork model.

How high should you hang a pendant light above a bed?

The hanging height depends on where the light hangs.

In the centre of the bedroom, in a walkway: leave around 2 m between the floor and the bottom of the light. Under a 2.50 m ceiling, that leaves 50 cm for the shade and the cable.
Above the bed: nobody walks upright at this spot, so the light can hang lower. Keep around 1.80 m from the floor so you can sit up and make the bed without touching it.
As a bedside pendant light, on either side of the bed: the bottom of the shade sits 50 to 60 cm above the bedside table, that is at eye level when you read sitting up.

Low ceiling: three solutionsUnder 2.40 m, choose a pendant light with a shade less than 30 cm high and shorten the cable as far as it will go. Place it above the bed rather than in the walkway. If the ceiling drops below 2.30 m, a ceiling light gives the same general lighting with nothing hanging down.

Fitting or replacing a light without major work

Replacing an old chandelier with a pendant light is done at the existing lighting point: switch off the power at the consumer unit, take down the old light, then connect the new one to the same hook and the same wiring. Check that the ceiling hook can bear the weight given on the product page. If you have any doubt about the installation, or if the bedroom opens onto a shower room, call in an electrician.

For low ceilings

Which light and which bulb for a bedroom pendant light?

A bedroom needs less light than a kitchen or a home office, and a warmer light. Two figures, printed on the bulb's packaging, are all you need to choose well.

Luminous flux, in lumens: allow 100 to 150 lumens per m². A 12 m² bedroom needs 1,200 to 1,800 lumens, a 16 m² bedroom 1,600 to 2,400 lumens, bedside lamps included.
Colour temperature, in kelvins: 2,700 K gives a warm white, close to the old filament bulb. Stay under 3,000 K: beyond that, the light becomes white and cold, and hardly restful.

The vast majority of models in the selection take a screw-in bulb, which you choose and replace yourself. Around thirty have their own built-in LED source and a few have their own dimmer. To dim the light in the evening, pick an LED bulb marked 'dimmable' and have an electrician check that the wall dimmer is compatible with it.

Avoiding glare from the bed

Lying down, you look at the ceiling. Go for an enclosed model in opal glass or paper, a shade fitted with a diffuser, or a bulb with a frosted crown. Always pair the pendant light with two bedside lamps or two wall lights.

Rattan, paper, glass or metal: which material for which atmosphere?

The material of the shade determines how the light leaves the fitting. Metal dominates the selection with more than four models in ten, ahead of rattan and natural fibres, glass, resin, ceramic and wood.

Material	Light produced	Style	Good to know
Metal (steel, aluminium, brass)	Directed downwards, ceiling in shadow	Contemporary, industrial, retro	Best placed above the bed or a reading corner, with a dimmer
Rattan, bamboo, natural fibres	Filtered, with shadows on the wall and ceiling	Boho, natural	Bulb visible between the strands: choose a frosted one
Glass	Diffused if opal, crisp if clear	Retro, contemporary	Opal glass suits the bedroom better than clear glass
Paper, cotton, linen, canvas	Very soft, in every direction	Scandinavian, Japanese-inspired	Large, lightweight diameters, easy to hang
Ceramic, stoneware, porcelain	Directed, sometimes translucent in fine porcelain	Handcrafted, country	Heavier: check the ceiling fixing

As for colours, white comes first, followed by black and gold. The first blends into a pale ceiling, the other two mark the centre of the room.

As for makers, Forestier is the most represented brand, with nearly 80 models, including many pendant lights in bamboo and rattan. Next come Maytoni, Ferroluce, Belid and Marset. Muuto, Gubi, HAY and &tradition represent Scandinavian design, from lacquered metal to paper. Bazar Bizar and Good & Mojo work mainly with natural fibres, Schneid Studio and UMAGE with more graphic shapes.

A few bedroom pendant lights from the selection

&tradition Ivory white paper pendant light 50cm Formakami JH4 - &tradition €169,03

Black bamboo hanging lamp M Bamboo - Forestier - The Cool Republic

Forestier Black bamboo pendant light M Bamboo - Forestier €245,00

Taupe pendant light D55 cm Ambit - Muuto - The Cool Republic

Muuto Taupe pendant light D55 cm Ambit - Muuto €479,20

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

Gubi Black metal pendant light 47 cm Semi - Gubi €355,89

By material and by colour

By brand

Which pendant light for which bedroom?

Small 10 m² bedroom

Choose a diameter of 30 to 40 cm, in a pale shade or an openwork material. A globe in paper or opal glass lights the whole room without weighing down the space.

Master bedroom

From 14 m², a model of 50 to 69 cm takes its place in the centre of the room or in line with the bed. This is also the floor area at which a multi-light chandelier becomes possible, provided you have a 2.60 m ceiling height.

Child's bedroom or nursery

Choose a light material that does not break, such as paper, rattan or fabric, and fit the light out of reach of a bunk bed or a mezzanine.

On a modest budget

Six models in ten in the selection are offered at under €500, and more than 250 at under €200, mainly in paper, natural fibres and lacquered metal. Large diameters in glass, in brass or by named designers more often exceed €1,000.

Explore further

Frequently asked questions

Which chandelier should you choose for a bedroom?

Choose a model whose diameter matches the floor area: 30 to 49 cm up to 14 m², 50 to 69 cm beyond that. Go for a shade that diffuses the light, in paper, opal glass, fabric or rattan, and a 2,700 K warm white bulb. A chandelier with several arms needs a ceiling height of at least 2.60 m.

What size of pendant light for a 12 m² bedroom?

A diameter of 40 to 49 cm suits a 12 m² bedroom. The quick calculation is to add the length and the width of the room in metres and multiply by 7: for 3 x 4 m, you get 49 cm. A pale or openwork model can go up a size.

How high should you hang a chandelier above a bed?

Above the bed, keep around 1.80 m between the floor and the bottom of the light, which lets you sit up and make the bed without touching it. In a walkway, leave around 2 m. At the bedside, the bottom of the shade sits 50 to 60 cm above the bedside table.

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

The pendant light hangs from a cable or a rod and generally has a single light source. The chandelier is a pendant light with several arms or several bulbs, wider and more decorative. The ceiling light is fixed flush against the ceiling, with no cable, and suits ceilings of less than 2.40 m.

Which bulb should you put in a bedroom pendant light?

Choose a 2,700 K warm white LED bulb. Allow 100 to 150 lumens per m², that is 1,200 to 1,800 lumens for 12 m². If the bulb is visible under the shade, choose a frosted one so you are not dazzled from the bed.

Can you have a pendant light in a bedroom with a low ceiling?

Yes, if the shade is less than 30 cm high and the cable is shortened as far as it will go. Place the pendant light above the bed, where nobody walks upright. Under a 2.30 m ceiling, a ceiling light is more suitable.

Which pendant light for soft, subdued lighting in a bedroom?

Shades in paper, opal glass, fabric and rattan give the softest light, because they diffuse it in every direction. Pair them with a 2,700 K dimmable bulb and a dimmer. A metal shade, on the other hand, directs the light downwards and leaves the ceiling in shadow.

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

Switch off the power at the consumer unit, take down the old light and connect the new one to the same lighting point. Check that the ceiling hook can bear the weight of the pendant light, then adjust the length of the cable before fixing the ceiling rose. If you have any doubt about the electrical installation, call in an electrician.