topic Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar? in Home

How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Sister Golden Hair — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 06:34:34 GMT

We are remodeling our downstairs. We are moving our kitchen down there. We will have a kitchen bar that will be 86 inches across.

I just wanted to see how many of these lights would look good. Thanks for your help

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

EnglishRose88 — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 08:10:26 GMT

My bar is very long and we have 3 large pendant lights. Anymore than that would be too much for our bar.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Kachina624 — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 08:21:22 GMT

An uneven number always looks best, so I'd say three too.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Drythe — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:00:09 GMT

My bar is a tad bit longer, only 6 inches, not enough to make a difference I think. I just remodeled and went from 2 to 3. Love the extra light. When I built I wanted 3, as I prefer the power of 3, and the principals of Feng Shui, but thought they would be too crowded - not so! Really looks great, should have followed my instincts earlier.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Big Sister — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 10:23:57 GMT

Three sounds right. Just be sure they are not too small.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

gardensla — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 12:11:37 GMT

3 and consider having the electrician install a recessed light on either side of the center pendant. While they look good, pendants rarely put out enough lumens to adequately light a kitchen island. You can either put the recessed lights on a second switch or have them on the same circuit as the pendants. The extra cost is tiny if you this done at the same time as the pendant installation.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

ID2 — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 12:32:37 GMT

On 1/8/2015 gardensla said:
3 and consider having the electrician install a recessed light on either side of the center pendant. While they look good, pendants rarely put out enough lumens to adequately light a kitchen island. You can either put the recessed lights on a second switch or have them on the same circuit as the pendants. The extra cost is tiny if you this done at the same time as the pendant installation.

Hmmm I'm sitting right now at my kitchen island that is lit by 3 pendant lights and have PLENTY of light! I have both recessed and pendant lights. I use my pendants 90% of the time!

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

gardensla — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:07:57 GMT

On 1/8/2015 ID2 said:
On 1/8/2015 gardensla said:
3 and consider having the electrician install a recessed light on either side of the center pendant. While they look good, pendants rarely put out enough lumens to adequately light a kitchen island. You can either put the recessed lights on a second switch or have them on the same circuit as the pendants. The extra cost is tiny if you this done at the same time as the pendant installation.

Hmmm I'm sitting right now at my kitchen island that is lit by 3 pendant lights and have PLENTY of light! I have both recessed and pendant lights. I use my pendants 90% of the time!

Lucky you.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Nonametoday — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:41:50 GMT

I have a bar about just a bit longer, and I have 2 small (3 light) chandeliers with recessed lighting if needed. The small chandeliers match the bit larger chandelier in the breakfast area. I rarely, if ever, use the recessed lighting. I have other lighting and windows in the kitchen area with a bank of French windows in the breakfast area, so I have lighting of various types.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

gardensla — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:48:27 GMT

On 1/8/2015 namealreadytaken said:
I have a bar about just a bit longer, and I have 2 small (3 light) chandeliers with recessed lighting if needed. The small chandeliers match the bit larger chandelier in the breakfast area. I rarely, if ever, use the recessed lighting. I have other lighting and windows in the kitchen area with a bank of French windows in the breakfast area, so I have lighting of various types.

I guess it's just me because I use the recessed lighting for tasks and the pendants for atmosphere!

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

151949 — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:24:18 GMT

Our island in our camper is 72 "" and has 3 lights hanging down from a pretty wooden fixture - above the fixture there are 25 watt lights we can turn on for a night light. Love it - I would say 1 light for about every 2 ft of island sounds about right. So that would be 3 for your 86"".

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

brii — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:31:08 GMT

I have 2 large fixtures that are set on a dimmer switch. I don't know how long the island is. 3 would be too many. They are large fixtures.

If I had smaller fixtures, I would do 3.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Sister Golden Hair — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:05:00 GMT

Thanks to everyone for your great posts. My husband told me that I could have 2 or 3 lights.

Sounds like 3 is the magic number

I really appreciate your help.

One more question. We are doing the whole downstairs in black and white.

Would it be better to do the pendants in black with white shades or match the hardware on the kitchen cabinets?

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Happy In the South — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:42:25 GMT

I would match the hardware on the kitchen cabinets. That way, should you change the color scheme, your lights will still coordinate. Enjoy your remodel!

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Sister Golden Hair — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 01:05:52 GMT

Thanks

I enjoy getting ideas from everyone What fun and all the wealth of information on these boards.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

NanciJ — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 01:49:37 GMT

Our kitchen bar is 10 feet long with 3 pendant lights.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

homedecor1 — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 05:45:06 GMT

I believe the rule of thumb for decorating is always in 3's. I'm sure that would look perfect - we are still trying to decide on the undercounted lighting for my kitchen remodel. Such great styles to choose from.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Cricket12 — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 13:37:40 GMT

Our island in kitchen is 9 feet long and we have 3 pendant lights hanging then have recessed lighting surrounding the rest of the kitchen.

Re: How Many Pendant Lights Above The Kitchen Bar?

Sister Golden Hair — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 01:12:51 GMT

Thanks again, this has been so much help. I found some brushed nickel pendant lights at Lowes.