To complete the look of your farmhouse kitchen, adding farmhouse pendant lighting for the kitchen island will add both functionality and rustic charm to your space.
Pendant lighting is one of the most popular choices for a kitchen island because it illuminates the space where daily tasks are performed like meal prep and more.
Pendant lights are also an excellent choice, because you don’t have to sacrifice your counterspace to get the light you need.
Farmhouse pendant lighting over a kitchen island will not only illuminate your space, but it will become the focal point of your country farmhouse kitchen.
This style of pendant lighting will enhance your farmhouse aesthetic and will bring some vintage elegance to your space.
When it comes to choosing farmhouse pendant lighting for a kitchen island, there are many different styles and finishes available.
Choosing the Right Materials and Styles to Compliment A Farmhouse Kitchen
Farmhouse pendant lights for a kitchen island are available in many different styles and finishes to compliment a farmhouse kitchen.
Depending on the style of your farmhouse kitchen and the size of your island, will determine what style and size of pendant lighting you should choose.
Farmhouse pendant lights are available in a variety of styles and finishes that include:
Styles
- Industrial Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
- Modern Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
- Vintage Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
- French Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
- Rustic Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
Finishes
- Black Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
- White Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
- Wooden Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
- Bronze Farmhouse Pendant Lighting
- Glass Farmhouse Pedant Lighting
Each of these styles and finishes have unique characteristics that would lend themselves to a modern or rustic style kitchen.
Some pendant lights are more modern in design with an industrial flair to them while others are more rustic in appearance.
Some are designed with clear crystal shades inside a metal cage while others are made from wood.
Pendant lights that are made from metal with a black finish or made from copper are also nice options for a farmhouse kitchen.
How Many Pendant Lights Do I Need For My Kitchen Island?
The size or length of your kitchen island will dictate how many pendant lights you will require.
This style of lighting can be hung in groups of two, three or five. Odd numbers tend to be more visually appealing to create balance for your kitchen island.
However, if you have a smaller island, then two lights that are evenly spaced will do the trick and provide sufficient lighting.
Ultimately you want enough pendant lights to light up your island that are spaced evenly apart.
Placing the right amount of pendant lights over your island will also give you adequate lighting which is your ultimate goal.
Practical Considerations For Choosing the Right Pendant Lights
The Positioning of Your Pendant Lights
Once you have decided how many pendant lights you need to provide sufficient light for your kitchen island, the next task is the positioning of those lights.
Each pendant light should be hung so that it is approximately 6 to 12 inches from each end of the island.
Also, allow around 24 to 36 inches between each pendant light from the center. This will provide some clarity in terms of how many pendant lights you will need based on these measurements.
These measurements will give you an idea of how wide each pendant light should be and how far apart.
For a kitchen island that measures seven or eight foot, you would only need two pendant lights.
How High Should Pendant Lights Be Hung?
Pendant lights should also be hung 30 to 36 inches above the island countertop to give enough clearance.
Pendant lights are adjustable in length to customize them to your lighting needs. These lights can be hung higher or lower over your island and are compatible with a variety of different ceiling styles.
How To Choose The Right Size of Pendant Lighting
Not only do you have to decide how many pendant lights to hang over your kitchen island, but you also have to take into consideration the size of your pendant lights.
The size of your kitchen island will play a major role in determining the size of your pendant lights and how many you require.
The width of your pendant lights should be proportional to the size of your kitchen island.
As a general rule of thumb is, the width of each pendant light should be about one-third to one-half the width of your kitchen island.
This ensures that the pendant lights are not too small so that they don’t get lost visually nor too large to overwhelm the size of the island.
How Bright Should Pendant Lights Be?
In case you are wondering, how bright your pendant lights should be, the general rule of thumb is to provide anywhere from 35-50 lumens per square foot.
Just to provide some clarity, a 60-watt bulb produces about 800 lumens.
This means that one 60-watt bulb—or two for brighter light—above your island will give you more than enough light. Alternatively, you could use three to four smaller lights with lower wattage bulbs.
Ultimately, you want enough light to illuminate the island for meal prep and other kitchen tasks.
Installation Tips For Hanging Your Pendant Lights
Now that you have chosen your pendant lights and how many pendant lights you need, you can begin your installation.
Farmhouse pendant lights should be hung 30 to 36 inches above the kitchen island from the bottom of the fixture to provide enough clearance.
This measurement is taken from the ceiling mount to the bottom of the light fixture.
Pendant lights need to be placed at least 6 inches from the edge of the island on either side and 24 to 36 inches between each pendant light from the center.
According to an article that I read on KOUBOO ‘for a smaller kitchen island that measures 6 feet in length or less, you could hang two larger pendant lights that measure 15 to 18 inches. Or, you could hang (3) three smaller pendant lights that measure 10 inches or less.
The Care and Maintenance Of Your Pendant Lights
The care and maintenance of your pendant lights will really depend on what material the pendant lights are made from.
Most pendant lights will come with instructions of how to care for the lights.
Keep your pedant lights clean on an ongoing basis by dusting them with a microfiber cloth or lint-free cloth.
If you are planning to do a deep clean, make sure you turn off the electricity first before removing the pendant.
For lights made from glass, remove the glass pendant and wash them with a mild detergent and water. Dry pendant lights afterwards with a soft lint free cloth.
For the rest of the pendant that is attached to the ceiling, use a microfiber cloth and don’t forget to clean the lightbulb too!
For pendant lights that are made from metal, use a feather duster or a dry microfiber cloth to clean all surfaces of your pendant lights.
If you use water and a mild detergent, it will leave streaks which is the last thing you want.
Cleaning your pendant lights over your kitchen island on a regular basis will provide you with sufficient light and will make your farmhouse kitchen look spectacular.
Conclusion:
Adding pendant lights over your kitchen island will add farmhouse charm and will become the focal point of the space.
This style of lighting will illuminate your space to provide sufficient lighting to perform daily tasks.
Pendant lights come in many different styles that would be perfect for a farmhouse / rustic/ industrial or a modern setting.
The size of your kitchen island will play a major role in terms of how many lights you need and the size and shape of those pendants.
The brightness of those pendant lights will also need to be taken into consideration so that you choose blubs with adequate light.
Lastly, maintaining your pendant lights is equally as important in terms of getting the most illumination out of your lights.
I hope you enjoyed this article entitled ‘Choosing The Perfect Farmhouse Pendant Lighting For The Kitchen Island – Tips & Tricks.‘