DIY Pendant Light Series

Spacing pendants out allows for the best lighting.

A kitchen island needs optimal lighting. It is a work space or used for eating and needs to be lit up appropriately. One option for lighting without adding bulk is using pendant lights. Pendants make sure that the entire island is illuminated instead of just the center. The various shapes and sizes that pendants come in makes it easy for them to meet your needs. Installing them is an easy afternoon project that will brighten up any kitchen.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pendant light
• Mounting materials
• Light bulbs

Instructions

Spacing the Pendants

1. Measure the length and width of the island in inches. Measure the distance from the ceiling to the island. Take the total area of the island and determine how many pendants you want to cover that space. Determining the number of pendants comes down to how much light you want.

2. Calculate the spacing of the pendants by taking the total length in inches of the island and dividing it by the number of pendants, plus one. The addition of one is the space that will be between the pendants. The resulting number is how many inches apart the pendants should be spaced.

3. Divide the width of the island by two. The pendants will be centered over the island, and the first and last pendants will be placed 5 inches in from the lip of the island.

4. Determine how far the pendants should hang down. The general rule is to hang them above the eye level of the tallest person in your house.

Hanging the Pendants

1. Use the mounting hardware and attach the bracket into the ceiling.

2. Hold the pendant in one hand and with the other hand twist the wires to the connectors. One wire is designated to the live wire, another for the neutral and one for the ground wire.

3. Raise the base of the pendant and insert it over the mounting hardware to align it with the screws. Once through, twist the knobs onto the screws to secure the pendants into place. Repeat for each pendant in the row.

4. Screw light bulbs into the pendants, flip on the power and enjoy the pendants.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a dimmer to the pendants.

• The diameter of the pendant affects the number of pendants needed.

• Make sure electricity is off when working with wiring.

References

• Millennial Living; Buying and Determining Height for Kitchen Pendant Lights; March 2007
• Forte Electric: How to Layout Pendant Lighting Design