Hang a pendant so the bottom of the shade sits 75 to 85 cm above the tabletop. That lights the table properly while leaving a clear line of sight to the person opposite you. Go higher and the light spreads thin across the room; go lower and you are talking around a lampshade all evening.
Why that band and not a fixed number
Two things move you within it. Ceiling height: in a room with a standard 260 cm ceiling, 75 cm keeps the proportion right, while a high or sloped ceiling can carry 85 cm without the lamp looking stranded. And the shade itself: an open shade that throws light sideways can hang a little higher, whereas a deep, closed shade that aims light straight down needs the lower end of the band or the pool of light gets too small.
| Situation | Height above the table |
|---|---|
| Standard ceiling, closed shade | 75 cm |
| Standard ceiling, open shade | 80 cm |
| High or sloped ceiling | 85 cm |
| Kitchen island (people stand) | 85-90 cm |
| Walkway, not above furniture | Minimum 210 cm above the floor |
Diameter: a third of the table
A single pendant reads best at roughly a third of the table width. Above a 180 cm table that is around 60 cm. Much narrower and the lamp looks like an afterthought; much wider and it starts to feel like a ceiling in its own right.
For long tables, three smaller pendants in a row usually beat one large one. Space them evenly across the table length and keep the outer two at least 30 cm in from the ends, so the people at the head of the table are not sitting in the dark. Use the same bulb and the same light colour in all three - mixed colour temperatures are the single most common reason a well-chosen set of lamps still looks wrong.
How high should a lamp hang above a kitchen island?
Higher than above a dining table: 85 to 90 cm above the worktop. The reason is simple - at an island people stand rather than sit, so the lamp has to clear head height and light the surface you are working on. Below 80 cm you will walk into it; above 95 cm the light spreads too thin to be useful for chopping.
For a long island, two or three smaller pendants beat one large one. Divide the island length into equal parts and centre a lamp in each, keeping the outer lamps at least 30 cm from the ends. If you cook and eat at the same island, aim for the lower end of the range above the working half and the higher end above the seating half.
Light colour and dimming
Warm white around 2700 kelvin suits a dining table; it flatters food and skin in a way cooler light does not. Whether a lamp dims depends entirely on the bulb you fit, not on the lamp itself, so choose a dimmable bulb and a matching dimmer. Most of our lamps arrive without a bulb, and the product description names the fitting you need - usually E27 or E14.
Hanging it
On most models you can shorten the cord or chain, and the available adjustment is stated with the product. For an existing ceiling point you can often do the work yourself provided you switch off the circuit at the consumer unit, not just at the wall switch. If you are unsure about the connection, or the lamp is heavy, call in an electrician - a chandelier in particular needs a fixing rated for its weight, and a plasterboard ceiling rarely qualifies on its own.
The mistake almost everyone makes
Hanging the lamp centred on the ceiling rather than centred on the table. Tables are rarely in the exact middle of a room, and a pendant that is out of line with the table below it is obvious from every seat. Measure from the table, mark the ceiling, and if the existing point is in the wrong place, a hook and a swagged cord will move it cheaply.
Once the table is lit, the rest of the room needs a second layer. A floor lamp or table lamp away from the table stops the dining area from feeling like an island of light in a dark room.
By Meike van Dongen · Veem, Amsterdam · 18 August 2026
