Our Most Common Question:

"How many pendant lights should I put over my island?"

This is the single most common question we get at Bicycle Glass, as customers are deciding which pendants would work best for their space while considering scale and proportion as they make their final decisions.

When I work on this I use a pretty simple equation that helps me get an idea of the relative scale and proportion of the pendant lights to the island or table they are going over.

The Equation:

The equation we use is based on the rule of thirds, a guideline that tends to look naturally balanced to the eye. It helps quickly show whether you’ve chosen too many pendant lights for a space, or not enough.

Here’s how the equation works:

Add together the maximum diameter of each pendant light, then divide that total by the length of the surface the pendants will hang over.

For example:

If you’re using three pendants that are each 8" wide:

8 + 8 + 8 = 24

Now divide that total by the length of the island:

24 ÷ 108 = 0.22, or 22%

In this case, we’re using three of our 767 pendants (each with a maximum diameter of 8"). When added together, the pendants span 24 inches. Dividing that by a 108-inch island gives us a percentage that represents how much of the island’s length the pendants will visually occupy.

What I love about this equation most is that it boils down the number to a ratio that is manageable and something concrete to talk about when you are having a conversation. Some people may prefer a look that is more sparse than 33% whereas others might want a fuller look and head towards 35% or more. There isn't really any wrong answer here. It's all in the eye of the beholder, but numbers between 20% - 35% tend to look pretty good generally.

Additional Considerations:

Other considerations might be the width, as well as the length, of the bar/island/table that the lights are going over, or additionally if you have lots of headroom, like 9 feet or more, you can consider sizing up or taller shapes so that the pendants don't look too small or get lost in the space.

If you want to view Bicycle Glass pendant lights, sustainably hand blown in Minnesota from 100% post-consumer recycled glass click here.

Help is a phone call away

As always at Bicycle Glass, our team is more than happy to chat with you about your options because each space is unique, and we really want to make a pendant light ensemble that you will be happy with for many years to come.

Just give us a call, and we will be happy to discuss your individual lighting needs.

1-952-952-9253