If you are extending or shortening pendant lights in your home, it is important to take the necessary safety precautions and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safely reinstalling them. In addition, it is a good idea to get expert advice from a licensed electrician if you are unsure about the proper way to complete this task.
The length of a pendant light should be determined by the size of the room, ceiling height, and overall design of the space. It is also important to take into account the size of the pendant lamp itself, and how it will be hung.
In general, small pendant lights are 10″ or less in diameter, medium pendants are 10″ to 20″ in diameter and large pendants are 20″ plus in diameter. You can use smaller, medium, and large pendants to illuminate specific areas of your kitchen.
When installing a pendant over a long table, it is recommended to hang it about 30 inches above the table top. This distance provides the focused task lighting you need while avoiding the glare that can occur if you hang it too close to the table.
You can also diffuse the lighting from a pendant by using opal or semi-opaque glass to cover the entire tabletop. This can help create a more cohesive look and feel while still providing plenty of illumination.
It is also possible to extend a cord from the pendant light if you are extending it higher up in your ceiling, for example to light the stairs or landing area. This can be done by removing the existing chain and adjusting the end of it to fit your ceiling canopy.
Alternatively, you can purchase longer chain from the designer lighting company and cut it down to the desired length at your nearest hardware store. Once you have the correct length, you can then replace the bulb and reattach the chain to the pendant and to your ceiling canopy.
If your pendant light is a globe style, the cord may have a potted connection at the bottom of it and it is unlikely that you will be able to shorten this. However, if it does not come with a potted connection and is made from cable, you should be able to shorten this by simply feeding it through the link of the chain and attaching it to the ring at the end of the chain.
Another option for extending the length of a pendant light is to buy an extension rod that can be attached to the ceiling plate at the desired length. This can be a simple solution that can be accomplished by a DIYer with little experience in electrical work, but it is best to get professional advice from an electrician before making any changes to your fixture.
Pendant lamps are an excellent choice for lighting halls and stairwells as the cord can be shortened to suit the lower parts of the space and left longer where ceiling heights become taller. The advantage of this is that it can be easy to coordinate your light fixtures with your hallway and stairwell layout.
