Pendant lights, unlike chandeliers that have multiple light bulbs suspended from the ceiling, only have one light bulb and are also suspended from the ceiling, just like chandeliers. It looks great, but are they the best light for your bathroom vanity? Are they going to last a long time?
For bathroom vanities, pendant lights work well as a lighting option. It is easy to change and modify the design of pendant lights in order for them to fit one’s personal taste and needs. Pendant lights are attractive for smaller rooms, such as bathrooms, as they provide a good amount of lighting for the tasks that are performed in the bathroom because of their simplicity.
There are several decisions to be made when installing pendant lights above a bathroom vanity. These decisions include where the lights should be placed, how low they should be suspended, as well as the basics of how to hang these lights. If you would like to learn more, please continue reading!
What Are Pendant Lights?
Pendant lights are a type of light fixture that is hung from the ceiling or on a rod or chain which is attached to the ceiling or, sometimes, just a few chains are attached to the ceiling. Due to the way it is suspended, it has the appearance of a pendant and that’s the reason why it is called a pendant light.
There are some differences between chandeliers and pendants. The first is the fact that the former has multiple bulbs incorporated into a single fixture, whereas the second has only one bulb incorporated into the fixture.
One of the most important things to consider is how much pendant lights cost. We will dive into this in the next section.
How Much Do Pendant Lights Cost?
Buying and installing a pendant light will cost you somewhere between $300 and $450 per fixture, and each fixture should take an electrician a little under 2.5 hours to install from start to finish. It is important to note that this price includes the fixture, labor, and installation supplies.
Types Of Pendant Lights
In the case of your bathroom vanity, you can hang a number of different types of pendant lights that will provide you with a wide range of lighting options. In general, they can be categorized as follows:
Chandelier Pendants
Ideally, chandelier pendant lights should be placed above the bathtub or just in the middle of the bathroom. As a result, this type of pendant lighting is most effective if you have high ceilings in your bathroom since they can provide the main source of light for the entire room.
Cord Pendants
The cord pendant lights are simply light bulbs that hang down from the ceiling, providing light to the room. It is also possible to use them as cluster pendants in the event that one so desires, which will provide brilliant lighting for any type of bathroom, whether it be a large, small, or half bathroom.
For exposed pendant lights, Edison bulbs or other designer bulbs are a good choice. In terms of style, cord pendant lights are great for creating a minimalist or industrial look in any room.
Down Light Pendants
There are pendant lights that have shades covering the bulbs that are known as down-light pendant lights.
At the bottom of the lamp, there is an open area that shines down to the floor. I have found that these pendants work very well if they are placed directly above a vanity, and they also provide an attractive source of light for task lighting, since they concentrate the light on the vanity rather than the whole room.
Encased Pendants
The encased pendant lights can either be used for vanity lighting or as the main source of light in a room.
It is important to remember that these pendants have a bulb that is enclosed within a covering. The glass can either be frosted to provide a soft light, clear to provide all the light that the room needs, or cages made of metal to provide all the light the room needs.
Globe Pendants
Pendant lights that look like globes are similar to those that are encased, except that they have a particular circular shape that makes them look like globes – they are spherical and look like globes.
In any case, they are able to take this shape in any type of enclosure, just as encased pendants can be taken in any type of enclosure. Glasses can be made out of frosted glass, clear glass, or even a combination of both.
Inverted/Bowl Pendants
An inverted pendant light, also known as a bowl pendant, is basically the opposite of a downlight pendant in terms of its appearance. Because they are in the shape of bowls, the light in them is reflected onto the ceiling as a result of their shape. If you would like your pendant lights to illuminate the ceiling in your bathroom instead of casting shadows on your face, this is a great option for you.
Lantern Pendants
There is something nostalgic about lantern pendant lights that remind you of old New England. There are two types of lantern pendant lights. The first is rectangular and the second is hexagonal. They are both glass encased with wrought iron trim.
Lantern pendant lights provide a vintage look. You could hang a lantern pendant in the center of the bathroom for an ample amount of illumination because the bulb is enclosed in glass rather than shade.
Linear Pendants
Depending on the design of the linear pendant lights, they can come in a variety of forms, with the two most popular being either a long line of hanging lights or a line of enclosed lighting fixtures. Linear pendant lights not only come in a large variety of different shapes and sizes, but they are also available in a variety of styles, such as modern or traditional styles.
Multi-light Pendants
Pendants with multiple lights consist of a cluster of lights that are arranged around a central core or rose, which binds them together. A good amount of light can be provided by them and they add a sense of drama to any bathroom, and they can be placed anywhere in the room.
Now that we have covered the different types of pendant lights, we can dive into the best place to hang them in your bathroom. This is something important to consider as reinstalling them once they are up will be frustrating.
Where Should You Hang Pendant Lights In Your Bathroom
The placement of pendant lights is very versatile and they can be hung in many different places, but they always need to be high enough to be out of the way so that no one hits their heads on them! As soon as you hang the pendant light, leave 30 to 40 inches of space between the bottom of the pendant light and the top of the bathroom vanity when it’s hung up.
As an example, if you wish to hang a pendant light over a bathtub, you will need at least eight feet of clearance from the top rim of the tub to the bottom of the pendant light in order to comply with the requirements set out by the US National Electric Code. Make sure to read my post about how to install bathroom fixtures, bulbs, and smart lights in a safe and efficient manner.
I find that pendant lights work best when they are placed right over or perhaps on either side of the mirrors of the vanities. As a matter of fact, this depends entirely on how big the vanity is and how much space the person has to move without the fear of knocking their head on the light or breaking something as a result.
As the pendant lights are being installed, keep in mind that sightlines need to be taken into consideration, especially if the pendant lights are going to be mounted over a kitchen table or countertop or in front of a mirror.
Whenever there are multiple pendant lights in any area of the house, including the bathroom, the lights should be evenly spaced across the room.
It is important to note that if five pendant lamps have a diameter of seven inches, then they should be spaced at least seven inches apart from each other. There is a reason why the lights need to be spaced at the same pace as the diameter of the vanity, and that is to ensure that good lighting is provided for those situated underneath it.
Now that we have talked about the best place to hang your lights, we can discuss the process of installing them yourself.
How To Hang Pendant Lights In The Bathroom
It is relatively easy to install ceiling lights in a bathroom, which is one of the reasons why so many people choose to do so. Follow these instructions in order to install pendant lights in a bathroom. You will need a few things before you get started including:
- Stripper/cutter for wires
- An electric screwdriver
- Stepladder
- Tape measure
- Pendant light
- Nuts for the wires (will likely come with the pendant light.)
Once you have gathered the required items, follow the steps listed below.
Step 1: Turn Off All Electricity
Electrical/distribution panels are going to be a part of every home, and these panels are basically responsible for providing power to the rest of the house. It is vital for your safety that you turn off the power in any room before installing anything in it.
There is also the possibility of referring to the power as the breaker switch. It needs to be turned off. In the event that you do not turn off the power, there is a very high risk of electrifying yourself. If you want to be extra sure, use a voltage tester or an electrical current detector to ensure that the power has been turned off.
Step 2: Measure, Measure, Measure
Attach the crossbar (also known as the mounting bracket) to the junction box by using the screws provided. There should be a crossbar included in the package of the pendant light when you purchase it. The purpose of this is to provide support for the pendant light, so make sure you screw it in straight before using it.
Ensure that the pendant light is the right length for your needs by double-checking. You can adjust it if needed or reorder the light if it does not fit. There is no point going through the whole installation process only to realize afterward that it was all for nothing because the distance between it and the ceiling isn’t the right one.
Step 3: Install the Mounting Bracket
Attach the crossbar (also known as the mounting bracket) to the junction box by using the screws provided. There should be a crossbar included in the package of the pendant light when you purchase it. The purpose of this is to provide support for the pendant light, so make sure you screw it in straight before using it.
Ensure that the pendant light is the right length for your needs by double-checking. You can adjust it if needed or reorder the light if it does not fit. There is no point going through the whole installation process only to realize afterward that it was all for nothing because the distance between it and the ceiling isn’t the right one.
Step 4: Connect the Wires
You will need to feed the electrical wire through the rod of the pendant light. The junction box connects the electricity from the junction box all the way to the lightbulb by means of this wire.
Step 5: Attach the Ceiling Cap
The pendant rod should be attached to the ceiling cap of the ceiling. A ceiling cap is attached to the ceiling/junction box in order to complete the installation.
The wires from the rod should also be threaded correctly into the ceiling cap, if the wires are not threaded through properly, then they won’t be able to so that electricity can flow properly from it to the pendant light that you are currently installing.
Step 6: Turn Electricity on and Test the Light
Make sure that the light is working. Now that you have eliminated the risk of being electrocuted, it’s time to screw in the lightbulb and turn on the power once more. In order to ensure that the light is working, make sure it is on. As long as it does, then you are good to go! But if you are having issues, then the wiring is most likely the problem because the electricity is not getting to the circuit breaker.
For those who are not comfortable working with wires, lights, and electricity, it is definitely a good idea to call an electrician or handyman to do the installation for you.
Final Thoughts
Generally speaking, standard light fittings are found in bathrooms: we are talking about bulbs, tube lights, and sconces in this case. However, when it comes to bathrooms that are decorative or geared towards design and style, pendant lights hold a strong, steady position. It is true that ideally, a pendant light is a great idea for bathrooms, so yes, the answer is that a pendant light is a good idea.
In a bathroom, these can be used as a light-layering source, which means they help in the overall illumination of the space by adding a layer of light to the ceiling.
As ambient lighting fixtures (with the addition of spotlights or sconces), they can play a major role in the lighting of a room, and can even brighten up a room’s ceiling with their downlight reflections.
Depending on the size of the pendant, it can act as a task light, or be used as a storage light or a mirror light. As well as adding character to the bathroom, they can even add a new dimension to the design as well.
Ruben has a diverse background in the home services industry, with experience running a construction company, a kitchen and bath showroom, and a moving and relocation company. This breadth of experience has provided him with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in various areas of home improvement in general and specifically in the heating and plumbing niche.