Guides

Pendant lights over a kitchen island: size, height and spacing

A kitchen island is where people cook, eat, work and talk, so the light above it has to do two jobs: light the counter well and look good from the rest of the room. Domed pendants are made for this, because a dome pushes light down onto the surface instead of into your eyes. Here is how to size, hang and space them, with the handmade domes we make in Yerevan.

Why domes suit an island

An island needs light on the worktop, not on the ceiling. A dome-shaped shade gathers the light and sends it downward in a pool, so the counter is bright while the people sitting around it are not dazzled. Our papier-mâché domes are opaque, so the shade itself reads as a coloured shape and the light appears only beneath it. If you want some light on the ceiling too, choose a dome with an opening at the crown.

One large pendant or two or three small ones

A short island or a round table can take one wide pendant. Long islands usually look better with two or three smaller pendants in a row than with one large one. Keep 60–75 cm between shades and aim for a combined width of about two-thirds of the island's length. Our pendant sizing guide covers widths for tables and hallways too.

How high to hang them

Hang the pendants so the bottom of each shade sits about 75–90 cm above the counter. That is low enough to light the work surface and create a sense of place, and high enough not to block the view across the island or get in the way of a pan being lifted. With a higher ceiling, stay near the top of that range and let the cord run longer rather than raising the shade.

Pendants we make for an island

Each is shaped by hand in papier-mâché in our studio in Yerevan, Armenia, and made to order.

• Terracotta Dome Pendant — 40 × 22 cm — 12,000 AMD
• Two-Tone Dome Pendant — 34 × 15 cm — 11,000 AMD
• Black Papier-mâché Dome Pendant — 15 × 36 cm — 15,000 AMD
• Scalloped Dome Pendant — Made to order — 9,000 AMD
• Sage Dome Pendant — Made to order — 9,000 AMD

Matching the pendant to the island

The Terracotta Dome Pendant, 40 × 22 cm, is the widest and a natural fit here: its deep curve pushes the light downward over a dining table or kitchen island. The Two-Tone Dome Pendant, 34 × 15 cm, is wide enough to hang alone; it has a yellow interior and an open port at the crown, so it lights the ceiling a little as well. The Black Papier-mâché Dome Pendant reads as a dark sculptural form by day and gathers a warm pool of light at night. For a row of two or three, the Scalloped and Sage Dome Pendants are compact half-spheres with a raw torn rim, small enough to hang in pairs or threes over a counter; sage green cools the light very slightly, which suits a kitchen.

Steam, bulbs and cleaning

Papier-mâché should be kept away from water and steam, so hang the pendants over the island's eating or working side rather than directly above a hob or a sink, and use the extractor when you cook. Use LED bulbs in warm white (2700–3000 K): they run cool, which matters inside a paper shade, as our bulb and safety guide explains. Dust the shades with a soft, dry brush; never wipe them wet. The care guide has more.

Colours and sizes to order

Every pendant is made to order, and most can be made in another colour or size, so a set of three can match your fronts, worktop or tiles. Tell us the length of your island and your ceiling height and we will suggest the number and size of shades. Our guide to custom orders explains how it works.

Frequently asked questions

How high should pendant lights hang over a kitchen island?
Hang them so the bottom of each shade is about 75–90 cm above the counter: low enough to light the worktop, high enough not to block the view across the island.

How many pendants do I need over an island?
A short island can take one wide pendant. Long islands usually look better with two or three smaller ones, 60–75 cm apart, with a combined width of about two-thirds of the island's length.

Can papier-mâché pendants be used in a kitchen?
Yes, over the island or table, but keep them out of direct steam and away from water: avoid hanging one directly above the hob or the sink, use the extractor when cooking, and dust them dry.

Which bulb should I use over a kitchen island?
An LED bulb in warm white, around 2700–3000 K, within the fitting's maximum wattage. LEDs run cool, which matters inside a papier-mâché shade.

Can I order a set of pendants in my own colour?
Usually, yes. Each pendant is made to order in Yerevan, and most can be made in another colour or size. Message us with your island length and the colour you want.