Alex Papachristidis, Amy Lau, Beata Heuman, and other top talents share their pick for a go-to pendant light fixture

By Benjamin Reynaert and Mel Studach | November 6, 2019

Flush mounts and recessed lighting have important roles to play when working with restrictive ceiling heights, but when given the perfect opportunity, nothing beats a pendant fixture—or three. In such cases, the use of a pendant is not only a want, but a need, confirms interior designer Alex Papachristidis. “With the height of the ceiling, particularly in tall hallways or large rooms, you need something that hangs down to make the proportion of the room feel more intimate and human,” he says.

In addition to creating a sense of space by drawing the eye upward, a pendant light can help define the interior’s function. That’s why when determining the best fixture, designer Beata Heuman considers light quality, first and foremost: “It’s crucial that they emit the kind of light that is appropriate to the room—softer, gentler lights for living spaces help create a homey glow, while downward light for over kitchen tables or countertops is needed for working underneath.”

Next up? Selecting a fixture design that captures the essence of the interior. “Depending on the space it is used in, I really like to use pendants as an exciting statement piece in a room, almost as though you are looking at a unique piece of art or sculpture,” says Amy Lau. “I like to choose something that pays homage to the room's motifs, but will uniquely stand out in the space,” she says. “I try to have [the pieces] in a room have a fascinating dialogue with one another so the space captures you even more over time.”

The selection is a balancing act, agrees Heuman. “I think successful pendants offer something visually intriguing, but also blend seamlessly into the landscape of the room, not drawing too much attention, but adding something exciting.”

For an even more in-depth guide to sourcing the perfect pendant, Papachristidis, Heuman, Lau, and 11 other top interior designers and architects kindly offer their go-to picks.