Can You Hang a Pendant Light in a Hallway?

Lighting an entrance hallway

• An entrance hallway is often one of the first places you see when entering a property and it is important to ensure it's properly lit. Combine a pendant light with other lighting to create interesting pools of light around the space. If you have a hall table, use a table lamp, and if your hallway is especially long use wall sconces or hand two pendant lights in a row. Don't worry about ensuring every corner is lit, it's important to have contrasting areas of light and shade.

Lighting a corridor hallway

• When lighting a long, narrow space it is important to create a pathway of light and encourage movement through the space. Hang an odd number of pendant lights (three or five depending on the length of the hallway), at regular intervals along the corridor hallway for a traditional look. Make sure the pendants all hang at an even height. For a modern approach hang an odd number of pendant lights in a similar style, randomly spaced along the corridor.

Hanging advice

• To ensure plenty of headroom, make sure you leave at least 7 feet between the bottom of your pendant and the ground. If hanging the pendant in an entrance hall, center the pendant light to line up with the middle of the front door. If hanging in a corridor hallway, center the first pendant in the middle of the ceiling and space any additional pendants evenly to either side. If you have a double-height entrance hallway, hang a large pendant lamp from the upper level, so that it's visible from the ground floor. Hang a group of smaller pendant lights together, at different heights for a modern look.

Controlling brightness

• A hall pendant lamp should provide the correct amount of light, especially as, if in a corridor hallway, you may have more than one pendant. Install a dimmer switch to regulate the brightness of the light. Chandeliers are popular choices for entrance halls, so if your pendant light has more than one light fitting, use bulbs with a lower wattage to ensure the light isn't overpowering.