All of the pros and cons of chandeliers, ceiling lights and pendant lights

HOME LIGHTING AND LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICE

It’s easy to say “chandelier“, but how do you choose among the various solutions that the market offers?

As we saw in a previous article , every lighting system should be designed taking into consideration the natural light in the house and the characteristics of the various lights: direction, intensity, purpose of use.

So, if you’re in the middle of a renovation or you’ve bought a new home and you’re planning its furnishings, consider the lighting design together with the furniture, not only from a stylistic point of view but also from an efficiency point of view.

In this article, we talk about the differences between three widely used types of ceiling lighting – chandeliers, pendant lights and ceiling lights – and the various types on the market: LED chandeliers or with light bulbs, crystal or metal pendants, modern ceiling lights or classical ones.

Let’s see together how to choose!

CHANDELIERS, PENDANT LIGHTS AND CEILING LIGHTS: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

Very often, the terms chandelier and pendant light are used as synonyms, yet this is a mistake because, in reality, these lighting fixtures have specific and different characteristics. To be precise, in fact, the classification should be as follows:

• Chandelier;
• Pendant light;
• Pendant chandelier;
• Ceiling light.

Let’s understand the differences.

CHANDELIERS

A chandelier is defined as a pendant ceiling light that has several luminous elements. They are usually used as the focal point of the room – for example, the kitchen chandelier – and it is the element that drives the tone and style of the environment.

The chandeliers are often rich, with a complex and articulated structure composed of arms starting from a central point and rich in decorations: crystals, pendants, candle holders etc.

A perfect example of this are chandeliers from the Intrecci collection, real luxury Murano glass chandeliers with arms processed by hand by Venetian master glass-makers and enriched with pendants, croziers , lampshades alone or combined together for a majestic effect.

The chandelier is fixed to the ceiling with a cable, but its structure is suspended, creating an aerial effect of fluctuation and is perfect for both home lighting and large spaces such as foyers, restaurants, halls etc.

PENDANT LIGHTS

These are pendant lights with a single central luminous element and, basically, these are less voluminous lighting fixtures than chandeliers and with a single light source at the end of the pendant cable.

Like, for example, the pendant lights from the Mexican collection with a wooden structure, a decorative metal cage and a lampshade with a linear design or from the Sfera collection which offers a modern design.

These are often lighting fixtures that can be combined to create a contemporary design effect.

PENDANT CHANDELIERS

These are hybrid lighting systems of great impact that allow you to achieve unique and highly original effects. They can have a modern style such as, for example, the Illusion collection , real rings of light in a minimal and clean style or the Fedi collection in precious crystal, modular and intertwining to create unique and customised lighting fixtures. The proposals of the Stone collection , in precious hand blown Murano glass, are another example of how a pendant light can characterise the environment.

CEILING LIGHTS

Unlike previous lighting fixtures, the ceiling light fixes directly to the ceiling. There are no cables to lower the light and it stays fixed. It is a complex and refined lighting system that can have both a modern and contemporary style, as well as a more classic one.

The proposals of the Luna Nuova collection for example, have a very clean design with a minimalist effect, while the Diadema collection  definitely gives a more romantic and precious atmosphere thanks to the presence of the hand ground crystal and the pendants that embellish the lighting fixture.

PROS AND CONS OF CHANDELIERS, PENDANT LIGHTS AND CEILING LIGHTS

The choice between the various ceiling lighting solutions is certainly a matter of taste, of furnishing style, as well as of the effect to be achieved and, in the design phase, it can certainly be useful to bear in mind the pros and cons of the different lighting systems.

Let us therefore continue our analysis and highlight the features.

CHANDELIER

Advantages:

• It has a dominant presence and is the protagonist of the environment;
• It is easy to install and no drilling is required;
• The height is adjustable and, therefore, customisable;
• It is perfect both in the living area and in the sleeping area.

Disadvantages:

• Given that it is more elaborate, it may cost more than other lighting systems;
• They can have a larger size and therefore better adapt to large rooms such as a large bedrooms or a spacious lounges.

PENDANT LIGHT

Advantages:

• It is very versatile and fits perfectly in different environments;
• It can be combined, achieving different light and design effects;
• It generally has a lower cost;
• Height is adjustable.

Disadvantages:

• It is less scenographic than the chandelier and the ceiling light;
• It has minor impact in defining the style of the environment;
• It may be more common.

PENDANT CHANDELIER

Advantages:

• It is very scenographic and impactful;
• There is a wide variety of models in both modern and classic styles;
• The height is adjustable and, therefore, customisable;
• It is easy to install;
• It is very decorative.

Disadvantages:

• Can become bulky if the ceiling is low;
• Integrated LEDs (when present) cannot be modified.

CEILING LIGHT

Advantages:

• It is not bulky and allows a considerable saving of space;
• Being placed against the ceiling, it offers a wider light diffusion angle;
• Wide range in both contemporary and more classic styles;

Disadvantages:

• Not being a pendant, it can be less visible;
• The ceiling light must have balanced dimensions compared to the environment;
• Installation requires drilling of the ceiling.

In addition to the pros and cons that have just been highlighted, it is also good to consider the predisposition for using LED bulbs and whether the lighting fixture is dimmable.

The LED lights allow greater energy efficiency (they consume about 90% less than traditional bulbs) while the dimmable lighting allows you to adjust the intensity of the light beam.

Patrizia Volpato offers modern and traditional chandeliers, LED ceiling lights, ceiling lamps and design pendant chandeliers, with craftsmanship and precious materials to satisfy every need in terms of space and style. Discover all of the collections!