21 of the best statement pendant lamps for minimalist spaces

Lighting is so often an afterthought – something that’s only considered once the rest of a room is finished. But for me it’s an integral part of interior design, and pendant lamps in particular often become the focal point of any given space. Not only do they form soft, welcoming pools of light over dining and sitting areas, they also add interest to the overall decoration. And they’re ideal for zoning larger spaces, creating cosy ‘rooms within rooms’ that invite you to relax and linger.

So, here are 21 of the best statement pendant lamps – large-scale lights that you can hang low over sofas, beds and tables (I’ll cover compact, slimline pendants for narrow spaces and island units etc in a separate post). Some are fairly new designs, others are classics first launched decades ago, but all have the kind of pared-back, timeless aesthetic that means they make an impact without overwhelming a minimalist space. As always I’ve included options for all budgets, and I’ve also shared some handy tips to help you choose the right pendant light for you.

1. Watt & Veke ‘Prisma’ fabric pendant lamp shade (cord set sold separately), available in 35cm, 45cm and 55cm diameters, £139-£217, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
2. New Works ‘Tense’ recycled tyvek pendant lamp, available in 70cm, 90cm and 120cm diameters, £323-£501, RoyalDesign.co.uk
3. Pholc ‘Mobile’ ceiling lamp, available in black and brass and also in a smaller three-bulb variant, £479, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
4. Handmade steam-bent cluster light (hoop diameters 48cm, 38cm and 28cm), available in English oak, English ash, European elm, American walnut and English charcoal oak, with numerous cord and bulb-holder colours to choose from, £399, LayerTree
5. Gubi ‘Semi’ metal pendant lamp, available in 30cm, 47cm and 60cm diameters and in black, white and brass, £349-£449, Made in Design [AD – affiliate link]
6. Arturo Alvarez ‘Ballet Plié’ stainless-steel mesh pendant lamp (73cm width), £510, Heal’s
7. Ay Illuminate ‘Z1’ bamboo pendant lamp, available with shades in cotton, paper, sisal and silk and also in smaller ‘Z5’, ‘Z2’ and ‘Z22’ variants, Nunido.co.uk
8. Muuto ‘Strand’ closed cocoon pendant lamp, available in 45cm, 60cm and 89cm diameters and also in an open variant, £535-£789, Someday Designs
9. ‘Wanda’ LED chandelier (61cm diameter), available in black and brass, £145, MADE.com [AD – affiliate link]
10. Petite Friture ‘Vertigo’ pendant lamp, available in small (140cm diameter) and large (200cm diameter) and in black, white, blue and copper, £795-£935, Made in Design [AD – affiliate link]
11. ‘RISBYN’ paper pendant lamp shade (57cm diameter; cord set sold separately), £17, IKEA
12. &Tradition ‘Formakami’ paper pendant light, available in ‘J3’ (45cm diameter), ‘J4’ (48cm diameter) and ‘J5’ (70cm diameter) variants, £136-£160, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
13. Nuura ‘Miira 6’ chandelier, available in dark bronze, brass and ‘Rock’ grey and with opal white or optic clear glass, £2,704, Nest.co.uk
14. HAY George Nelson ‘Bubble’ spray-coated pendant lamp, available in numerous sizes and shapes, £375-£725, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
15. Louis Poulsen ‘PH5 Monochrome’ aluminium pendant lamp, available in black, white and blue (there are also numerous other ‘PH5’ variants), £765, Nest.co.uk
16. ‘Épée’ metal pendant lamp (60cm diameter), available in matte grey and matte black, £215, Vaunt Design
17. Muuto ‘Fluid’ glass pendant lamp, available in small (23cm diameter) and large (42cm diameter), £175-£315, Someday Designs
18. Astep ‘Model 2065’ glass suspension light (53.8cm diameter), available with a white or black cable, £1,120, Nest.co.uk
19. Northern ‘Acorn’ oak and aluminium pendant lamp (48cm diameter), available in matt white, white, black and grey, £549, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
20. ‘Ezia’ woven bamboo pendant light (130cm diameter), £130, La Redoute
21. Pholc ‘Turner’ fibre pendant lamp (65cm diameter), £1,099, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]

Tips for choosing and positioning pendant lamps

Firstly, consider scale and make sure the pendant you choose works with the dimensions of the space it’s intended for. A small pendant in a large room will look lost, whereas a big design will instantly overwhelm a small space. A similar rule of thumb applies when you’re hanging pendants over dining tables, as a small pendant above a large table will fade into the background and a large one over a small table will make the whole room appear top-heavy.

The Muuto ‘Strand’ and Gubi ‘Semi’ pendant lights in these two images are perfectly scaled with the respective dining tables.

When it comes to hanging pendants, Google will probably tell you that they should sit 75-90cm above a table top or 215cm off the floor, but it’s worth playing around to see what works best for you and the space. My general approach is to go as low as I can without creating a head-bumping hazard or interfering with the line of vision, but in rooms with very tall ceilings I’ll often position them higher than I would elsewhere so that they don’t look out of proportion.

If you have a low room, don’t assume you can’t have a pendant lamp and are limited to lighting that sits against the ceiling. There are plenty of wide, flat pendant designs that can be used to make a statement without taking up much vertical space, and having some cord dangling down will actually create the illusion of more height. Just stick to positions above dining tables, beds and the like, rather than putting them anywhere you’ll need to walk beneath.

A large Petite Friture ‘Vertigo’ lamp makes a real statement in the first of these two images, while leaving enough room for people to pass under it to reach the sofas. In the second image, a George Nelson ‘Bubble’ lamp is hung very low, but as it sits directly over a coffee table there’s little chance of anyone walking into it.

If you think your pendant lamp is going to hover anywhere near eye level, it’s worth looking out for closed designs or lamps with diffusers as they emit a softer light than anything with a visible bulb.

It’s also worth considering dimmable designs (almost all of the above can be combined with a dimmer switch), as it will allow you to alter the mood in seconds. This might be more important in some spaces than others, though. For example, I wasn’t concerned about having a dimmable pendant in our bedroom as it rarely gets switched on and is more for decoration. The lamp above our dining table, however, is used whenever we have people over for meals and I like being able to dial it back to a subtle, cosy glow.

Finally, if you want to make a real statement, consider hanging pendant lamps in groups. Either choose a cluster design such as the LayerTree one above, or opt for a model with different size or shape variants that you can hang together at slightly different heights, as shown below. It’s a great way to create a beautiful and very striking effect while still keeping the overall look fairly minimalist.

With versions in several sizes and shapes, the New Works ‘Tense’ and &Tradition ‘Formakami’ lamps lend themselves brilliantly to being hung in clusters.

For more tips on designing a lighting scheme that works for you, your space and your lifestyle, see this post.

Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly, and it helps to support the free content I create here. 

All photography via the brands above