From bold geometric shapes to vintage-inspired pieces, all on this list are eye-catching for their own reasons and will suit different rooms in the home. What they have in common is that they are all interesting, quality lighting solutions. Most come with all the fittings - and some work well in clusters as well as stand-alone - but make sure you check what’s included and the dimensions before you buy.
1. Cape pendant light: £160, do-shop.com
French designer Constance Guisset’s characterful Cape light looks like a little ghost. The shade is made of two flowing plastic shapes; one can be rotated inside the other to suit the lighting needs of a particular space. They also look great hanging as a group and come in black, white, pastel blue and yellow.
2. Levels lamp: £247.30, hem.com
The rounded metallic shapes of the Levels lamp has us thinking of vintage jelly moulds but the real influence on its form is the process of metal spinning. Once formed individually, the three metal sheets are folded to hang down from one other. Its fuss-free industrial look suits modern spaces best.
3. Vita Eos feather pendant light: £84, and cord set £9, amazon.co.uk
Hundreds of individual goose feathers give a soft and subtle glow when illuminated from within. Bringing a playful and romantic touch to bedrooms and hallways, Vita’s Eos can be used as a shade for an existing bulb, or as a light source itself when bought with a corresponding cord set.
4. Flos Tatou S pendant light: £361, flos.com
The inspiration for this dramatic design by design superstar Patricia Urquiola is historic Japanese armour. The finished form and texture is achieved by overlapping chains of plastic, making the shell-like shade appear strong but flexible. Tatou is the French word for armadillo – another influence on this unusual design.
5. Grenada wave ceiling pendant: £49.50, marksandspencer.com
This wire cage pendant has a billowing shape which brings some interest to the area above the bulb. It’s unusual for its verticality, and looks great hanging above a focus area such as a coffee or dining table. It would also work well as a set of a three suspended above a breakfast bar.
6. Collar pendant light: £269, twentytwentyone.com
Simplicity and sophistication rule the design of this light by German designer Sebastian Herkner. A shade of mouth-blown glass is combined with a coloured steel reflector that hangs over it in perfect proportion. The available colours – black, white, sand, grey, taupe and terracotta – are all typically understated.
7. Muuto E27 pendant: £55, conranshop.co.uk
The E27 pendant takes the familiar single bulb and cable and has some fun with it. Designer Mattias Stahlbohm has super-sized the bulb and made a cable of vulcanised silicone rubber that comes in 11 bright colours. Hang it alone in the kitchen or study, or as a group to form a basic chandelier.
8. Amp pendant light: £78.67, clippings.com
The Amp pendant light has a decorative linear bulb that is inspired by 1960s tube amplifiers. Although it’s small, the luxury materials – gold-tinted glass, a marble socket and a textile covered cord – give it impact. It also comes in a combination of smoke grey glass and black marble.
9. Sinnerlig pendant lamp: £40, ikea.com/gb
IKEA has teamed up with designer Ilse Crawford on a range of furniture and accessories that are good for the pocket and the environment. In woven bamboo, one of several natural renewable materials in her collection, the pendant brings a soft ambient light to interiors. Hang it low over eating surfaces so you can admire the details as you dine.
10. Alphabeta pendant: from £225.28, hem.com
Alphabeta is a lighting series of eight geometric pieces that lets you be the designer. Each pendant is a pair of two brushed metal pieces in a combination of shapes and colours that you can choose online. Hem claims there are 10 billion possibilities, so you could have a hard time making your mind up, but there are also the options of plain white or black.
Verdict
IKEA’s Sinnerlig pendant is a great price for an attractive and sustainable piece. If you’re after colour - and want to get creative - we love the idea of the Alphabeta light - the hard bit will be choosing which combo to go for.
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