Selene

How high to hang it

Over a dining table, the bottom edge should sit 70–80 cm above the tabletop. That is the height that lights the plate without hiding the face of the person opposite.

Over a kitchen island, between 75 and 90 cm above the worktop.

In a walkway, never below 2.10 m from the floor.

What diameter

For a round table, the lamp should measure between a third and a half of the table diameter.

For a rectangular table, the practical rule is to subtract 30 cm from the table width: that is the maximum it can measure without intruding on anyone.

One or several

Up to 1.20 m of table, a single centred piece.

From 1.20 to 2 m, two or three small pieces in a line give a better result than one large one: they spread the light better and feel lighter.

Space them 60 to 75 cm apart, centre to centre.

How much light

A pendant on its own does not light a room: it lights a table. Always count on another source — a floor lamp, wall lights — for the rest.

If it is the only light in the room, choose a shade open at the top, so it bounces light off the ceiling.

The shade material

An opaque shade concentrates light downwards: good over a table, harsh as general light.

A translucent one — fabric, paper, thin wood or stone — spreads and softens, and still looks good switched off.

Polished metal inside multiplies the light; matt calms it.

Before you buy

Look at the cable length it comes with and whether it can be shortened. With ceilings over 2.60 m it is the first thing to fall short.

And check the weight: above 5 kg it is worth checking the ceiling fixing.