The Best Pendants and Chandeliers (Under $1,000), According to Designers

Robert Khederian, real-estate agent and author of the SubstackSecond Story,loves pendants from Olde Brick Lighting for how well they are made but how endlessly customizable they are. “Pick not only the shade color but also the metal type and even the cord color for a perfect pendant that will fit in with any space and décor,” he says. The made-in-U.S. light has a “hand-spun” metal cone that comes in nine colors with the option to choose from seven metal mount finishes and eight cord colors, including red and zigzag. “Not a fan of the metal shade? Swap it out for one of the many glass options.”

A sleek, simple pendant like this one can also “command a little attention” without overwhelming a space, says interior designerKasee Smith. “This is one of my favorite light fixtures because of its warm brass hue and solid presence,” she says. Designed by Paul McCobb for CB2, it’s made of solid polished brass (and also comes in a midnight-blue enamel finish) and has an adjustable cloth-covered cord. “It fits beautifully over a dining table by itself or as a set of two for longer tables or larger kitchen islands,” she adds.

This pendant from Gubi was originally designed in 1947 by Paavo Tynell for the Finland House in New York. Strategist deputy editor Simone Kitchens recently bought it for her breakfast nook after admiring it for a long time. (Julianne Moorealsoowns one.) It has a powder-coated steel shade with a pattern of perforations that sets it apart from other pendants. “They emit this almost candlelike glow that looks so lovely in the evening,” Kitchens says. “The shade also has a frosted-glass plate underneath, so you see diffuse light when you look up underneath instead of an exposed bulb.” She went with aone-watt 2200k bulbso that the light would be as warm as possible. “It’s such a beautiful piece without feeling overly statement-y.”

Kitchens also recently installed this pendant from deVOL above the kitchen sink. The shade is handmade with earthenware and a glossy cream glaze. “I love deVOL’s traditional English cupboards, and its line of fixtures felt right at home in our kitchen,” she says. “The creamware shade, which has a beautiful, ever-so-slight wonkiness, is attached to a brass base with a fabric-covered cord. We put in one of Tala’s dimmable bulbs, which elevates it even more. I love this pendant the most at the end of night, when it’s one of the last lights on. It creates the prettiest, warmest glow across the ceramic glaze.”

Here’s a woven pendant from Pooky, another British lighting company. It’s recommended by Denver-based interior designerJess Knauffor its size. The rattan shade measures 31.5 inches across and is finished with solid brass hardware. “The scale of this is quite large and dramatic, and I envision very chic late-night dinner parties happening underneath it,” she says.

For a modern look, Atlanta-based designerLeah AlexanderofBeauty Is Abundantrecommends this lamp designed by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell in 2002. It’s made in Italy and has an acrylic shade available in nine colors, including pink, sky blue, and a smoky “Coke.” “I love this pendant for its versatility, subtle color, and whimsy,” she says.

Alexander also likes the sleek lines of this steel pendant from In Common With for its “smart, chic, contemporary look that works well in different settings,” says Alexander. “I like it for over a reading nook or round dining table.” The shade and hardware are customizable with up to five different colors.

Isamu Noguchi’s Akari light sculptures are that rare art piece that doubles as something practical. The artist’s lamps, which are crafted from handmade washi paper and bamboo ribbing, come in dozens of shapes, sizes, and moods to suit just about any space. I have two of these large globe pendants hanging from my double living room. They give off a lovely diffuse light — though I will say they are not bright enough to illuminate the entire room — but also add a visual cohesion to the area without overwhelming it. For even more ways to incorporate an Akari light sculpture in your space, read our story on Noguchi lampshere.

You can achieve a similar effect for a fraction of the price with Hay’s rice-paper shades that are constructed from lightweight paper and a ribbed bamboo frame. It’s available in several sizes and shapes including round, oblong, and peach, though you will also need to buy thelighting hardware separately. “I never tire of these,” says Knauf, “and if you are creative, you could hand-paint with inspiration fromthisor découpageà la the brilliant window Robert Rufino did for Urban Electric.”

“I’ve used this woven pendant from Ikea about a million times,” says designerOrlando Soria. “It’s such a great value and adds so much warmth and coziness to a space.” Handmade from bamboo lattice, “it’s hands down the most-bang-for-your-buck lighting fixture out there right now,” adds Soria.

For something a bit more traditional, consider this pendant lamp from Rejuvenation that’s available in eight different shade styles, including globes and other geometric shapes. Interior designerMelissa Wagnerlikes it for being “understated but certainly not boring.” According to her, “it can easily work over a dining table in nearly any style of home, from Scandinavian to eclectic to traditional to mid-century.” In addition to swapping out the shade, Rejuvenation allows you to customize the drop length and metal finish.

A chandelier made of a cluster of lights can add a dramatic accent to a room. This polished brass fixture from CB2 is a favorite of two of our designers,Heather GoerzenandVictoria Adesanmi, and one of the brand’s best-selling items. Great over a dining-room table, it’s “modern and sophisticated,” according to Adesanmi. Goerzen calls it “ethereal” thanks to the piece’s 16 frosted globes that are suspended from “graceful” brass accents. Depending on the height of your ceilings, Adesanmi thinks it would also work well in an entry foyer, too.

Here’s another option that is also available in a clear globe in addition to a frosted shade. It’s by Canadian company Kuzco Lighting, and it’s interior designerTommy Lei’s choice for a dining room. “This pendant gives you less and more at the same time: It’s minimal enough to blend into the dining space, but once turned on, it is a completely different statement,” he says. The glass globes are clear, but the bulbs within are frosted, creating a multidimensional effect that Lei loves. It’s available in a configuration of seven bulbs, as shown here, or 19. “The bulbous forms feel like a celebration, like a gaggle of balloons tied together,” adds Lei.

Here’s a contemporary take on the Sputnik chandelier but renderedlinearly.It’s a favorite of interior designer Devin Shaffer, who says that you really can’t beat the price — especially because the fixture has 16 (dimmable) lights. “Sputnik-style chandeliers and pendants rarely come in at under $500, especially if they have more lanterns,” he explains. Like the chandelier above, this one’s shape makes it ideal for hanging over a rectangular table.

Goerzen likes this linear pendant for dining rooms and kitchen islands, calling it “a more modern take on a vintage chandelier” thanks to its candlestick arms and fabric shades that take its cues from Colonial design. This one is made of oiled bronze, but it also comes in aged brass, and either white or black shades, with the option to choose from six different cord lengths. “The clean lines mix with angled forms for a look that’s as polished as it is timeless,” says Goerzen.

Soria put this five-light, dimmable chandelier in his own dining room but thinks it would work perfectly well in acontemporaryloft too. “It’s very modern and large enough to engage a super-open-loft space,” he says. “The worst thing in a loft is having a chandelier that looks inappropriately small. Larger pieces are generally very expensive, and this one is not.”

For anapartment with perilously low, eight-feet-or-under ceilings, all of our designers recommended using a Semi-Flush Mount instead of a chandelier — they hang but only slightly. DesignerRayman Boozerparticularly likes this fixture from the Kate Spade for Circa Lighting line for its ability to pack a punch despite its relatively short stature. In addition to the brass shown, it’s available in a polished-nickel finish with the option of adding white globes instead of clear ones.

And Soria recommends this Park Studio chandelier, which drops only eight inches(however, if you’ve got higher ceilings, you can get it in longer lengths). “It gives you the look of a chandelier, but it’ll save you a massive amount of space,” he says. “It makes a lovely focal point, and Park Studio is one of my favorite made-in-the-USA brands.”