Modern Outdoor Pendant Light Fixtures

Illuminate Outside the Home with Outdoor Pendant Lighting

Industrial strength, approachable beauty. These beautiful outdoor pendants and hanging lights stand up to the elements with finishes and construction built to survive the great outdoors. This doesn't mean hanging outdoor lights are visually unappealing, though. In fact, there are so many styles available, from rustic designs to ultra-contemporary, it's easy to fit an outdoor pendant into a home's exterior theme. Think of them as an added decorative element that supports the overall tenor of the home. They often hail from larger collections, too, so matching outdoor lighting fixtures is simple.

Where Outdoor Hanging Lights Work Best

In order to make the home safer and more approachable at night, exterior pendant lighting is most beneficial outside the front and back doors on the deck or covered patio. Outdoor pendants can be considered an alternative to an outdoor chandelier, particularly in places too small to hold an elaborate chandelier design. For a modern look in the backyard, hang a few modern outdoor pendants along the stretch of the patio roof. Gazebos are also great places for adding a warm glow, so adding a cottage-style, craftsman or classic outdoor pendant here is a welcoming choice. Since they're mostly damp rated (and not wet rated), these hanging lights need to stay under some sort of cover. To learn more about wet-rated vs. damp-rated for light fixtures, look to our information about UL Ratings.

Popular Brands of Outdoor Pendant Lights

This assortment of outdoor ceiling lights can accommodate a wide variety of decorative styles, ranging from traditional spaces to those with the most modern of outdoor furniture. Rustic and mission-themed exteriors benefit from the pendant designs by Arroyo Craftsman. Hinkley Lighting offers solutions for almost any porch or patio style and if you love the classic lantern look in your outdoor lighting scheme, turn to the pendants from Troy Lighting or Maxim Lighting. In superbly modern outdoor living areas, Pablo Lighting's collection of contemporary pendants offer eye-catching good looks. Finally, look to SeaGull Lighting's outdoor pendants for fixtures that are stunning and equally energy efficient from their LED light sources.

How to Choose the Best Outdoor Pendant Lighting

Because this collection of pendants is offered in a large variety of finishes, colors and sizes, it's important to carefully select the right pendant for the outdoor area. First, determine where the pendant will hang as sizing will be different for the front porch versus the back patio or a gazebo. Consider using large outdoor pendant lights for a beautiful eye-catching fixture or string together small outdoor pendant lights for even exterior lighting. Be mindful of dimensions like height, hanging length, diameter, width and weight (especially for front porch pendants). An outdoor pendant with a rating for damp locations can be exposed to some moisture, but not in direct contact with water for extended periods of time. Wet-rated pendants are safe to be exposed to any amount of water. To ensure outdoor lighting provides an ideal amount of light for the surrounding area, review the lumen rating to understand just how bright a light can be.

Completing the Outdoor Look

Pendant lighting is just one small piece of creating a well-designed outdoor lighting scheme. Check out the selection of outdoor wall lights for the front porch or the back patio, outdoor flush mount lighting for lower ceilings or patios with limited ceiling to floor height, post lights for driveway and safety lighting, and landscape lighting for in-ground fixtures, well lights, bollards and deck lighting. To cool the seating area throughout the year, look into adding an outdoor fan to a covered patio. To accomplish two needs at once, look for outdoor fans with lights. With the right mix of outdoor and landscape lighting and a comfortable set of outdoor furniture, the exterior of the home will see just as much use and time spent as the inside.

Outdoor Pendant Lighting Buying Guide

Styles: How many styles of outdoor pendant lights are there?

Outdoor pendant lights are available in every popular style including Art Deco, Italian, Mid-Century Modern, Contemporary and more.

Height: How far off the floor should outside pendant lights be?

Ideally outdoor pendant lights should hang at least seven feet from the floor to ensure safety to anyone passing underneath.

Shapes: What are the different shapes of outside pendant lights?

Outdoor pendant lights come in a variety of shapes, ranging from traditional rectangular, cylindrical and round shapes to abstract and cage designs sure to stand out and make a statement.

Watts: How many watts does an outdoor pendant light use?

Many outdoor pendants use energy-efficient LEDs, so the average wattage to be expected is from 10-15 watts. To determine brightness, look to lumens instead.