• Pendant lights provide function and beauty to kitchens.modern kitchen image by Melking from Fotolia.com
  
  Pendant lighting (i.e., suspenders or droppers) is a single light feature suspended from the ceiling with a chain or rod. It's commonly considered a good light source for task lighting with placement over a kitchen island or bar area. Pendant lighting comes in a variety of colors, shapes and styles. Ideas for kitchen pendant lighting are nearly limitless.
  
  

Brushed Nickel and Pewter

• A favorite pendant light choice for kitchens is pendants made of brushed nickel and pewter. These materials add function and flare to a kitchen. Place a large pendant light over a round or oval kitchen table, or hang a series of three smaller lights in a row above a rectangle table about 30 to 40 inches above the tabletop. Choose a metal that matches the hardware on cabinets to pull the entire look together.
  
  

Tiffany Style

• One of the benefits of pendant lighting is that it draws attention to certain features of a kitchen. In some case, it's the light itself, such as with a Tiffany-style pendant light. This light feature is frequently made of stained glass or a material that provides the appearance of it. It usually has a lot of bold, bright colors. A nice characteristic of Tiffany-style pendant lights is that a homeowner custom designs the light to match the kitchen décor. This style of pendant light is usually used over a table in a breakfast nook or another eating area. It's generally hung as a single light from the ceiling with a long chain.
  
  

Contemporary

• Embossed or hand-blown glass pendants provide an interesting design feature to a contemporary kitchen. Each of these styles supplies an element of texture to help complete a more sophisticated look. Place a single hand-blown glass pendant light over the sink in a bright color, such as blue or orange. Hang two or more embossed glass lights of the same color to outline or frame a countertop or kitchen island. Another option for a contemporary kitchen is a stone light feature, such as alabaster, that allows light to pass through, creating a soft glow. These pendants also work well to highlight countertops or another design element in the kitchen.
  
  

Classic

• A classic style pendant light, like a banker's light with a polish brass rod or schoolhouse light with a dark chain offers yet another option for kitchens. These pendant light selections work well in country or traditional style kitchens. Use these lights over a desk area or sink as task lighting. An urn-shaped pendant, reminiscent of the oil lamp, is another choice for a bar area in a classic kitchen.