A rattan pendant light is a ceiling light whose shade is woven from rattan cane, a natural plant fibre. The weave is open, so part of the light passes through the gaps and draws a soft pattern on the ceiling and walls, while the rest is filtered by the fibre and turns warm. This guide covers what rattan is, which size to choose for a dining table or a kitchen island, how high to hang it and how to keep the weave clean.
Rattan, cane and wicker: what the words mean
- Rattan is a climbing palm from tropical Asia. Its long, solid stems are flexible enough to be bent and woven.
- Cane is the thin outer skin of the rattan stem, cut into strips. It is smoother and glossier than the core.
- Wicker is not a material but a way of weaving. A wicker shade can be made of rattan, willow, bamboo or a synthetic fibre.
Our Layered Rattan Pendant is made of woven rattan cane on an iron frame, with a fabric diffuser inside.
How a rattan pendant lights a room
A bare woven shade throws strong patterns, and you can see the bulb through the gaps. A shade with an inner diffuser behaves differently: the diffuser glows evenly, and the cane in front of it softens the light and adds the pattern. That is how the Layered Rattan Pendant is built, with layered petals of woven cane wrapped around a soft inner diffuser. It gives warm ambient light rather than a bright task light, so over a kitchen worktop it is best combined with spotlights or under-cabinet lighting.
Which size? A guide by table and island width
Two common guidelines help to choose a diameter. Over a dining table, the light is often between half and two thirds of the width of the table. Over a kitchen island, one guideline for a single pendant is the island width minus 30 cm (12 in), which gives the maximum diameter. Applied to the four sizes of the Layered Rattan Pendant:
| Diameter | Dining table width it suits (half to two thirds rule) | Minimum island width for one pendant |
|---|---|---|
| Ø 40 cm (15.7 in) | 60 to 80 cm | 70 cm |
| Ø 50 cm (19.7 in) | 75 to 100 cm | 80 cm |
| Ø 60 cm (23.6 in) | 90 to 120 cm | 90 cm |
| Ø 80 cm (31.5 in) | 120 to 160 cm | 110 cm |
The product page recommends Ø 40 cm for a kitchen island or a bedside, and Ø 60 to 80 cm as a statement over a dining table. For a row of pendants over a long island, smaller shades leave room between them: our kitchen island pendant lights guide gives the usual spacing, and our dining room lighting guide covers long tables.
How high to hang it
Over a table or an island, a common guideline is 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 in) between the surface and the bottom of the shade. In a living room or a hallway, where people walk underneath, a common guideline is to keep at least about 210 cm (7 ft) between the floor and the bottom of the light.
A worked example: ceiling at 250 cm, dining table 75 cm high, shade bottom 80 cm above the table. The bottom of the shade sits at 155 cm from the floor, so the total drop from the ceiling, shade included, is 95 cm. For a kitchen island, see how high to hang pendant lights over a kitchen island.
Rattan next to other natural shades
| Material | Model | Sizes | Light |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rattan cane | Layered Rattan Pendant | Ø 40, 50, 60 or 80 cm | filtered through the weave, inner diffuser |
| Silk | Beige Silk Saucer Pendant | Ø 40 × H 19, Ø 50 × H 24, Ø 60 × H 33 cm | the whole saucer glows evenly |
| Knitted fabric | Hand-Knitted Cloth Pendant | Ø 45 × H 32, Ø 55 × H 34, Ø 65 × H 40 cm | both tiers glow, soft light falls below |
| Kraft paper | Japanese Kraft Paper Cube Wall Lamp | approx. W 20 × H 23 cm | glows through the paper, halo on the wall |
All four bring the warmth of a natural material. Rattan is the one that adds texture and pattern; silk and fabric give a smoother glow. More in our silk and fabric pendant lights guide and our paper lantern lamp guide.
Colours and styling
The Layered Rattan Pendant comes in natural cane, for a light Scandinavian or Japandi room, or dark brown, for a richer, collected interior. Rattan sits well with linen, light wood and stone; for a matching wall light, see the Travertine Wood Cap Wall Sconce. Each weave varies slightly from piece to piece, because cane is a natural material.
How to clean a rattan pendant
- Switch the light off at the wall and let it cool.
- Dust the weave with a soft brush, or with a vacuum cleaner on low suction with a brush head.
- Do not wet the weave. Water can stain cane and loosen the fibres.
A light dusting every few weeks is enough. Our guide on how to clean lamp shades covers the other materials.
Comparing rattan with glass, silk, stone and ceramic pendants? Our guide what is a pendant light sets out the types, real sizes and cord lengths side by side.
Planning a row of pendants over a long table? Our guide to dining table lights works out how many fit for five table sizes. Natural cane sits between two styles: see Japandi vs wabi-sabi lighting.
Frequently asked questions
Are rattan pendant lights good for kitchens?
Yes, over an island or a table, as a warm ambient light. The 40 cm size suits a kitchen island. Hang it away from the hob, where grease and steam would settle in the weave, and add task lighting for the worktop.
What size rattan pendant for a dining table?
A common guideline is half to two thirds of the table width: a 60 cm shade for a table 90 to 120 cm wide, an 80 cm shade for a table 120 to 160 cm wide.
How do you clean a rattan light shade?
Dry only: a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with a brush head on low suction. Avoid water.
See the Layered Rattan Pendant with our other natural-material lights in the Japandi and Wabi-Sabi lighting collection, or browse all pendant lights.
