A glass pendant light can do two different things. A closed glass globe glows as a whole and lights the room softly in every direction. An open glass shade glows in its colour and sends a brighter light downward onto a table or counter. Choosing between the two is the first decision.
Closed globes: light in every direction
- The Swirl Glass Globe Pendant is a round globe of blown glass with a fine diagonal swirl, in Ø 20, 30 or 40 cm and five colours: cream yellow, sky blue, blush pink, milky white and deep blue.
- The Candy Stripe Glass Globe Pendant is a white glass globe painted with bold stripes, in Ø 20, 25 or 30 cm.
- The Scalloped Glass Globe Pendant is a scalloped globe of Ø 30 cm in emerald green or milk white, hung on a rod with an antique bronze finish.
- The Ribbed Glass Lantern Pendant is a ribbed glass lantern, tall (14 × 30 cm) or round (25 × 23 cm), on a cord of up to 180 cm.
Open shades: light on the table
- The Ribbed Fluted Glass Pendant is a wide, shallow shade of fluted glass, Ø 31 × H 15 cm, in green, amber or clear glass under a small brass cap.
- The Small Colourful Glass Drum Pendant is a short drum of glossy coloured glass, Ø 15 × H 10 cm, in six colour combinations, on a 190 cm adjustable cord.
- The Flower Glass Pendant is a wide, flat flower of pressed glass, about Ø 30 × H 13 cm, in purple, green, amber or clear glass.
Size table
| Model | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Small Colourful Glass Drum Pendant | Open drum | Ø 15 cm |
| Ribbed Glass Lantern Pendant | Closed lantern | 14 × 30 cm or 25 × 23 cm |
| Candy Stripe Glass Globe Pendant | Closed globe | Ø 20, 25 or 30 cm |
| Swirl Glass Globe Pendant | Closed globe | Ø 20, 30 or 40 cm |
| Scalloped Glass Globe Pendant | Closed globe | Ø 30 cm, height 31 cm |
| Flower Glass Pendant | Open flower | about Ø 30 cm |
| Ribbed Fluted Glass Pendant | Open shade | Ø 31 cm |
Clear, coloured, ribbed or opal?
- Coloured glass glows in its own colour and tints the light around it.
- Ribbed and fluted glass breaks the light into fine lines and hides the bulb better than smooth clear glass.
- Milky or opal glass gives the most even, diffused glow.
- Clear glass shows the bulb, so the bulb becomes part of the look.
Where to hang them
Small open shades work in a row over a kitchen island or a bar; see our guide on pendant height over a kitchen island. A single larger globe suits a bedroom, a hallway or the centre of a small living room.
To compare glass with silk, fabric, stone, ceramic and rattan, and to work out the cord length before installing, read what is a pendant light.
For a row of glass lanterns or a mix of coloured glass drums above an island, see our kitchen island lighting ideas.
Still deciding on the material? Our side-by-side guide to glass vs fabric pendant lights compares light, glare and cleaning. For a row of glass globes over a long table, see dining table lights.
Milky glass and small coloured drums are typical of Nordic interiors: our guide to Japandi vs Scandinavian lighting shows which glass lamps lean Scandinavian, with real sizes.
To choose a globe diameter for a bedside, a table or a cluster of three, and to compare glass globes with silk and opal globes, see globe lamps and globe pendants.
For the lantern look in silk, fabric and glass, with real sizes and row calculations, see lantern pendant lights. To bring glass onto a bedside table or a desk, our guide to glass table lamps compares stained, opal and cobalt glass.
Frequently asked questions
Do glass globe pendant lights give enough light?
A closed globe glows all around and gives soft, diffused light. For a work surface, choose an open shade that sends light downward.
Which size of glass globe should I choose?
The globes above run from Ø 20 to 40 cm. Choose the scale for your room: small over a bedside, larger in the centre of a room.
Does coloured glass change the light?
Yes. The shade glows in its colour and tints the light that passes through it.
See all models in our pendant lights collection.
