Pull Down Retractable Light
Pull down lamps are a simple yet ideal light source for rooms where a hanging light works better than an overhead or tract light. In many colors, you can match your pull down lamp with the decor, your furniture, or even use it to light a pool table and match it to the felt. They can hang from almost anywhere and are easy to install and use. Get you a few and change your lighting game.
Petite Pull Down Pendant Light
$151 $149.99
Petite Pull Down Pendant Light
Birch Lane™
$151 $149.99
Perfect For: Sewing and reading
What We Like: Beautiful, versatile lighting
This pull-down pendant lamp comes in two sizes, two shades, and four metal finishes. It has a dome-shaped shade made of frosted glass that’s installed on a steel frame. The shade holds a single light, is damp-location approved, and can also be installed on sloped ceilings. The fixture is dimmable and works with any standard bulb.
Designer Advice:
These classic light fixtures look like they belong in a farmhouse or country-inspired home. They’re compact and provide a nice bright downward light that’s perfect for minor tasks such as reading or sewing. Plus, the dome shade keeps the light from hurting your eyes even if you have a low ceiling. Since it doesn’t take up much space, you can easily use the pull-down lighting as an accent piece in your home.
What Users Say:
This lamp hides the light bulb. It is a subtle glow over our nook. Warms the area.
Pull Down Chandelier Light for Over the Dining Table
$374.99 $619.88
Pull Down Chandelier Light for Over the Dining Table
Three Posts™
$374.99 $619.88
Perfect For: Dining or reading
What We Like: Perfect combination of ambiance and function
This beautiful drum-shaped chandelier comes with a linen shade and is available in three finishes. It holds seven lights, is dimmable, and throws a pleasant downward light. Its steel frame can work in dry locations like the kitchen and damp areas like the bathroom. It can also be fixed on sloped ceilings and fits candelabra bulb bases.
Designer Advice:
Use this drum chandelier to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your entertainment or dining space. Its light-diffusing linen shade doesn’t hurt the eyes while still providing a nice soft glow for simple tasks. The fixture, with its classic structure and sleek metal finish, has an old-school charm. You can also use it as a chandelier replacement for the foyer or entryway.
What Users Say:
This fixture is fabulous! It has different light settings for different occasions. SUPER SIMPLE to install. We are NOT pros.
Schoolhouse Inspired Retractable Pendant Light
Schoolhouse Inspired Retractable Pendant Light
Perfect For: Kitchen tasks
What We Like: Its personality and character
Available in two sizes and two finishes, this one-of-a-kind light holds two light bulbs inside the main pendant fixture. It is LED-compatible and dimmable. It features a canopy design with a metal frame and a frosted glass shade in white. This pendant light is only suitable for dry locations.
Designer Advice:
Pick this pull-down lamp if you want to add a vintage charm to your living spaces. Its classic design works best in the kitchen or open-concept dining spaces. Its only drawback is you cannot put it in damp rooms or outdoor spaces. Although small, it makes an eye-catching decor piece that also works as a task light.
What Users Say:
These lights are absolutely adorable. We put them above our kitchen island. They add the perfect amount of subtle sophistication.
Neutral, domed retractable ceiling light with adjustable height
Neutral, domed retractable ceiling light with adjustable height
With a canopy perfect for creating an intimate feel over a dinner table or in a reading alcove, this type of adjustable ceiling light is perfect for targeted lighting wherever you need it most. Since you can change the height, you control the intensity of the light—it’s that simple!
For a more modern take on this type of domed lamp, try one tip: Go for metallics. Copper and steel are particularly trendy right now for a more industrial look.
A brushed single dome pull down retractable light
A brushed single dome pull down retractable light
Perhaps your tastes skew less industrial and more minimalistic—in which case a sleek adjustable light is the best for you! With a stark silhouette that will stand out nicely against pastel or neutral walls, this type of light will provide a timeless statement that will look beautiful with a minimalist, modern aesthetic.
(We’d recommend pairing this light with a piece of furniture that has a similar circular shape somewhere in the room, just for a sense of pleasing cohesion.)
Farmhouse pull down light fixture with three lights
Farmhouse pull down light fixture with three lights
Sometimes, when you have a larger space, you find that you need to have more than one light in a chandelier to keep your entire space bright and safe—and the tiny bulbs in a traditional chandelier just won’t cut it to reach every corner of your room.
Enter a farmhouse bronze chandelier with three enormous lanterns in a row! With this type of lamp, not only will your entire space be bright, you’ll have a gorgeous statement piece in the middle of your room.
Glass pull down light with an adjustable cord
Glass pull down light with an adjustable cord
For those looking for a more simple aesthetic, a one-bulb light with a simple glass cover is so subtle that it practically blends into any room!
As such, this is the perfect choice for smaller spaces and for people with very high ceilings. Just make sure that you adjust the height so that you and your loved ones won’t bump into it when you’re crossing your rooms!
The trendy starburst adjustable and retractable pendant light
The trendy starburst adjustable and retractable pendant light
Interested in a little more whimsy? A pendant light with gorgeous Edison bulbs pointing out in every direction will light your home beautifully and present a strong focal point for your room.
Since you control the height with this light, you can decide just how much of a statement you’d like it to be. Will it hover near the ceiling—or be a low, moody chandelier over a formal dining table? It’s your choice!
A traditional lantern retractable light fixture
A traditional lantern retractable light fixture
Want something that’s a little less statement and a little more traditional?
For farmhouse and cottage vibes, we recommend a lantern light fixture that comes with the modern versatility of adjustable height. These lights tend to come in all-metal structures—perfect for that rustic look you’re going for. (They could also work in a steampunk vintage aesthetic as well!)
Artsy pull down ceiling light made of wineglasses
Artsy pull down ceiling light made of wineglasses
For someone with a more creative bent (or perhaps for a sommelier that you know!), a chandelier made of empty upside-down wine glasses can lend a space a nice sense of flair.
Our favorite pro tip is to look for a piece where all of the wineglasses in the display are on individual adjustable cords. That way, you can make sure that the ceiling light looks just the way you want it to—from any angle.
5 lamp Edison bulb pull down chandelier
5 lamp Edison bulb pull down chandelier
For an industrial lamp that gives off cozy, warm vibes, look no further than a cascade of adjustable Edison bulbs!
These yellow-toned lights on cords that you can vary in length will send dappled, golden-hour light over your living spaces. If you’ve ever wondered just how to make your home feel perfectly comfortable at night, you’re in luck: This is the fixture that you need.
A sleek stainless retractable ceiling light fixture
A sleek stainless retractable ceiling light fixture
Interested in an adjustable ceiling lamp that’s a little more metallic and art nouveau? Feast your eyes on a ceiling light trend with lots of parallel lines, frosted glass, and a subtle anchor shape.
This type of chandelier can add a little bit of eclecticism to a more traditional, antique vibe—or, alternatively, it would be right at home in a more glam ‘20s aesthetic.
Glam pull down light fixtures with a soft chandelier feel
Glam pull down light fixtures with a soft chandelier feel
There’s nothing that makes a room more than a chandelier—and ones that have dangling pastel shapes feel ethereal, delicate, and lovely.
You know what doesn’t feel lovely? Having to guess from a picture online how tall a chandelier’s going to be in your unique space. It’s far better to purchase a retractable or adjustable one, just to stay on the safe (and stress-free) side.
Buying Guide
Vanessa is a New York-based designer specializing in architectural lighting. Whether you are planning an event, want to illuminate your backyard retreat or simply need advice on what lamp to purchase for your bedroom, Vanessa will be more than happy to share her knowledge and expertise.
Proper lighting is important, especially if you do creative work, love to read, or you simply appreciate good lighting. Pull down lamps can give you flexibility in terms of where your lighting is, enabling you to set a certain mood or even increase your ability to focus on a certain task.
These lamps were actually very popular in the 50s. But with the decades-old designs no longer meeting safety code requirements, we are lucky to have modernized and safer models of pull-down lamps available for our homes. There’s just something about these mid-century lights that we won’t let down. The same way lighting is crucial, it’s important that you read these tips on how to choose the right pull down lamp to enhance your home.
How to determine the right height for a pull down lamp?
The desired lamp height and adjustability will vary depending on where you plan on placing it. Pull down lamps can be suitable for any room in the home such as the kitchen, dining room, home office, or your room.
- When planning to place your lamp over a surface, like your kitchen island or dining room table, make sure your lamp doesn’t come down too close to it. This is to make sure you don’t accidentally damage the lamp from pulling it too low.
- For a home with young kids who can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves, you’ll want to make sure the lamp can adjust high enough to be out of reach, even if they are standing on the table.
- If you’re looking for a lot of flexibility, then a lamp with a joint or two will help you get more angles. This is great if you plan on using the light for personal use.
Where to put a pull down lamp?
While the phrase “pull down lamp” may give you the idea that it can only be hung from the ceiling, there are also lamps that can be mounted on the wall.
- Ceiling hung lamps are great for kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms.
- Wall mounted lamps may be better suited for reading areas, office desks, and bedrooms.
How to decorate with pull down lamps?
The design and style of lamp that suits your home best depend on the decor in your home as well as your personal tastes. There is really no right or wrong, so have some fun and truly go with what you like.
- Many of the pull down lamps popular today emulate the vintage, mid-century lamps that were popular then. Even though it could be a blast from the past, many of these styles were made to look “modern” and can add a unique vintage flair to contemporary decor.
- There are a lot of designs that are extremely simple to allow the sheer functionality of the light shine. If you’re in doubt, then going with simplicity will be your best bet.
- Make a big statement by going with a pull down chandelier for your foyer or dining room. These are more common in antique and Victorian styles.
The ability to adjust a pull down light fixture is very convenient and just straight up cool, so we don’t blame you for wanting one. When your friends and family see the new adjustable light fixture in your home, the first thing they’ll be asking you is where you got it. Enjoy the selection we have picked out for you below!
