In the shade: 9 of the best wooden pendants

The wonders of modern technology have enabled the recent proliferation of beautiful wooden pendants and shades. This ancient material, once too heavy and unsuitable for lighting design due to the old heat inducing incandescent light bulbs, can now be safely used with LED as LED emits much less heat and won’t scorch or burn the timber that surrounds it.

This has resulted in an array of elegant and interesting styles from designers keen to push the boundaries in modern lighting – and our edit includes nine of the best wooden pendants on the market.

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Tom Raffield’s Scots lighting range has slatted timber scales, skilfully shaped and intricately layered, resembling the woodland pine cones from which it takes its influence.

Another intricate design is the Bau Light from Normann Copenhagen, a sculptural pendant light that plays with shape and geometry.

Ginger 32 by Joan Gaspar for Marset resembles a flying saucer, while Leaf at Holloways of Ludlow was inspired by a pad of post its.

There are simple and sustainable styles from Abode, with its Bamboo dome basket, Out & Out Original's Morom bamboo shade and Ikea’s Industriell, which is woven in bamboo - each offering a light, rustic way to illuminate a room.

Secto's Puncto 4203 is a modern design classic, while Tala's Noma is not only a stylish triangular shape, it reduces energy consumption by up to 90%, so it's the eco-friendly option too.

See our edit of Globe pendants here.

 

Bamboo dome basket, £59, Abode

Bamboo dome basket, £59, Abode

Designed by TineK Home this Bamboo Dome Basket shade is rustic in style with an open basket design.

Ginger 32 in oak, £473, Joan Gaspar for Marset at Finnish Design Shop

Ginger 32 in oak, £473, Joan Gaspar for Marset at Finnish Design Shop

Marset’s Ginger 32 pendant is Joan Gaspar’s study about wood, light and design. The challenging structure of the shade was achieved by pressing together sheets of wood, paper and resin into a beautifully arched laminate.

Leaf in birch, £549, Holloways of Ludlow

Leaf in birch, £549, Holloways of Ludlow

Inspiration for this piece started with a pad of post-it notes lying on a desk. Four pieces of formpressed, laminated timber then became a lampshade that eventually resulted in ’Leaf'.

Industriell in bamboo, £25, Ikea

Industriell in bamboo, £25, Ikea

This natural fibre shade gives a soft glowing light, that will give your home a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Bau in Natural, £150, Vibeke Fonnesberg Schmidt for Normann Copenhagen

Bau in Natural, £150, Vibeke Fonnesberg Schmidt for Normann Copenhagen

This sculptural pendant light plays with shape and geometry resulting in a statement shade.

Morom in bamboo, £299, Out & Out Original

Morom in bamboo, £299, Out & Out Original

This solid bamboo pendant is available in natural, black and white painted finishes.

Puncto 4203 in walnut, £530, Secto Design at Skandium

Puncto 4203 in walnut, £530, Secto Design at Skandium

This shade is handmade from Finnish birch by highly skilled craftsmen. The design by interior architect Seppo Koho has a clear and simple Scandinavian feel, while the wood provides a soft luminosity for atmosphere and appeal.

Noma in walnut, £70, Tala

Noma in walnut, £70, Tala

Designed to emit a soft white light, this simple lamp illuminates interiors with a gorgeous tone and warmth.

Scots in walnut, £305, Tom Raffield

Scots in walnut, £305, Tom Raffield

Inspired by woodland pinecones, layers of timber overlap to build an organic armour of ash, oak or walnut leaves, tiled together on a birch wood frame.

Scots in walnut, £305, Tom Raffield

Scots in walnut, £305, Tom Raffield

Inspired by woodland pinecones, layers of timber overlap to build an organic armour of ash, oak or walnut leaves, tiled together on a birch wood frame.

Jacky Parker is a London-based freelance journalist and content creator, specialising in interiors, travel and food. From buying guides and real home case studies to shopping and news pages, she produces a wide range of features for national magazines and SEO content for websites


A long-time contributor to Livingetc, as a member of the team, she regularly reports on the latest trends, speaking to experts and discovering the latest tips. Jacky has also written  for other publications such as Homes and Gardens, Ideal Home, Red, Grand Designs, Sunday Times Style and AD, Country Homes and Interiors and ELLE Decoration.