To be honest I am still mystified by the design zeitgeist and why certain trends catch on while others never get traction. It’s just fascinating. I say all this because as I was thinking of what I wanted to write about this week I thought, “Man, I’ve been seeing a lot of really amazing fabric pendants/ceiling lights.” So I asked Caitlin at the end of our Zoom meeting if that idea sounded at all interesting. Her reply was “Oh my god! I want to make a fabric light for my bedroom! I’ve been obsessed!” Well, that settled that. These cool textured lights are clearly on people’s minds so let’s talk about my favorite styles and of course, give you some shoppable options at the end:)

Celestia Ceiling Lamp

So as you may know Caitlin and I are in the slowest race ever recorded to finish our bedrooms (don’t fact-check that and we are making progress!). In my initial attempt to make my mood board, I came across this amazing, drapey vintage ceiling light (see above). She was perfect!! Well, it was perfect until I saw that it was nearly $8k. Cool, cool, cool. It was at that moment I realized I was being ridiculous and that I needed to just keep the Noguchi pendant I already owned and installed from my last apartment. But this was the birth of my new obsession…the flowy, loose fabric ceiling light.

But first, let’s look at some fabric pendants that fall into the traditional way we think about them…structured and taut! I particularly love these ones where their boning is highlighted by contrasting trim. I am a huge Eny Lee Parker fan and love her more modern take with the harder angles and colorful trim. But the more classic “bunt cake” style will always have my heart and is so versatile stylistically.

Now this incredible Josef Hoffmann oversized fabric pendant with the tassel accent is what design dreams are made of. The best thing about most fabric pendant lights, in general, and depending on the fabric, is you get such a beautiful soft glow in your space. It makes “the big light” (a commonly disliked type of light:)) the best light as long as it’s on a dimmer, of course.

Then after seeing this picture of a rice paper pendant (likely my Noguchi) with an added tassel, I thought, “Well, I could definitely add one to mine if I wanted!” The jury is still out but I’m considering it.

Ok, now let’s get into the type of lights that are really reintroduction this trend…

See what I mean? Flowy, whimsical, and provincial even. They can be such a beautiful contrast to a room that is otherwise filled with clean lines and harder materials. EHD favorite, Beata Heuman has been leaning into these styles for a minute and I love every last one. She actually made the one on the right and is selling it! See below in the shoppable options:)

Here’s a different great shot of a Josef Frank pendant but this one is in The Expert’s showroom (which also makes me feel even more confident about this trend).

Then when Reath Design AND Heidi Caillier are both installing this style of pendant, it’s kind of a done deal…I know this is definitely a trend to pay A LOT of attention to. The quiet, soft drama they bring to these spaces is undeniable. Are you scrolling down to see which ones you want to buy and put in your house yet??

Now, those styles might not be your taste and something a little more modern might be a better fit for you. Well, don’t worry because I’ve got plenty of inspo options. These two pendants above (both are linked at the end of this post) still create a ton of whimsy but look and feel more refined. Like a frozen twirl in motion. The fabrics also look like clouds. I love that they make the ceiling look airy.

‘Teli’ Pendant Light

If you really love a vintage modern look then this MCM Italian beauty will be right up your alley (my Italian MCM obsession is getting deeper by the minute people!). They of course sell for a few thousand dollars but my god are they incredible. The photos of it lit up are beautiful.

I wanted to add this light because while I think they are less popular at the moment, I do think we should keep our eye on this style. It has a distinct “drop cloth” vibe but I’m not mad about it.

These lamps on the other hand are anything but a drop cloth! Studio EBUR is a design duo who brought their cultures and upbringing in West Africa and Lebanon into their stunning designs. These pendants are handcrafted, and thoughtfully designed and you can tell. I love the ruffle we’ve been seeing in other designs but combined with the inverted cone it gives it less of a provincial feel and more of a “high society” vibe.

These highly stylized two-tiered beauts are maybe my favorite(??) Ah! It’s impossible to choose. In my little research, the real vintage version of these are also made in Italy (and cost a very pretty penny). But the structure and detail should be marveled at. Look at the one with the beautiful pattern! If you are looking for an easy way to add drama, look no further.

I had to add this example too:)

Now, I know that most of these lamps have been a version of white or cream and for some of you that’s just not how you roll. Well, here are a couple of awesome examples of colorful, taut pendants. It’s always important to think about the kind of light you need in a room. With a colorful shade, you are going to get a very specific tone of light around your room so make sure it’s what you want and need in that space.

The same goes for patterns when it comes to light but I mean, how sick is that giant checkered light in the middle of that installation space (fyi, I don’t think it’s a working light but it totally could be with the proper parts!)?

Ok, we’ve come to the end of the inspiration portion of this chat…here is the sales pitch! JUST KIDDING. But seriously, if I have now “accidentally” caused a need for fabric lights in your home, here are a few categories with all different price points for you to look at! And as promised, some are the exact ones from the photos above:)

1. Lampshade Sewn | 2. Paper Bag Gong Pendant | 3. Cotton Hanging Lamp | 4. Handmade Linen Vintage Large Pendant Light Shade | 5. Handmade Stripe Linen Ruffle Pendant Light Shade | 6. Lampshade Pendant

1. Lia Pendant Light | 2. Tempo Vivace Pendant | 3. Duzy Handmade Irregular Linen Lamp

1. REGNSKUR / HEMMA | 2. Hayden Fabric Pendant | 3. The Park Embroidered Textile Lampshade

I truly love all of these options and hope that this dose of design candy was as satisfactory for you as it was for me. Are you on board? Do you like the loose fabric look? Are you a die-hard taut fabric lover forever? Let’s chat!

Love you, mean it.