--- title: "Hanging by a Thread: 9 Inventive Ways to Hang Pendant Lights" date: "2014-06-25" modified: "2015-08-18" authors: - name: "Sara Carpenter" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/sara-carpenter/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/hanging-by-a-thread-9-inventive-ways-to-hang-pendant-lights-47708/" categories: - "Interior" - "Lighting & Electrical" tags: - "decor" - "lighting" --- # Hanging by a Thread: 9 Inventive Ways to Hang Pendant Lights ![]() ### Camouflage with Rope If you love the look of an industrial pendant light but can't stand staring at a stark cord, disguise it! A thick jute rope will get the job done—and [add a bit of rustic texture]() to the room. This lamp's cord was first tightly wrapped with sisal to hide it, then dressed up even more with a length of knotted rope. ### Lift and Lower with Pulleys ![]() *starsforstreetlights.com* Get the [popular industrial look]() for less. Very basic pendant lamps (even just exposed bulbs) can be rigged to vintage barn pulleys from the flea market for a high-end rustic look—on a budget. If you're feeling ambitious, you can even swing by the hardware store to pick up the items you need to wire the bulbs on your own. ### Steal from Your Shelves If your pendant lamps are used as [bedside reading lights]() and need to hang close to the wall, a shelf bracket can do the trick. Brackets come in a variety of materials and colors, and are easily customized with a coat of paint, making this an ideal choice for someone who likes to get the details just right. ### Drape It ![]() *flickr.com/andrew\_snow* When you (or your budget) aren't up to [the task of rewiring]() to allow your pendant lights to hang from the ceiling, take a look around. If placing the fixtures in a nearby wall works, install hardware over the desired location and drape the light cords over the piping. This solution looks best with multiples of the same light. ### Go Out on a Limb ![]() *decoist.com* Incorporate nature into your lighting scheme by securing a dead tree in a concrete mold and draping your pendant lamp from the [tree branch](). This version would work best in an area where a lower light source is needed—around a low-to-the-ground dining table or in a living room arrangement. ### A Pendant Light Chandelier Despite its humble origins in plumbing projects, copper piping is a [visually striking material]() and relatively inexpensive. Build a grid out of the piping, drape simple pendant lights over it, and voilà! You've built a modern industrial chandelier with little more than a day's work. ### Get Climbing ![]() *homedit.com* While the task of securely hanging a [horizontal ladder]() from the ceiling is daunting, doing so will let you create a completely unique and memorable centerpiece for a room—and a way to hang multiple lights. We love the idea of pairing the ladder with an angled ceiling to complement a rustic and charming kitchen. ### String Up Some Beads A simple bulb hanging from exposed cord can look sleek and modern, but sometimes you want to spruce up the cord a bit. With a little dismantling, oversize wooden beads can be strung onto the cord at any length you wish. Masking even just a short section will give the hanging light a little flair and distract from the exposed cord. ### Picture This A [repurposed frame]() affords the perfect base to hang several (or many) simple pendant lights. Depending on the frame and lights chosen, the resulting faux-chandelier's style could range from industrial to modern to shabby chic. ## Author Sara is a brand creative and copy director who has spent over a decade in the home category, contributing to design outlets like [Dwell]() and managing editorial copywriting for retail platforms like [Frontgate]() and [Amazon Home]().