Rattan & Wicker Pendant Lights

Rattan Pendant Light and Wicker Pendant Lights: Woven Shades, Patterned Glow

Few fixtures change a room as quickly as a woven shade. A rattan pendant light turns the bulb into a lantern: light slips through the weave, scatters across walls and ceiling and leaves a soft pattern that moves as you walk. That effect, plus the natural color of cane and fiber, is why rattan and wicker have moved from sunrooms into kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms across the US.

This collection has 21 hardwired pendants. Nine use rattan, two use wicker, six use bamboo and seven use rope, mixed with wood, iron, fabric and one travertine design. Most are tagged boho, rustic or Japandi, and all 21 suit dining rooms. Together they give you a full tour of what woven light can do.

Rattan, Wicker, Bamboo and Rope: What Is the Difference?

People use these words loosely, so it helps to know them. Rattan is a climbing palm whose stems are cut into cane and webbing. Wicker is a weaving technique rather than a material, and it can use rattan, bamboo or other fibers. A wicker pendant light and a rattan one may therefore look alike. Bamboo is a grass with straight, slightly glossy strips, often shaped into lanterns and domes. Rope is twisted hemp or jute, wrapped around a frame for a casual, nautical look.

In practice: rattan feels classic and warm, bamboo looks lighter and more modern, and rope reads relaxed and coastal. If you like the bohemian side of this mix, our boho pendant lights offer more fringe and fabric.

Where to Hang a Rattan Pendant

A dining table is the best place to start: the shade sits above the table and the pattern spreads across the room. For tips on proportions, see dining room pendant lights. In a kitchen, a row of small woven domes over the counter adds friendliness to stone and steel, and our kitchen island pendant lights explain the spacing. Keep woven shades a little away from the stove, though, since steam and grease are hard on fibers.

In a living room, one big rattan pendant works as a sculpture even when it is off. In a bedroom or entryway, choose a smaller shade with a soft bulb. Our guide to styling rattan lights in every room has pairing ideas for wood, stone and linen.

Size and Height

Open weaves feel lighter than their size, so you can often choose a larger shade than a solid pendant. Over a table, aim for a shade one third to one half the table's width, and hang it 30 to 36 inches above the tabletop. Over a counter, hang the bottom 30 to 36 inches above the surface, and keep at least 24 inches between centers. In a living room, the diameter in inches can match the room's length plus width in feet. Keep the lowest point at least 7 feet above any walkway.

Bulbs: Get the Glow Right

Eighteen of the 21 fixtures take a standard E26 bulb, and one has an integrated LED. Bulb choice shapes the mood: a clear filament LED bulb shows the weave as a lacy silhouette, a frosted globe fills the shade with even light, and a small bulb leaves a dramatic pattern on the ceiling. Choose 2700 K or warmer. Use LED bulbs, which run cooler than incandescent, and respect the maximum wattage on the product page. Never let a bulb touch the fiber.

Only one of these pendants is listed as dimmable, so check the details on the product page if you want to dim. A woven shade is forgiving without one, because the weave already softens the light.

Care for Woven Shades

Rattan and bamboo like dry, steady rooms. Dust with a soft brush or the brush tool of a vacuum on low, and spot clean with a barely damp cloth. Avoid soaking, which can make fibers swell or discolor. Keep shades away from direct sun and humid spaces, because fibers can fade or warp. Rope can be brushed gently, and iron or wood parts can be wiped with a dry cloth.

Installation Basics

All 21 are hardwired, so they connect to a ceiling junction box. Switch off the breaker, check that the power is off, and use a box rated for the weight. Woven shades are light, but large ones are wide and need a firm mount. If you are adding a new box or are unsure, hire a licensed electrician.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a hot bulb, which can dry and darken natural fibers.
• Hanging a rattan pendant over a stove or in a damp room.
• Choosing a shade too small for the table, which wastes the pattern.
• Mixing too many woven textures, so nothing stands out.

FAQ: Rattan Pendant Lights

What is a rattan pendant light?

A rattan pendant light is a ceiling fixture whose shade is woven or framed with rattan cane. It hangs from a cord, chain or rod and scatters light in a pattern.

What is the difference between rattan and wicker?

Rattan is a material from a palm stem. Wicker is a weaving style that can use rattan, bamboo or other fibers.

What is a pendant lamp?

A pendant lamp hangs from the ceiling by a cord, chain or rod, usually over a table or open area.

What are pendant lights?

Pendant lights are ceiling fixtures that hang below the ceiling to give focused light and add decoration.

How do I install a pendant light?

Turn off the breaker, attach the bracket to the ceiling box, connect the wires and fit the canopy. Hire a licensed electrician if you are unsure.

How do I hang a pendant light with a cord?

Route the cord through the canopy, set the length so the shade hangs at the right height, and secure the extra cord.

Explore More Natural-Material Lighting

To repeat the weave on your walls, see rattan wall sconces, and for the ceiling, rattan ceiling lights. Prefer other natural textures? Try wood pendant lights, fabric pendant lights or travertine pendant lights.

The Aftensol Rattan Selection

We chose woven pendants that look good lit and unlit, with natural materials and a warm evening glow. Check each product page for sizes and bulb details, then pick the weave that suits your room.

Keep exploring: pendant lights · rattan wall sconces · Japandi lighting