Save and Splurge: Cluster Pendant Lights

Dining rooms are the perfect place for a dramatic chandelier. My struggle, though, is that my dining room is part of a great room. You can see it from anywhere on the first floor (it’s not that big of an apartment), and I want something that is dressy enough to be considered dining room lighting but will still blend with the living room and kitchen that are much more casual. I first fell in love with the Bocci Chandelier when I saw it in an ad in Elle Decor. I love the impact it can have in a space even with all of its simplicity. I also love that it’s not crystal, but it still sparkles a little. It’s clean, contemporary, and blends perfectly with the rest of my house (or at least how I envision my house to look when I’m done with it!). Budget is always a concern, and Bocci is not really budget friendly…that was putting it lightly… it’s not budget friendly at all, not even close! Good design doesn’t come cheap, but it can come cheaper than that! The Bocci Thirty-Seven Pendant Light is 3 feet wide, each glass bulb is hand-blown, and it costs $18,130.

As much as I love this light, I am not about to pay $18,000 for it! And, I think that might be the same diameter of my dining room/breakfast table…a little too big for me. Good thing there are options out there, both less expensive and smaller. I first discovered the Starburst Series Multi-light Pendant Chandelier for $1,275. Big improvement in the price category! Amazingly enough, this pendant chandelier also has 37 lights, has hand-blown glass bulbs, and hangs 33″ wide. If Bocci fits in your space, this light just might fit into your budget!

 

Now that we have solved the price issue, I need to work on the space issue…Jackpot! I discovered the PLC Lighting 866 Hydrogen Multi-Light Pendant. It has only 18 lights, is 22″ wide, and is the best price yet… $819! This light has all the benefits of the Bocci light (it’s simplicity, sparkle and sophistication), but it will actually fit into my apartment and not overpower the small corner or breakfast table. Now we’re talking!

 

For those of you who are a little more adventurous, there is still another way to save even more money. With a little elbow grease, you can build this chandelier (or something similar) for around $70, which also gives you flexibility to build it as big or small as you would like. To see more about how to build your own Bubble Chandelier, check out Rachel’s DIY tutorial over at The Small Notebook. This picture below is the pendant chandelier that she built, and I have to say I am very impressed!

 

Here are some great ways to use this style pendant chandelier in your own space!