16 of the best minimalist hallway lights

Decision fatigue is a real thing. After making numerous choices – small and large – for our extension project, I seem to have run out of steam and find even the tiniest of decisions flummoxing. I’m usually a very decisive person; I can’t stand dithering, and I normally just prefer to make a decision and move on. I’m like that with clients, I almost instantly know the kind of style that might work in a space. But right now, my brain seems to have melted.

The other day I asked on Instagram stories for your opinion on minimalist hallway lights with a quick poll. I think I had got to the point where I had seen so many options, I no longer knew what I wanted. Perhaps a Japanese style origami paper pendant? Maybe a super minimal opal glass pendant? Or even a handcrafted stretched silk design?

The stories disappeared after 24 hours, as they do, and I had a few messages asking me to save them in a highlight or share the links again. I thought I would round them up into a blog post, because then it’s here forever for you to come back to when you want.

I may not know exactly what minimalist hallway lights I want, but I know what I don’t want. Hallway lights are generally seen from below as you walk into a space – you need to factor in doors opening and people walking under them. I would personally prefer not to see the ugly interior of an open pendant or too much of an exposed bulb. I would want to look up and see a beautiful form that subtly draws your eye up.

Hallways are also one of those spaces that are easy to forget about in the rush of every day life – as you walk through and past them – they’re probably the most likely to get dusty! Something like an opal glass bulb would therefore be fairly quick and easy to clean, rather than an intricate chandelier with lots of little parts. But again, that’s just me – in the right space, a show stopping chandelier would look stunning – I just can’t hack the cleaning, ha!

I think you also want to carefully consider size, so any hallway lights look like a natural fit for the space. At the top of a landing with a taller ceiling height you might be able to go for something a bit bigger or with a number of different bulbs, whereas you might opt for something smaller under the stairs. Before we started our renovation, we had some simple Habitat folded paper pendants – I opted for a 20-30cm diameter one downstairs and a 50cm diameter one at the top of the hallway where there was more space.

Here I’ve rounded up 16 of the best minimalist hallway lights that I’ve found during my hours and hours of browsing the internet. There’s utilitarian opal glass bulbs and more organic shapes designs. I think they would all give a calm feel and soft glow to a hallway space. And have I made a decision for my hallway lighting? Not quite yet, I’m still making my mind up…

1. Origami hexagon easy fit paper pendant, £15, Dunelm [Ad – affiliate link] – A versatile, Japanese style pendant that’s easy to fit on an existing lamp holder 
2. Menu TR bulb pendant by Tim Rundle, £145, Nest.co.uk – The globe is constructed from white opal glass and uses LED technology to last for many years to come
3. New Works Lantern pendant, £243, Nest.co.uk – A contemporary, geometric form that diffuses a soft glow, available in three sizes 
4. Palazzo frosted ceiling pendant, £49, Dunelm [Ad – affiliate link] – A frosted glass shade with an adjustable black fabric cable
5. Fibre flower silk lampshade, £150, Lighting Lover – Available in three different shapes, these lampshades are handcrafted, using a special process to layer the silk fibres into a mâché that is stretched by hand around the frame
6. Small metal pendant lamp, £34.99, H&M Home [Ad – affiliate link] – Small pendant light in metal and glass, available in black, gold and light khaki green (pictured) 
7. White globe pendant light, £144, Trainspotters – A white opaline glass globe pendant light, hand blown in a traditional foundry
8. Astrid paper pendant, £195, Vaunt Design – Created from lightly textured synthetic paper stretched over a wireframe
9. Beehive shape ribbed glass pendant light, £89, La Redoute [Ad – affiliate link] – A beehive shaped opal glass shade hung below a black metal loop on an adjustable cord
10. Nordlux Milford pendant, £65.08, Amazon [Ad – affiliate link] – An opal white glass pendant that gives a soft and warm light
11. Pahal origami paper pendant, £12, Dunelm [Ad – affiliate link] – This affordable yet stylish paper pendant would be perfect for updating a rental on the cheap
12. Muuto Rime pendant light, from £195, Utility Design – Comes in four different sizes and four different colours 
13. Luceplan Lita pendant, £190, Royal Design – Available in a couple of different models and sizes
14. Large 20cm matt opal globe pendant light, £160, Spark and Bell – Available in a variety finishes with a clean and diffusing matt opal glass shade
15. Duzy handmade light burlap and acrylic pleated pendant, £85.42, Etsy [Ad – affiliate link] – Available in three different sizes with four types of ceiling plates
16. Bamboo pendant light, £119, H&M Home [Ad – affiliate link] – Adjustable length pendant light in bamboo with a paper lamp shade