How to Add Kitchen Pendant Lighting

Kitchen pendant lighting is the perfect solution to adding light over a kitchen island or kitchen sink area, if there is enough room for the pendant light to hang down. If you already have a light fixture in the spot you are going to hang the new pendant fixture, this guide should help you finish the job in about an hour. If you hung fixtures before, you should be able to tackle this job with the steps outlined below. If this is your first time venturing into the electrical repair, then it would be a good idea to have someone who has successfully hung a fixture helping you. 

 

Step 1 – Shutting off the Power 

First, find the circuit breaker box. It can usually be found in a corner of the basement, the garage, or furnace room. Shut off the main power switch.

Step 2 – Removing the Existing Fixture 

First, remove the old light fixture by first taking off the light bulb and then starting to unscrew the associated hardware from the ceiling. Be sure that you support the old fixture while unscrewing its hardware so that it doesn't fall when you are working on it. 

Make sure all the wires are disconnected before completely removing the old fixture from the ceiling, then place it safely out of the way of your work area.

Step 3 – Installation of the New Junction Box 

You will now want to take the new junction box and mark around it in pencil where you want to install it. Next, take the drywall saw or saws-all and cut out the drywall along the lines that you marked. Now you can place the new junction box into the cut out area. Fasten in the new box using the existing hardware. 

Step 4 – Wiring the Junction Box 

First, you need to string all the wiring from inside the ceiling, down through the new junction box. Take the mounting bracket from the new pendant light and screw it into the junction box. The kit should come with the bolts and screws. Make sure the bracket is secure. This is what will be holding the weight of the new pendant light and taking the stress off the wiring.

Step 5 – Wiring the New Pendant Lighting 

Match the wires together by color coding. Take the ends of each set of wires and then fasten them together with the wire nut. Make sure the wire nuts are snug, and then bend the wires so that the wire nuts face away from each other.

Step 6 – Final Attachment of the New Pendant Fixture 

Once all the wires are tucked safely into the junction box, bolt the fixture into the mounting bracket. Make sure that it is securely fastened.  Now you can turn the power back on and try out your new light.