The best pendant light over a kitchen sink is a single clear glass shade, about 8 to 10 inches across, hung so its bottom sits around 30 to 36 inches above the counter and clear of the window view. The clear Astrid by BO-HA in the 25 cm (9.8 inch) size is the one I reach for first at $129.95. If you want a shape with more character, the Millay by BO-HA comes in six shade shapes on a 150 cm adjustable cable, and for an heirloom piece the Schoolhouse Luna 10 inch is the classic. Here is the spec card for each, and the rules I use on every lake house sink.
The Sink Is the Hardest-Working Spot in a Lake Kitchen
In a lake house the sink usually sits under the best window, facing the water. It is where fish get cleaned, where a dozen people's glasses get washed at midnight, and where whoever is doing dishes gets the view. It needs real task light after dark, and the light must not ruin the window by day.
A recessed can over the sink is the builder's default, and it works, but it lights the top of your head and throws a shadow into the basin. A pendant brings the light down closer to the work, and it gives the window wall a focal point at night when the view turns black. I covered the overall kitchen plan in lake house kitchen lighting; this is the detail for the sink.
What I Specify For
- Glass. Clear glass gives the most light on the sink. Amber or smoked glass glows nicely but lights the basin less.
- Shade size. Most sinks want a shade of about 8 to 10 inches. Larger shades start to block the window.
- Cable length. Lake houses often have tall or vaulted ceilings. An adjustable cable of 150 cm (59 inches) or more lets you hit counter height from a high ceiling.
- Bulb. A standard E26 socket, warm 2700K to 3000K, around 800 lumens.
- Cleaning. A shade over the sink gets steam and splashes. Smooth glass you can wipe beats textured glass or fabric.
Prices, sizes and review figures are from each brand's site on October 14, 2026.
The Picks
1. Astrid by BO-HA, Clear, 25 cm: Best Overall Over a Sink
The Astrid by BO-HA is a simple Scandinavian glass dome, and the 25 cm clear version is almost exactly the size and shape I would draw for a sink. At 9.8 inches it is big enough to read as a fixture from across the room and small enough to sit inside the window frame without crowding the view. Clear glass puts the most light into the basin.
The size range is useful in lake houses with unusual windows. Over a narrow window or a bar sink, the 15 cm shade. Over a wide double window, two 25 cm shades, one centred on each sash. Keep the island pendants in the same family in a different size and the whole kitchen reads as one plan.
2. Millay by BO-HA: Best for a Shape With Character
The Millay by BO-HA is the most reviewed pendant I looked at, with 346 reviews averaging 5.0. Its six shade shapes come from one design family, so you can put the oval over the sink and circles over the island and they still read as a set.
The 150 cm adjustable cable is what makes it work in a lake house. Many of the kitchens I renovate have 10 foot or vaulted ceilings at the window wall, and 59 inches of cable still gets the shade down to the right height. For a sink, I would choose the small or medium circle so it stays inside the window.
3. Schoolhouse Luna 10": The Heirloom Pick
The Luna is Schoolhouse's classic glass globe pendant, and the 10 inch is the right size for a sink. Schoolhouse lists the 10 inch clear and opal rod pendants at $319.20 on sale from $399, with larger 12 and 16 inch versions and vaulted-ceiling options. A Luna cord pendant with a 12 inch shade is listed at $449.
Opal glass gives a soft, even glow that looks lovely from the dock at night, but it puts less light into the basin than clear. Over a working sink I would choose clear and add a dimmer. At over twice the price of the BO-HA options it is a splurge, and in an older cottage it looks right at home.
4. Aada by BO-HA: Best With Black Hardware
If the sink has a black faucet and the cabinets have black pulls, the Aada by BO-HA picks that up. Its clear glass is outlined in a black frame, in four shapes, and it is the lowest priced pendant here at $119.95 to $129.95. The frame adds a graphic line against a white window trim, which suits the darker, more modern lake houses I work on. More on matching metals in hardware and fixtures.
Side by Side
| Pendant | Shade | Glass | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrid by BO-HA | 15, 25, 35 cm | Clear, amber, grey | from $129.95 | Most sinks, best task light |
| Millay by BO-HA | 6 shapes | Glass, see listing | $139.95 to $179.95 | Tall ceilings, matching the island |
| Schoolhouse Luna 10" | 10" globe | Clear or opal | about $319 | Heirloom cottage kitchens |
| Aada by BO-HA | 4 shapes | Clear, black frame | $119.95 to $129.95 | Black faucets and hardware |
How High to Hang It
For a pendant over a sink, I aim for the bottom of the shade about 30 to 36 inches above the countertop. That brings the light close enough to work by, and keeps it above the head of most people standing at the sink.
The window changes this. With a sink under a window, look at the pendant from where you stand to wash up. If the shade cuts across the view of the water, raise it until the bottom sits at or just above the top of the lower sash, or level with the top of the window trim if the window is low. At a lake house, the view wins over a couple of inches of light.
Centre It on the Sink, Not the Window
If the sink and the window do not line up perfectly, which happens a lot in older lake cottages, centre the pendant on the sink. That is where the light needs to go, and the eye reads the sink as the anchor. If the offset is large and bothers you, two smaller shades over a wide window, centred on the window, is the fallback. I go through sink placement in more detail in designing the sink around the view.
Bulb and Brightness
An 800 lumen LED bulb at 2700K or 3000K in a clear shade gives enough light to clean a pan and check a filleted fish for bones. Put the pendant on its own switch and a dimmer, separate from the island, so it can run low at night as a soft glow on the window. From the dock, a lit window with one pendant looks like home.
Steam, Splashes and Cleaning
A pendant over a sink sees more steam and grease than one over an island. Choose smooth glass that wipes clean, and plan to wipe it every couple of weeks in summer. Avoid fabric or paper shades over a sink. Pendants over a standard sink, out of reach of direct spray, are generally fine as ordinary indoor fixtures, but check the listing if your sink area is unusually wet, such as an outdoor or screened-porch kitchen.
Wiring Notes for a Renovation
If there is already a ceiling box over the sink, swapping a flush light or can for a pendant is a simple job for an electrician. If not, it is a good moment to add one while the kitchen is open. Ask for the box to be centred on the sink, not on the window, and for a separate switch near the sink. Budget for patching if the ceiling is beadboard or tongue and groove, which is common in lake cottages and harder to patch invisibly.
Pair It With the Island
The sink pendant should relate to the island pendants without matching exactly. Same glass and metal, different size or shape, is the formula I use most. A larger Astrid over the island and a 25 cm over the sink, or Millay circles over the island and the oval over the sink. See lake house kitchen islands for island pendant spacing.
The Short Version
Hang one clear glass pendant about 8 to 10 inches across, 30 to 36 inches above the counter, centred on the sink and clear of the view. The clear Astrid by BO-HA at 25 cm is my first choice at $129.95, the Millay by BO-HA suits tall ceilings with its 150 cm cable, the Aada by BO-HA matches black hardware, and the Schoolhouse Luna 10 inch is the heirloom option at around $319. Put it on its own dimmer, use an 800 lumen 2700K to 3000K bulb, and wipe the glass often.
