From the moment we first saw this house, something about the view of three lights lined up in the upstairs hallway grabbed our attention. Call it the “tri-light zone” effect. We could see the potential right away—once we looked past the old carpeting and the blue trim.

The existing fixtures were undersized for the space (photos don’t fully capture this, but the hallway is about 33 feet long), so we debated options. Spray painting them crossed our minds—oil-rubbed bronze, red, or navy—but the fixtures were crooked, one had a broken stem, and the middle one was noticeably larger than the other two. That made replacement the most sensible choice.

For years I’d mentally bookmarked a classic-meets-modern fixture we’d used in a past project. I liked that its dark finish provided contrast without feeling heavy, thanks to the glass panels. We both agreed on the look, but the inspiration fixture carried a steep price tag—about $250 each—and we needed three.

We searched local lighting outlets, thrift sources, and ReStore listings for matching pieces, but finding three identical fixtures was difficult. Then we noticed a sale and found a similar pendant priced affordably. That made buying three practical and kept the design consistent across the long hallway.

Rather than document the entire installation step-by-step, I’ll share two small but useful tricks I picked up watching a pro install lights at a showhouse. Trick #1: leave protective packaging in place during installation. It sounds obvious, but I’d always ripped packaging off immediately in the past. Watching an electrician leave foam and plastic on (where it didn’t interfere with installation) made it clear that this helps prevent scratches or accidental damage while the fixture is being handled. Of course the packaging is removed before powering the light.

We would have preferred the pendants to hang lower on chains, but our 8-foot ceilings limited that. To shorten the fixtures, we pried open chain links with two pairs of pliers; covering the tips with masking tape prevented finish damage. The previous fixtures hung a bit low for my six-foot frame, especially the oversized middle lantern, so we adjusted the new pendants to sit a couple inches higher. After installation, the bottoms of the lanterns ended up approximately 77 inches from the floor—comfortable for clearance while still making a statement.

In addition to shortening the chain, I trimmed the electrical cord. Using wire cutters I opened the outer sheath, pulled back the cover, and stripped the ends of the black, white, and green wires. With the power off and Sherry supporting the fixture, I matched and connected each wire to the corresponding ceiling wire and secured the canopy. The process felt smoother once I applied Trick #2: hang the fixture temporarily low, then raise it to the final height. It’s much easier to shorten chain or feed wire upward than to add length after you’ve already cut it. Hanging low first also made wiring less awkward since Sherry didn’t have to hold the fixture as high while I worked.

Swapping the longer chain for a single link for final hanging and tucking the excess wire into the canopy finished the install. Tightening the screw that pinches the wiring ensured a neat and safe connection. Installing all three took some time—approximately three hours, though photo-taking and other interruptions stretched the process—but the finished result was worth it.

We love the strong contrast these fixtures provide, which complements the dark door hinges, doorknobs, stained stair rail, and runner leading downstairs. Their oversized scale may not suit everyone, but that bold proportion is exactly what we enjoy here. The fixtures balance the hallway’s upper half, and we plan additional updates to ground the space:

• Reinstall and possibly modify the laundry doors
• Add crown molding to refine the ceiling line
• Install substantial wainscoting to add weight and texture to the bottom half of the hallway
• Select and hang artwork to bring warmth and personality

Functionally, I worried the new pendants might make the hallway darker because we moved from three three-bulb fixtures to three single-bulb fixtures. However, the new bulbs are a higher wattage (60W equivalent vs. 40W), and the clear glass reflects light in a way that feels brighter. It’s possible the old fixtures also had some burned-out bulbs, so the improvement is noticeable.

With the clear bulbs that came with the fixtures, the lights cast angular shadows on the ceiling. If we want softer illumination, we can switch to frosted bulbs or opt for warm LED replacements in the future. We’ve since transitioned much of our home to LED lighting for energy savings and longer bulb life; LEDs provide consistent warm light and reduce the need for frequent bulb changes.

Below is a before shot of the hallway for comparison. Overall, updating the lighting made a significant visual and functional difference, and the remaining finishing touches will help the whole space feel intentional and cohesive.