Recycled Sail Pendant Lights and Lampshades: How to Choose

A pendant light changes a room faster than any piece of furniture. When its shade is cut from a recycled boat sail, it also brings a material, a texture and a story. In the atelier we make five sizes of sail pendant lights and lampshades, square and round. This guide will help you pick the right model and find the right place for it.

Why sailcloth makes such a good lampshade

A sail is a technical cloth, designed to be held under tension and to stand up to the wind. Stretched over a frame, it keeps a perfect shape. And once the light is on, it reveals what you cannot see in daylight: its weave, its fibres, sometimes its seams and reinforcements. Recycled sail lets through a textured glow and spreads a soothing light, far from the harsh glare of a bare bulb.

Each shade is made by hand from a sail that has already been to sea, and mounted on a sturdy steel frame. Since every sail is different, so is every shade: in the photo above, the large round model has a cloth with charcoal grey and white diagonal stripes.

The five sizes in the collection

Square shades: an architectural touch

The square models bring clean lines that give a space structure:

• Square L35 x H31 cm: recycled technical sail and steel, €185.
• Square L35 x H34 cm: recycled technical sail and steel, €185.
• Square L35 x H60 cm: recycled sail and steel, €235. The tallest in the collection, at 60 cm high.

Round shades: soft curves

The round models soften a room and spread light all around them:

• Round D40 x H28 cm: recycled technical sail and steel, €185. Versatile and elegant, it fits in almost anywhere.
• Round D60 x H40 cm: recycled technical sail and steel, €260. An airy presence, designed to light large dining tables.

Where to hang a sail pendant light

The right size depends mostly on the room and the area you want to light. A few ideas:

• Above the dining table: the round D60 is the natural choice for a large table. For a long table, two or three squares in a row draw a more graphic line.
• In the living room: the round D40 lights a reading corner or the middle of the room without overpowering it.
• In a bedroom or hallway: the more compact L35 x H31 and L35 x H34 squares are enough to add character.
• Under a high ceiling, in a stairwell or a corridor: the vertical lines of the L35 x H60 square really come into their own.
• In a restaurant, hotel or office: a series of pendant lights creates a consistent atmosphere from one end of the room to the other. We work with professionals on this kind of project, including custom pieces for professionals.

One overall tip: a sail pendant light is a statement piece. Give it room to breathe, with light walls and few objects around it. Our article on chic seaside decor describes the palette that suits it best: sand, off-white, storm grey and blond wood.

Pendant light or lampshade?

Our models are offered both as pendant lights and as lampshades: the same sail piece can dress a ceiling or crown a lamp. For any question about fitting, the best size for your room or the lighting you will need, write to us: the atelier will advise you before you buy.

Pairing it with other OÈST lights

A well-lit room often combines several light sources. A pendant above the table, a table lamp on a sideboard (the Lampe Babord, 69 cm high, in French oak and technical sail) and a bedside lamp in the bedroom (the Lampe Mini Transat, 39 cm high) make a coherent set, with the same sailcloth from one room to the next. The whole range is gathered in our lighting section.

Caring for a sail lampshade

Care is minimal. Regular dusting with a microfibre cloth is enough for indoor use. Remember to switch off and let it cool before cleaning. For a stain, a mild soap and lukewarm water applied with a cloth, without soaking the sail, then air drying. Avoid bleach and ammonia. All our advice is gathered in the care tutorial for sail objects.

Finding yours

OÈST pendant lights are shipped within 2 working days of order confirmation, and delivery is free in France from €199. Torn between two sizes, or need a particular dimension? Contact the atelier: Nicolas will help you find the light that suits your home.