I understand what you're going through. Some years back I reworked a finished basement and ended up with low ceilings. At a friend's suggestion I installed recessed fixtures and regretted it ever after - the lighting was dim and shadowy.

If I were doing a low-ceiling room again, I'd probably just use one or two simple, low cost, low profile surface mount fixtures. At least then I'd get some indirect light to break up the shadows. I realize that might not look as good on a sloped ceiling, but I think any pendant is going to hang too low.

Davidtay may have some recommendations for LED panel lighting. It's going to be pricey, though.

thanks for your message. i'm not sure surface mount will work because of how sloped our ceiling is. how about no overhead light and just using lamps? we could hook the main lamp to the light switch. does anybody with no overhead light in a bedroom regret it? the rooms will have two big windows so there will be lots of natural light.

i don't want to be kicking myself for not installing an overhead light, but i just can't picture any overhead light looking okay with the ceilings so low and slanted.