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Dining room lights can make or break the experience you have in the dining area of your home–whether alone, with family or with your guests. In this article, we’ll explore some tips and other considerations when planning and installing your dining room lights.
Why is Dining Room Light Important?Â
The dining room is a space where many activities happen. Families eat together in the dining room, and kids often do their homework there. When hosting dinner parties, dining rooms tend to be the main entertainment space for the evening. Since it is such a people-focused, oftentimes social location, quality lighting is important.
Above all else, dining area lighting can ensure the space has better visibility. This is important both for eating comfortably, and having conversations with guests. Since dining rooms are used more at night than during the day, lighting becomes even more important here than ever.
Layering Dining Room Lights
An important approach to lighting any room is to layer the light fixtures. Layering light involves adding balanced lighting across the room in the form of ambient, task and accent lighting.
Ambient light makes up the main source of lighting throughout the room. Task lighting supplements ambient light by providing focused illumination over areas where activities are most commonly performed. Finally, accent lighting adds decoration and mood to the room.
When it comes to layering dining room lighting, ambient light comes in the form of ceiling mounted light fixtures, such as chandeliers and pendant lights. Task lights are usually incorporated as dining table lighting to help you dine more comfortably. Track lighting is also good in this regard. Finally, accent lighting, such as picture lights and wall washer lights, can help create focal points in the space.
Use LED BulbsÂ
LED lights have long since become the dominant bulb style in both domestic and commercial environments alike. LED dining room light fittings that have several advantages over traditional bulbs, including the following.
- ENERGY EFFICIENT. LED bulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than traditional halogen or incandescent bulbs, making them far more efficient. This is largely owed to the fact that LEDs do not need to create heat to generate light.
- ECO-FRIENDLY. Since LEDs use such small amounts of energy, they are easier on the environment. By not consuming as much energy, you can lessen your environmental footprint and do your part to protect the planet.
- LONG LASTING LIFE. LEDs are designed to last tens of thousands of hours, as opposed to the 1,000 hours or so of a halogen bulb. Since they last longer, you can save time on replacing burnt out bulbs.
- COST EFFECTIVE. Due to their lower energy consumption, you can expect to spend less on your light bills. You also won’t have to replace them nearly as often, either, saving you up-front purchasing costs as well.
- LED bulbs come in a number of colour temperatures and lumen counts. Such a range of options allows you to stay in control of the lit appearance of the dining room, down to the detail.
What is the Best Colour Temperature for Dining Room Light Fixtures?Â
Lighting for a dining room needs to be comfortable on the eyes while still being clear and easy to see by. For this reason, it is generally recommended that you choose lights with a colour temeprature between 2700K and 3300K warm white light.
What is the Best Hanging Height for Dining Ceiling Lights?Â
In general, it is recommended that you hang your lights so that they rest about three feet from the table’s surface. This will allow it to sit low enough to allow the dining room lamp to light up the table with focused task lighting. It also avoids causing glare or other visual obstructions when chatting with guests at the table.
General Tips on Lights for Dining Room Â
In order to get your lighting for dining room right, keep the following tips in mind.
Center Lighting Around the Table
Exploring over dining table lighting ideas as you plan your dining room can give you a nice starting point. The lights in the rest of the dining room should be based around the main pendant over the table. Dining room ceiling lights come into play here, and you can choose to install a statement pendant light or chandelier over the table for style.
Consider the Size of the Dining Table
If you have a small dining table, you’ll want to choose a single, large pendant light to hang over it. If you have a larger dining table, you can get away with multiple smaller pendant lights, or a dramatic statement light instead. If you choose multiple pendants, install them in odd numbers for best results.
Add a Dimmer Switch
One way to enhance the ambiance of the dining room is to install a dimmer switch. Dimmable lighting allows you to control the brightness or dimness of a light in an instant. Dining room lamps on a dimmer switch let you create a nice mood and atmosphere when entertaining guests. They also allow you to make it as bright as it needs to be during the day when the kids are doing homework or crafts.
Stick to Similar Shapes
When adding in various dining light fixtures, be sure that you stick to similar shapes. Prioritise balance and symmetry by choosing round pendants for rounder tables, and angular pendants for long, square tables.
Dining Table Lighting Ideas Â
A fresh lighting room lighting design can really transform the space into a place you’ll love to be. Get inspired by these modern dining room lighting ideas for your own dining space.
Modernise with Lighting
By installing picture lights, wall washing lights and other such accent lighting, you can make your dining space contemporary and chic. Using accent lighting will bring the dining space into the modern era and bring plenty of depth and dimension.
Add Vintage Flair
Add in a traditional style chandelier to your dining room. This will give it a classic, vintage style look that can make your dining space cosy and relaxing.
Industrialise the Room
Adding in edison pendant lights, iron fixtures and exposed bulbs can give your dining room an industrial modern feel. Using exposed elements will bring urban flair to your home and give it unique personality.
Splash Some Colour
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Refresh your dining space by introducing bright, vivid colours into the room. You can use dining table lights in eye-catching hues to contrast against monotonous wall colours. They can also be used to spice up a boring dining table.
Stagger the Lights
Bring in some depth and dimension by staggering the heights of the pendants. This is an especially good tip if you have three lights above a table, as it can break up any monotony that the line might otherwise form.
Conclusion
Quality dining room lighting design can make dining, socialising and working in the dining room that much more comfortable. Keep the above tips and ideas in mind when planning your own dining room lighting in order to ensure the best results.
Dining Room Lighting Ideas
Perfect for large, long dining tables, the LPL410 15 Watt Linear LED Pendant Light is a bright and stylish way to update your dining space. It features a bar that has five bulbs lined up, working together to produce 1500 lumens of 3000K warm white light. Acrylic globe shades over each bulb help soften and diffuse the lighting to prevent glare. The lamp is fashioned out of durable aluminium and comes in your choice of either a black or white finish. It measures 900 millimeters in length.
Make a statement in your dining room with the LBL140 36 Watt Ring Design Modern LED Ceiling Light. This modern ceiling light features six rings of light arranged in a circle, with illumination shining from inside each individual ring. They generate 3600 lumens of 3000K warm white light that brightly illuminates the table below. It is durable and resilient thanks to its premium aluminium construction, giving it a longer lifespan. Choose from either black or white finishes to suit your dining room style.
Add drama and atmosphere to your dining room with the LWA526 8 Watt 600mm Wide LED Picture Light. This picture light allows you to easily show off your favorite artwork with 800 lumens of 3000K warm white light. It has an acrylic diffuser to soften the light and prevent any glare from forming on the piece, presenting it in its very best light. Choose from either black or black and anodized gold finishes on the aluminium build to suit your dining room style. It measures 600 millimeters by 120 millimeters in size.
Brighten up your dining space with the help of the Leon 12 Watt 450mm Wide Brushed Silver LED Wall Light. It is a surface mounted wall light that spreads illumination over a long stretch of space, making it ideal for use over sideboards and storage. This wall light generates 1200 lumens of 300K warm white light that diffuses through the opal acrylic covers on the top and bottom. It is finished in sleek, brushed aluminium and measures a total width of 450 millimeters.
