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Dining Room

The dining room is much more than a place to eat dinner. It is a space meant for gathering with your friends and family to spend time together and share a meal. Dining room lighting plays a large role in the atmosphere of the dining area while making it brightly lit and functional.

Proper use of dining room lights is an easy way to transform the space into one you are proud to entertain in. Here, we offer a broad range of dining light fixtures for you to light your space. With a variety of styles to choose from, you’re sure to find the best one for your home.

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General Advice for Designing and Lighting a Dining Room

Whether you’re interested in creating an intimate dining atmosphere or a lively space for entertaining, there are a few things to keep in mind: 

First, we will focus on how to light the main feature. In this article, the main feature is, of course, the dining room itself. The main focus of a dining room is usually the dining area, but there are other aspects of lighting that also need to be addressed in the space, so you will need to install dining room light fixtures accordingly. 

Dining room chandeliers and other types of dining room ceiling lights, such as spotlights and pendants, are the best choices for the job. You also want to ensure ample illumination by including over table lighting of some kind to create the perfect atmosphere for dining.

When planning the placement of such lights, it’s important to keep in mind the general features of the room, as well as its dimensions. The lights you choose should correlate with the size of the room to ensure a balanced look. They should also easily work with the decor you may already have in the room. 

It is important that you layer the lighting for an even and well-lit space. This includes an ambient layer, an accent layer and a task layer. Dining room lights over table areas tend to serve as the ambient light source, since they provide the general illumination. 

You could also choose multiple hanging dining room lights closer to the table for more focused task lighting if you prefer. Dining room wall lights can provide the accent and mood lighting, helping you create a more romantic and relaxed area. 

In a similar vein, you’ll want to choose modern dining room light fixtures that work well with the existing shapes and styles of the furnishings in the room. This will help you create a look of symmetry and balance with a cohesive design style throughout.

Consider areas beside the dining table as well and how you can light them. Sideboards, buffets and shelving units can be lit up individually with smaller lights. This can make it easier to see the items you want to access, while also putting your finer dishes on display. 

How To Position Dining Room Lighting

Different types of dining room lights have different positioning guidelines. Below, you’ll find some of the most common: 

  • CHANDELIERS – Chandeliers should be placed above the middle of the dining table. The bottom of the chandelier should sit between 30 and 36 inches above the surface of the table.
  • PENDANT LIGHTS – Other types of pendant lights have a little more leeway. You can hang them around 30 inches from the table for a more traditional look. Conversely, you could make things feel more modern by hanging them at various staggered heights.
  • WALL LIGHTS – Place wall lights on any wall that is adjacent to the table. Generally speaking, they should be hung around eye level.
  • TRACK LIGHTING – Track lighting is best for use around architectural features that you want to highlight. It also works well when positioned in such a way that it can highlight any artwork you may have hanging in the room.

How To Use Wall Lights and Picture Lights in a Dining Room

Dining room lights above the table aren’t the only options you have for illumination. Dining room sconces are another way to light up the area. 

Wall lights are versatile and come in many shapes, styles and finishes. Dining rooms are particularly well-suited for using wall lights, since they can cast soft, intimate light around the room. 

You can install them anywhere that you want to avoid shadows, such as darker corners or around furniture. They can also be used to highlight unique areas in the dining room itself. Architectural features or accent walls can benefit from wall lights drawing attention to them. 

If you have framed art on the walls that you want to draw attention to, you can use picture lights for the job. Picture lights are special lights designed to light art from the right height and distance. With picture lights, you can be sure that your art won’t have any unsightly glare or dark shadows distracting from the work itself.

How High Should a Pendant Light Be Above a Dining table?

Dining room pendant lights can be hung at various heights depending on the size of the room as well as your preferences. That said, the general rule of thumb is to hang pendant lights around three feet over the surface of the table. 

This height will allow ample space for the light to shine across the table but not the entire room. Still, it won’t be so low that guests will have their view blocked or have lights glaring in their eyes. 

What is The Best LED CCT For Lighting in a Dining Room?

CCT, or colour correlated temperature, is a way to discuss the coolness or brightness of a light. Also sometimes known simply as colour temperature, these metrics exist on a scale between 1,000 and 10,000. They are measured on this scale in units Kelvin. 

Different colour temperatures have their place in different applications. Many times, it comes down to simple preference. That said, it is generally recommended for domestic areas that you have warm white light. 

For your dining room lighting, you should aim for lights between 3,000k and 3,300k colour temperatures to ensure a nice balance between visibility and warmth.

There are many reasons why you may want to consider having dimming options for dining rooms. From aesthetics to practicality, these controls can make a world of difference. 

Dining rooms are spaces whose moods and energy levels can change depending on the time of day and the type of gathering being held. With the ability to dim the dining table light fixtures and other dining room lamps, you can change the vibe at will. For example, you can make it brighter for get-togethers with friends or make it dimmer for a romantic dinner with your partner. 

Using dimmable lights can also help reduce glare. This can make eating around the table more comfortable if you aren’t having to squint while you dine. It is especially important when eating with guests since glaring lights in your eyes can make conversation uncomfortable. 

Dimmable lights can also help you draw attention to different areas in the room. If you want to highlight one space and distract from another, brightening and dimming the lights respectively can accomplish this. 

Beyond that, you will be able to extend the life of the light bulbs. Energy saving lighting fixtures are put together using LED bulbs with the technology that allows them to be dimmed. Energy efficient lighting tips always say to include LED bulbs for this purpose. 

By dimming LED bulbs, you can not only reduce the amount of energy used even more, but you can prolong the number of hours that the bulbs can shine as a whole.

When you’re ready to start planning the lighting in your dining room, keep the following tips in mind: 

  • Base All the Lighting Around That of the Dining Table – That is to say, put focus on the table first, and then expand out using wall lights and other accent lighting.
  • Use Multiple Pendants For Long Tables – Hanging more than one pendant light, preferably in odd numbers, will ensure that the light is evenly spread across the wider area.
  • Employ a Single Light for Small Tables – Hang a single pendant light, such as a chandelier, over small dining room tables. This will provide plenty of light while also making a stylish statement.
  • Keep Scale in Mind – When you’re choosing the lights for the space, choose contemporary lighting that matches the size and scale of other items in the room, as well as the room itself.
  • Take Advantage of Low-Hanging Lights – Lights that hang closer to the table can create a modern design statement while providing plenty of task lighting close by.
  • Keep It Versatile – Choosing neutral options like a black dining room light fixture will allow you to redecorate later without having to install a brand new light. 

In order to ensure your dining room lighting is up to par, keep these dos and don’ts of dining room lighting in mind. 

DO: 

  • Follow UK lighting standards and regulations. Be sure your building is up to code by researching lighting regulations before installation. If you want to be extra sure, you could always hire a professional electrician. They will be familiar with the codes that need to be followed to save you the headache.
  • Layer the lights. Be sure that you have ambient, task and accent lighting in the room. This will provide a balanced and well-lit appearance.
  • Consider dimmer switches. If you want to have total control over the mood and brightness of the room, dimmer switches are a must. Use them to adjust the brightness of the light at any given time to dictate the feel of a room.
  • Use LEDs. LED bulbs are not only energy efficient but versatile as well. With LEDs, you can choose from a wide variety of colour temperatures and lumen levels to get the perfect light for your needs.
  • Put the focus on the table. Since the dining table is the main feature in the room, you’ll want to be sure you are lighting it first and foremost. Then, you can add supplemental lighting around the rest of the room.

DON’T: 

  • Forget about natural lighting. Natural lighting can provide beautiful and efficient lighting during the daytime and early evening. Be sure you take into account any windows or skylights when planning your dining room lighting.
  • Overwhelm the space. Choose the right brightness levels and a modest number of fixtures to light your room. If it’s too bright, not only can it be uncomfortable, but it can wash out the colours and details of the rest of the room.
  • Be afraid to go bold. Sometimes, what a room needs to take it to the next level is bold statement lighting. Get creative and make your dining room an eye-catching and artistic place to be.
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