Getting the lighting in your dining room right is essential. Whether you’re sharing a family meal, helping the kids with their homework or using it as a make shift office, you need your lighting in your dining room to be just right.

Regardless of what style or size you need, we have a varied range of lighting that would be perfect for your dining room.

Lighting Over a Dining Table

Ceiling pendants and chandeliers are definitely the go-to lights for over dining tables and, because these light fittings have such a specific purpose, pendant lights can give your dining room specific directional light and chandeliers can you a stunning display and a wide array of light.

What size light should I choose for over a dining table?

It is a good idea to size the light fitting to the table rather than the room itself and a good rule of thumb is to have the diameter of your pendant or chandelier between one half to two thirds the width of the table. A light fitting that is too small has little impact – if in doubt go large! But do be careful if you have a small dining room, as large light fittings can make smaller rooms seem even smaller – keep it simple if your room is small go for a small/medium sized pendant or chandelier.

Think about the shape of your table – is it round, oval or rectangular? It is important that the fitting you choose compliments the table and a harmonious look can be achieved by choosing a fitting that echoes the shape of the table.

If you have a small round table a simple globe pendant or small round chandelier would be a great choice. If you are lucky enough to have a larger round table you can be a bit more dramatic and go for a larger sized pendant or chandelier or a cluster of ceiling pendants. Cluster pendants are simply a group of ceiling pendants arranged together and they are best grouped together in odd numbers, so opt for 3 or 5.

If your dining table is rectangular you can still select a feature pendant or chandelier of the appropriate size. For larger rectangular tables you could also consider having a row of matching ceiling pendants which will give a more balanced look and a better spread of light – again these are best used in odd numbers.

How high should I hang a light above the dining table?

As a general rule the bottom of the chandelier or pendant should be between 28”and 32” above the table top. The light should be low enough to create a focal point but not too low that you hit your head when clearing the table. Take into account the height of your ceiling as high ceilings lend themselves more readily to larger sized fittings and you may need to raise them higher than for lower ceiling heights – try raising an extra 3” for each additional foot of ceiling height above 8’.

Bespoke Lights Top Tips for Lighting in a Dining Room

•  Install a dimmer switch – Most people tend to have a standard on/off switch but a dimmer switch offers much more flexibility, especially if you use your dining room for multiple purposes. A dimmer switch will allow you to dim down the light to create a more intimate atmosphere for evening entertaining, and a brighter light if you are working from home. Just check that your light fitting is suitable for dimming and that you have dimmable bulbs.

•  Use LED bulbs – LED bulbs have so many advantages over the older style bulbs that changing to them is a bit of a no-brainer. Admittedly they do cost a little more to buy initially but they are more energy efficient, saving you money and benefitting the environment.

•  Introduce layers of light – A single pendant or chandelier over a dining table will give you only general or ambient lighting which in most cases is insufficient if you are looking to light the room to the best advantage. Introduce layers of light to create a balanced look in the room. This can be achieved by adding some accent lighting – wall lights and table lamps will add an extra dimension.

Hope this has been helpful to you, feel free to share.