Illuminating Ideas for Lighting Your Dining Area
Brighten up your dinners with some well-chosen lighting, from bold statement pieces to minimal ceiling spots
Ruth Garner
17 October 2014
I'm a freelance writer and lifestyle blogger, currently living in Brighton.
Choosing the right lighting can really transform your dining room. Whether your table is in an open-plan space, sharing light with the rest of the room, or in a dedicated dining room fit for entertaining the masses, there will be a light fitting that is just perfect for your style and preferences. From bold statement pieces to industrial exposed bulbs, be daring and try some these ideas on for size…
Opt for exposed bulbs
Nothing says ‘industrial chic’ quite like an exposed bulb. Minimal, yes – but with a deeply modern aesthetic that demands attention. Exposed bulbs work well hung individually or in clusters of varying heights. Or consider aligning them down the length of the table to ensure no one is left in the dark.
Discover more about industrial style
Nothing says ‘industrial chic’ quite like an exposed bulb. Minimal, yes – but with a deeply modern aesthetic that demands attention. Exposed bulbs work well hung individually or in clusters of varying heights. Or consider aligning them down the length of the table to ensure no one is left in the dark.
Discover more about industrial style
Use the full height of the room
If you’re a lucky home owner (or renter) with high ceilings, then you have even more scope to play around with the size and shape of light fittings. In this dining room, the visual emphasis is certainly on the cluster light that appears to float in midair. It’s practically a piece of art in its own right.
If you’re a lucky home owner (or renter) with high ceilings, then you have even more scope to play around with the size and shape of light fittings. In this dining room, the visual emphasis is certainly on the cluster light that appears to float in midair. It’s practically a piece of art in its own right.
Mix and match
If you want to be playful with your design, consider mixing and matching light fittings. If you do this, though, try to keep one element the same throughout, whether that’s the colour (as here) or the shape, to prevent it from looking too busy.
If you want to be playful with your design, consider mixing and matching light fittings. If you do this, though, try to keep one element the same throughout, whether that’s the colour (as here) or the shape, to prevent it from looking too busy.
Work in threes
We humans love a bit of symmetry, and grouping items in threes is invariably pleasing. This row of lights works especially well with the long table, which is lit evenly. If you want to light a round space and a neatly aligned row just wouldn’t work, you can still try three lights, but hung in a cluster at different heights.
We humans love a bit of symmetry, and grouping items in threes is invariably pleasing. This row of lights works especially well with the long table, which is lit evenly. If you want to light a round space and a neatly aligned row just wouldn’t work, you can still try three lights, but hung in a cluster at different heights.
Supersize a floor lamp
Who says light fittings over dining tables need to be ceiling mounted? A floor lamp, particularly one where the shade hangs low, can provide ample lighting, and is flexible should you ever decide to move your table. If you have space to play with, perhaps give a nod to the classic angled task light with a supersized version, such as this Superarchimoon, that’s sure to be a talking point at dinner.
Be inspired by more ways to work an angled lamp into any room
Who says light fittings over dining tables need to be ceiling mounted? A floor lamp, particularly one where the shade hangs low, can provide ample lighting, and is flexible should you ever decide to move your table. If you have space to play with, perhaps give a nod to the classic angled task light with a supersized version, such as this Superarchimoon, that’s sure to be a talking point at dinner.
Be inspired by more ways to work an angled lamp into any room
Keep it simple with spotlights
Spotlights can be an ideal choice of lighting in a minimal or ultra-modern scheme. Whether LED or halogen bulbs, these can be set either in a neat row, or scattered across the whole ceiling. Spotlights offer bright light with no fuss and minimal visual intrusion.
Spotlights can be an ideal choice of lighting in a minimal or ultra-modern scheme. Whether LED or halogen bulbs, these can be set either in a neat row, or scattered across the whole ceiling. Spotlights offer bright light with no fuss and minimal visual intrusion.
Echo the shape of your table
To ensure there’s a comfortable flow in a space, it’s worth considering echoing the shape of the table in your chosen light fitting. So if your table is round, like the one pictured, try installing a round light fitting, too. It will be extremely easy on the eye.
To ensure there’s a comfortable flow in a space, it’s worth considering echoing the shape of the table in your chosen light fitting. So if your table is round, like the one pictured, try installing a round light fitting, too. It will be extremely easy on the eye.
Consider metallics
Warm metallics, especially brass and copper, are on trend right now – and with good reason. These metals are luxe, warming and bring a real sense of character to a space. Equally at home in an industrial dining room, such as the one here, or in a more traditional setting, this aesthetic is supremely flexible. And once again, more is definitely more, so hang a lucky group of three for extra style points.
Find out more about the copper and brass trend
Warm metallics, especially brass and copper, are on trend right now – and with good reason. These metals are luxe, warming and bring a real sense of character to a space. Equally at home in an industrial dining room, such as the one here, or in a more traditional setting, this aesthetic is supremely flexible. And once again, more is definitely more, so hang a lucky group of three for extra style points.
Find out more about the copper and brass trend
Plump for a classic chandelier
In a traditional dining room, there’s nothing quite like an elegant chandelier. Refined yet decadent, a decorative chandelier will bring a touch of class to any meal time. When installing a chandelier in a dining room, be sure to double check the position of your table to ensure the fitting is bang on centre for an even spread of light.
In a traditional dining room, there’s nothing quite like an elegant chandelier. Refined yet decadent, a decorative chandelier will bring a touch of class to any meal time. When installing a chandelier in a dining room, be sure to double check the position of your table to ensure the fitting is bang on centre for an even spread of light.
Make a statement
Everything in this cleanly modern dining room has more than a hint of sophistication, from the stark monochrome palette to the large artwork. It is only right, then, that the artfully looped lighting is a statement that more than holds its own.
TELL US…
How have you illuminated your dining room? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Everything in this cleanly modern dining room has more than a hint of sophistication, from the stark monochrome palette to the large artwork. It is only right, then, that the artfully looped lighting is a statement that more than holds its own.
TELL US…
How have you illuminated your dining room? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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You can now create a vintage cosy atmosphere with LED filaments light bulb. They last up to 30,000hours and only consume 6W. They will be perfect in your dining area.
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