Dining Room Lighting
Shop Dining Room Lighting by Category
VIEW ALL DINING ROOM LIGHTING
Shop Dining Room Lighting by Style
VIEW ALL DINING ROOM LIGHTING
Ideas + Advice: Dining Room Lighting
VIEW ALL IDEAS + ADVICE
Learn More About Dining Room Lighting |
Why We Love Dining Room Light Fixtures
Whether you want your dining room to be elegant and formal or cozy and friendly, modern dining room lighting fixtures can be used to complete the ambiance. The dining room is where friends and family gather, making it a central hub in your home. This can make deciding on lighting a serious challenge. Generally speaking, we recommend installing linear suspension fixtures over rectangular tables and circular fixtures over the square and round tables, but when it comes down to it, there’s so much more to consider. Ceiling lights are best for general, overhead lighting, while things like wall sconces and pendant lights are best for layering. The truth is that contemporary lighting design has no rules, and that rings just as true for dining room light fixtures as it does for kitchen and bathroom lights. Let your style shine with this collection of dining room lighting.
Dining Room Lighting for Every Style & Decor
The dining room is typically considered to be a place of luxury where friends and family gather for a formal dinner occasion. But there's no reason you can't enjoy the luxury and modern appeal of well-designed lighting regardless of the occasion. Transitional dining room lighting walks the fine, but timeless, line between traditional and modern decor, making it perfect for a variety of different home styles. Although, if you want something with a more distinctive style, you have plenty of options there as well. Nautical dining room lighting takes advantage of all the comforting aspects of nautical decor, with ropes, vintage-looking metals, and warm tones. But, there are more things to consider, other than lighting style. For example, dimmable dining room lighting is ideal because it allows you complete control over the ambiance. Finally, if you appreciate the presence of energy efficiency in your dining area, look to any of the fixtures using LED as their light source.
Dining Room Lighting FAQs
Q: Should Dining Room Lights Point Up or Down?
A: This will depend on exactly what dining room lighting fixture you’re discussing. Over the table lighting should always point down, but if you have a piece of artwork or interesting architectural feature that you want to show off, a wall sconce that directs light upwards is the best option.
Q: How Far Above the Table Should a Dining Room Light be?
A: All dining lights should hang about 30 inches above the surface of the table. This is high enough to stay out of the way of conversations, but low enough to appreciate the style. Because of this, you'll want to keep in mind suspension length when choosing a fixture.
Q: How Many Lumens do You Need for a Dining Room?
A: Dining room lighting can be tricky because you want the light to be bright enough to see your food and surrounding friendly faces, but you also don’t want a light that’s so bright that it feels like a school cafeteria rather than a cozy dinner. We recommend having somewhere between 3,500 and 4,500 total lumens in your dining room.
How to Choose the Best Dining Room Light Fixtures
There are many different types of dining room light fixtures, and each light serves a different purpose. For example, a wall sconce, although lovely in a dining room as supplementary lighting, won’t work well for dining table lighting. Once you can decide where you need lighting in the room, you'll then need to measure the space to determine the sizes of lights you will need. If you are placing a chandelier or large pendant in the room, be mindful of dimensions like height, diameter, and weight. With size and purpose in mind, you can then refine your options by colors, finishes and other important design features that can blend in with your dining room's existing decor. Taking all of these things into consideration will ensure that your dining room lamps serve the intended purpose and match your personal style.
Other Considerations
Dining room lighting is just one aspect of a well-designed dining room. And, although lighting is absolutely essential for any room, it’s just one aspect of the many things that go into decorating a room. Additions like a stylish dining room ceiling fans or chic new dining chairs are functional pieces that also make the space look better. So, once you have chosen your new lighting, don’t forget to update the other components in the room to reflect your new style.
