How to pick the perfect lighting for your dining room

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Your dining room is a special place in the home. Where people not only eat, but socialize, celebrate, and learn. So of course you want to make the dining room as perfect as it deserves to be. That includes picking lighting that will create the right mood and be practical at the same time.

One of the first steps to picking the perfect lighting for your dining room is to examine how you will 

be using the space. 

Do you like to host lots of parties with your friends or do you mainly use your dining room for your family? Will your children be doing their homework at the table or will you be doing work there? If you need a lot of light, you may want to consider multiple lighting fixtures and recessed lighting. If you want to be able to control the ambience of the room, then you will want to get fixtures that are dimmable.

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Next you need to assess the space you’re working with. If it is a large dining room then you will want a large main fixture that is to scale with the space. If you have a more compact dining room, then you will want something that isn’t so large that it overwhelms the space. Are there any architectural details, like built-ins or nooks, that would look nice highlighted by spotlighting?

After looking at the practical side of choosing your dining room lighting you can move on to the fun part. Style! There are so many amazing light fixtures available today; in designs that cater everyone’s own unique taste. When choosing the perfect lighting for your dining room take into account the style of your home and your own design preferences. Looking for something glamorous? Then gold and crystals are a must for your lighting. Looking for something industrial chic? Then sculptural metal would be a good start for you. The list of lighting finishes and designs is endless, so there really is something for everyone.

Now that you have the basics covered, you may be wondering what lighting options are out there. Which one or ones do I choose? There are many variations, but in general there are 4 main categories. Those categories are chandeliers, ceiling lights, wall lights, and lamps.

Chandeliers are a traditional multiple light fixture that are great for placing above the dining room table. They traditionally came draped in crystals, but they now come in contemporary styles as well, for the more modern home.  

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(I like the photo with the black dining chairs and plates on wall)

Ceiling lights have several variations. Pendant ceiling lights are usually on a long cord. Large pendant lights are beautiful hung above the dining room table as an alternative to a chandelier. Mini pendants are smaller and are great above an eat-at-bar or as a unique buffet lighting option. 

If you have a lower ceiling in your dining room a flush mount ceiling light or semi-flush would be ideal for your main light source. Since they are closer to the ceiling, they won’t interfere with the line of sight around the room. Another popular ceiling light option is recessed lights. These small lights are recessed into the ceiling and are great for casting a soft spotlight on points of interest. They also give dimension and character to any room they are installed in.

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Wall lighting options that might be of use in your dining room are sconces or cabinet lighting. Sconces can be used to frame a window, to be put on each side of a hutch, or to add some glow to a dark spot in the room – just for example. If you have built in cabinets, bookcases, or any type of display case in your dining room, then cabinet lighting could really play up their best qualities and add some drama to an otherwise dark area.

Since lamps are movable lighting, they are the perfect solution to any dim areas that you may want to brighten up. Table lamps look very nice as part of a buffet server tablescape. While floor lamps can enhance that corner that you just don’t know what to do with.

Whatever lighting options you choose for your dining room, they are sure to bring a design element to your space that you can’t get with any other piece of décor. Great lighting design can create a romantic mood or can brighten a dark day. If you follow the steps set out here, then you are sure to pick the perfect lighting for your dining room.

Crystal Chandeliers for Traditional Dining Rooms

Not many things can surpass the charm of a traditional dining room, complete with a weathered wood or stone floor, beautiful glass and timber china cabinets, and a large dining table with rich upholstered chairs, topped by the crowning glory of a magnificent crystal chandelier.

A formal dining room occupies pride of place in the design scheme of any mansion or large apartment. By its very definition, these rooms are reserved for family sit-down dinners and for special occasions when their grandeur is meant to impress any guest that walks through their portals.

The gold standard for traditional dining rooms is set by the crystal chandelier that occupies pride of place in the design. Though crystal chandeliers can complement most decor themes, they are especially at home in a traditionally decorated space, adding drama and dazzle to the ambience.

Crystal chandeliers combine an aesthetic role with a modest lighting function. By day, a crystal chandelier can stand on its own as an attractive decorative feature with the natural light playing with the crystals. At night, the crystal chandelier dons an entirely different, almost ethereal personality with its glowing magical aura.   

Traditional dining rooms are dimensionally expansive with every design element in the space proportionate in scale. Sizing the crystal chandelier is the first challenge as it will be the focal point of the design plan, and the central character in the play of lights. Hung centered to the dining table, the chandelier’s width should ideally be contained within 12 inches inside from the edge of the table, or not exceed two-thirds the total width of the table. Designers always advise selecting a larger chandelier than a smaller one. If the chandelier looks too large for the table, just hang it a little higher than the recommended height so that it does not seemingly occupy more visual space.

Crystal chandeliers are mostly designed in two-, three- or four tiers with multiple arms branching in complex patterns. In addition to the width, the chandelier’s height should also be considered while selecting a design to ensure the right fit. Traditional dining rooms with high ceilings can easily accommodate large and elaborate multi-tiered chandelier designs. One only has to make sure that there is a minimum of 30 inches’ distance between the table top and the bottom of the chandelier. Larger dining rooms can have the chandelier hung higher without the chandelier losing its visual impact.

Style is a critical factor for crystal chandeliers in traditional dining rooms. A crystal chandelier looks best when it complements the home’s era and architecture. An ornate crystal chandelier, however heavy visually will not look out of place in a traditionally-themed dining room based on Victorian or Georgian influences. Brass, wrought iron, bronze, gold, silver and antique finishes are highly preferred in crystal chandeliers for formal dining rooms. Gold and bronze finishes are especially great in rooms with warm earthy tones. Antique furniture in the dining room can be complemented by intricate chandelier designs. While choosing the finish for your chandelier, select one that is common to the various fixtures and fittings in the room including other lights, door knobs, artwork frames, cabinet handles and table settings.

Among crystal chandeliers, Murano and Maria Theresa styles are highly prized not only for their pedigree but also their dazzling beauty. Muranos are glass crystal chandeliers made from soda crystal unlike lead crystals typically used in conventional chandeliers.

Maria Theresa crystal chandeliers are characterized by intricate detailing, sweeping curves, uplifted arms and multiple layers of glass rosettes with dripping crystals and beads, creating an opulent, luxurious ambience in the dining room.

A crystal chandelier does have a lighting function but it cannot be the sole source of illumination in the room. Too bright, and it becomes a source of discomfort to the people at the table. Crystal chandeliers play a lead role in a layered lighting plan that includes wall sconces, recessed lights, pendant lamps and track lights. A smart dimmer can be installed to control the brightness of all the lights to create an appropriate ambience for each occasion. In terms of the color of the light, a crystal chandelier in a traditional dining room looks best with a gentle, warm yellow glow, which can be provided by energy efficient LED bulbs.