For many, holiday season equals entertaining season. While we covered the behind-the-scenes lighting prep tips in our last blog post, we are dedicating this post to the main event and what comes after the prep/cooking in the kitchen – the dining experience itself.
The good news about dining room lighting is that it’s generally regarded as one of the easier rooms of the house to light. The table is often the focal hub of the room, so lighting comes down to personal taste and design preference. Because ambiance is the most important aspect of this room, we’ve compiled a list of must-have elements for the dining room that will guarantee an entertaining experience your family and friends will be sure to enjoy.
Dining Room Lighting Design
1. Choose Your Accents Carefully
The light fixture above the table is the decorative focal point of the dining room, so make sure you choose this piece with your interior design in mind. The fixture(s) above the table provide light at lower level than recessed ceiling cans, which gives a spotlight effect to the table and its contents: the centerpiece, table decor, and the food of course! Pendant lighting and chandeliers come in so many varieties to choose from – drums, pendants, chandeliers – each bringing a different ambiance to the room. Large rooms and tables should consider multiple fixtures.
2. Dimmers – The Staple of Dining Room Lighting.
Can’t stress this little ambiance-changer enough! Dimming is great for giving any lighting design flexibility, and the dining room is a room that needs flexibility the most. Coordinating the dimming for all the dining room lighting fixtures – recessed cans, fixtures, and accent lighting will double the functionality AND the ambiance of the room – think JC Penny dressing room vs. 5-star restaurant.
3. Accent Lighting Brings the Charm
If you want bring the room together, accent lighting for the design elements of your dining room will do it. Art lights for your family portraits and other artwork on the walls, slotted lights over the table to light up the centerpiece, task lighting on the sideboard, and cabinet lighting to show off your favorite holiday items in the dining room hutch – these are all subtle lighting design techniques that make a big impact on your room visuals.
Dining Room Lighting Design
4. Room Design Determines the Amount of Light.
For example, dark finishes and higher ceilings general require more lighting, to brighten up the room. So be sure to consider your space while decking the halls with new lighting systems!
Ambiance is the key factor in lighting the dining room. With proper lighting your room will come to life to delight guests and highlight your decor.