Lighting Design Solutions

Dining Room Lighting

The most common lighting solution in a dining room is to use a decorative chandelier above the table.

It is often desirable to add at least two other layers of light in the space.

The use of two sconces on one wall is always desirable. The sconces will bring a human scale and desirable focus to the perimeter of the space. If there is a large buffet, use two candlestick accent table lamps as an option to the sconces.

If the space contains interesting art that would be enhanced by being illuminated, the use of recessed adjustable lighting is desirable above each painting. In these cases, it is best to use fixtures with small apertures and use MR16 or similar lamps with small diameters.

In most dining spaces, it is appropriate to select the size of the chandelier based on a series of simple formulas. For the height, take the ceiling height and divide it by 4. For example, if the ceiling is 9'-0"(108"), the appropriate height of the fixture would be approximately 27"(108 divided by 4). This dimension is typically a maximum length recommendation, not counting the chain. Always remember that these are not absolute formulas, but are intended simply to provide a beginning point of what size might be appropriate.

For the diameter of the fixture, there are several possible formulas. One option is to take the width and length of the room in feet and convert these numbers directly to inches. For example, if the room has a width of 12'-0"and a length of 15'-0", the total would be 27". In this case, the 27 simply becomes inches, for a total width of 27 inches as a recommended width.

In all cases, place dimmers on all fixtures. Dimmers will provide exceptional control and flexibility for the variety of tasks that occur in a dining room. In the case of a dining room, it is also suggested that an integrated dimming system be considered. These systems allow you to dim the lights, but also allow for pre-set scenes that are programmed into the system. This process adds much comfort and flexibility for creating an ideal lighting environment.