Get Moody: Dining Room Lighting 101
Set the mood for dinner with our comprehensive guide to casting every kind of dining situation in just the right light.
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Get Moody: Dining Room Lighting 101
Set the mood for dinner with our comprehensive guide to casting every kind of dining situation in just the right light.
By: Charlotte OlbyWe ask a lot of our dining room. Yes the kitchen is commonly considered the heart of every home, but whether your dining space is a dedicated room, or part of an open plan space, it is the one area that needs its own dining room lighting micro climate. Why? Because your dining table works the hardest. From hosting lavish dinner parties to daily family meals, or moonlighting as homework desks or remote meeting rooms, your dining table works hard. To help you out with your dining room lighting requirements, we’ve gathered our best lighting ideas, tips and tricks in one handy guide. This is the real meaning of ‘well lit’.
1.
The Centre Piece
Rockett St George Cream and Black Lantern Ceiling Light With Tassels, £78
A trick known as light layering (whereby you look to create ambience in your space with multiple light sources hung at different heights) is the key to illuminating your dining room both interestingly and properly. Rockett St George’s Cream and Black Ceiling Light, £78 will add a showstopping feature to any interior while providing the perfect balance of all-important ambient and task lighting. Looking for a more pared-back look? Hanging multiple, sleek pendant lights is a dynamic combination for both style and function.
Shop NowAccent Lighting
House of Hackney Emania Cotton-Linen Large Petticoat Lampshade, £375
When deciding on ways to light any living space, lamps are always a good idea. Look for a combination of both table and floor lamps to add subtle mood lighting to your dinner table, that scales up or down depending on the function. Need more options? Install dimmer switches for all lights in your dining space, so you have both decorative and practical lighting options ready to dial up or down for every kind of occasion. Go full statement shade with the House of Hackney Emania Petticoat Lampshade, £375, aka the ultimate dark corner antidote, (particularly when paired with a Pineapple Lampstand, £495.)
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3.
Amplify with Wall Lights
Rockett St George Brass Effect Hanging Lamp in Frame, £42
Make the most of your multi-functioning space with adaptable lighting options that add extra light to a room you mostly use of an evening. Wall lights can really come into their own in the dining room, adding in a delicate layer of light which is especially good for more intimate dinners (when overhead lighting might feel too harsh) giving just the right amount of light to illuminate dinner and your dinner mates. A row of hanging wall lamps, like Rockett St George’s Brass Effect Hanging Lamp, £42, is a contemporary way to create a unique look from any angle and, when spaced perfectly, will ensure the entire length of your table gets the good light.
Shop NowAdd Candles
Anna & Nina Olympia Glass Candle Holder, £27
Adding a row of candles to your tablescape won’t drastically add to the light levels, but they will help to create ambience with organic mood lighting. Mismatch your candlesticks for an eclectic dining aesthetic or dot throughout the room to create an atmospheric moment. TIP: If you’re expecting your plans to go on well into the night, ensure you select non-drip candles to prevent a messy tablecloth.
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