20 Gorgeous Dining Room Lighting Ideas

One of the key ingredients to a well-designed dining room is the right lighting. Top off your space with a designer-worthy fixture.

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By: Chelsey Bowen

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Treat Yourself

When designing for your family, especially if you have kids and pets, you have to take into account which fabrics and materials will stand up to the daily wear-and-tear. Not so with your dining room lighting. The piece is well out of the way of spills, sticky hands and muddy paws, so you can really splurge on a fixture you love.

More Tips: How to Choose Dining Room Lighting

From: Ashley Gilbreath

Work With the Curve

For round tables, opt for a round or organically shaped light fixture, like the branchy dazzler in this eclectic dining room. Rectangular fixtures create an odd juxtaposition that isn't pleasing to the eye.

From: Cheryl Kees Clendenon

Consider All Your Options

You're slightly more limited when selecting a light fixture for a round table, but long, rectangular tables have a myriad of options. Pick from a linear fixture that mirrors the table's shape, a row or grouping of pendants or a pairing (or trio) of chandeliers. This coupling of metallic chandeliers establishes a chic contrast against the eclectically cottage dining room.

From: Blackband Design

Go Big

Light fixtures don't have to be dripping with crystals or have an elaborate silhouette to make an impact. This traditional chandelier is simple in structure yet conveys a fullness to the space because of its size. Bigger is always better when it comes to dining room lighting.

From: Ashley Moore

Mix Up Your Shapes

Pendant lights don't have to be uniform in size, shape and color. Create an interesting display by merging different pendants together. For this open-concept home, low, streamlined furnishings and a simple, neutral color scheme reign supreme. A trio of textured white pendants hangs over the table without distracting from the stunning city views beyond.

From: B Interior

Match the Style

When planning your lighting, take into consideration the style of your space. This casual eatery with its built-in banquette and firewood accent wall is further enhanced by the triple shot of basket-woven pendant lights. Each pendant hangs from thick rope, adding to the overall breezy appeal.

From: sKout

Accent Your Accessories

Sconces bring in ambient light and define artwork or mirrors on dining room walls. This Old World-inspired chandelier and matching sconces evoke the traditional candelabra look, a chic romantic pairing for this formal dining room.

From: Marie Flanigan Interiors

Use Restraint

Minimalism is the name of the game in this chic dining space. Clean white walls and simple window treatments don't compete with the streamlined, ebony table and horseshoe chairs. Delivering a subtle shade of green, a pair of pendant lights is suspended from the ceiling — adding balance and symmetry to the space.

From: cityhomeCOLLECTIVE

Double Up the Glam

Why stick with one chandelier when you can have two? The crystal-beaded chandelier, along with the mirrored buffet, brings a decidedly art deco aesthetic to this dining room. Look for furnishings that complement each other without being matchy-matchy. Here, a live-edge table with metal base is a chic counterpart to the contemporary upholstered gray dining chairs.

Think Beyond the Central Light

While you want a statement-making light fixture to center your dining room, consider what other types of lighting can make an impact. Directional spotlights illuminate the three-dimensional focal wall of butterflies without casting unwanted shadows over the dining area.

From: James Wagman Architect

Add a Surprising Touch

Elegant and eclectic, the formal dining room is set on a backdrop of boldly textured wallpaper. The contemporary, branch-like chandelier is a wholly unexpected take on lighting that is sure to get many wow-worthy comments.

From: Duet Design Group

Embrace True Americana

A brilliant blue wall color sets the scene for this welcoming, family-friendly dining room, where bright red pendants deliver an additional bold hue. Armchairs in a simple plaid flank either end of the natural wood table and are paired with bright white side chairs upholstered in a graphic blue-and-white fabric.

Let There Be Dimmability

Recessed lighting can play an important role in brightening up a room. Space lights away from the main fixture over your table so that they act as a background glow rather than competing spotlights, and put everything on a dimmer. It's essential to be able to adjust your lighting depending on the mood and task of the room.

From: Village Properties and Luxury Portfolio International®

Keep It in the Middle

A centered light is a must. Unfortunately, not every ceiling box is placed the way you might want to decorate the room. If that's the case in your dining space, embrace the swag. Screw a heavy-duty hook in the ceiling at the midpoint of your table so that your fixture is centered.

From: Stephanie Hatten

Repeat to Create Cohesion

Brass plays a major, if delicate, role in this dining room. The setting is classic white and gray with moments of brass throughout, including the chairs, curtain rods and light fixtures. The sconces mix a contemporary silhouette with a traditional shade to flank the French doors, and an ultra-modern chandelier is hung high to match the scale of the tall ceilings.

From: Martha O'Hara Interiors

Stretch Your Style

A dining room light fixture is a great place to amp up your decorating range. Instead of sticking to your tried-and-true techniques, look for a fixture that's a little outside your box. This chic globe chandelier delivers an industrial edge to the Wedgewood-blue rafters, while still reflecting the shades of the dining room furniture.

From: Cheryl Kees Clendenon

It's OK to Throw Out the Rulebook

The general rule of thumb for hanging dining room fixtures is 30 to 36 inches off the surface of the table. While it's helpful to have a starting point, be sure to eyeball how you want a chandelier or pendant to look in your space. Here, the linear chandelier is hung higher to make room for over-the-top centerpieces.

From: Genna Margolis

Make Them Stand Out

Instead of blending into the wall as subtle accents, the bright red sconces in this dining spot are ready to be noticed. The farmhouse chairs, painted in the same hue, surround a tulip table — a never-fail solution for a small space.

From: Martha's Vineyard Interior Design

Turn to a Classic

The iconic art deco fixture — the Sputnik chandelier — continues to find its way into today's spaces. The otherworldly design tops off a lush, texture-filled dining room, complete with emerald green velvet chairs and a shag area rug. To center the chandelier over the table, it's hung on a swag.

From: Lindye Galloway

Ready to Seat a Crowd

This country-inspired space pairs an extra-long banquette with a rustic table and chairs. Built-in hutches offer plenty of storage and space to display favorite dishes, while a combination of pendant and recessed lighting illuminates the cozy dining corner.

From: Design 4 Corners