Design & Photo Credit: Neil Santander
Selecting the perfect pendant lighting for your dining space seems to be a baffling task. As you browse through hundreds of styles in catalogs or during countless trips to lighting showrooms, one tends to feel perplexed. It often ends up either buying something just to get it over with or not buying anything at all.
A lighting feature could make or break your desired space. (Eek, no pressure) Why? Because it sets the tone and it creates a huge impact on the overall decor. Before purchasing the chandelier, here are some guidelines to consider to achieve the beautiful dining setting you envision.
Design Style
What is the predominant style of your dining room? Is your furniture Modern? Contemporary? Or perhaps Purely Traditional? If it's the latest, then you require something that would match and harmonize with that style. Check out design styles in design sites like Houzz.com to see what your dining room's design orientation is.
Do you prefer a more relaxed dining area? A creative piece made of natural or recyclable materials will give out a laid back look.
What are the material finishes? Have your fabric swatches, wall finish color, and material samples with you during your selection and compare them against the chandelier. Ensure that your lighting of choice is in the same style as your furnishings. If you wish to go for an eclectic look, try having a complementary shade to any of the existing materials in the room.
Chandelier Finish
Match the finish of the chandelier frame to your accessories and furniture. If you have a lot of warm tones and gold, select a bronze or gold finish.
Polished silver is ideal if you don't want to highlight the body of the crystal chandelier. Silver finish works well with black, grey, and muted chandelier tones. All crystal chandeliers are versatile in various design settings.
Design & Photo Credit: Neil Santander
Chandelier Size and its proportion to the dining table
The chandelier should never be wider than the width of your table.
Rule of Thumb # 1: Choose a fixture that has a diameter measuring 1/2 the width of your square, rectangular, or circular dining table.
It is always better to have two or more chandeliers in an elongated or banquet-sized table of an oversized room.
Rule of Thumb # 2: Suspend the chandelier 3 inches above the table for every 1 foot of the ceiling height. Having said that, the bottom of the chandelier should be hung roughly about 27- 30 inches above your dining table assuming a 9-foot ceiling.
Surface-mounted light fixtures are not really recommended for dining areas unless you are going for a minimalist look.
I personally prefer suspended lighting above the dining table. A sculptural lighting piece will always create a statement!
Room Dimensions
Measure the size of the Room. The worst thing that could ever happen is to pick a chandelier too small or buy something too large it overpowers everything inside the room.
Another pitfall is hanging it too high within your room. For a small breakfast /dinette type of room, an elegant pendant lamp is more suitable.
Measure the Ceiling Height. Higher ceilings require large chandeliers and more illumination.
Two or more really small pendants are not recommended for the dining table as they are more appropriate on top of kitchen bar counters. However, if the diameter of the pendant is carefully selected according to its appropriate size & proportion as shown above, then grouping 2 or more pendant lamps will do the trick.
Design & Photo Credit: Neil Santander
Illumination based on the Area
Calculate the total area of the room. For a ceiling higher than 9 feet, multiply 2.0 Watts for every square foot to achieve a well-lit room without causing a lot of glare. Installing a dimmer switch is wise. I suggest referring to a lighting consultant to customize chandeliers for palatial ceilings and grand spaces.
Consider dimming. It's always a plus point if you can adjust the brightness of the chandelier whenever possible.
LED is always a good idea. Dimmable LEDs are becoming more and more popular.
Design & Photo Credit: Neil Santander
Budget
The budget is another determining factor. Always remember that a chandelier is an investment and should last for a very long time. It could even be an heirloom, so it is very important to buy something that you love.
Which one is your favorite?
Do you have a dining room chandelier at home?
Note: We have obtained written consent and permission for the use of these featured project photos directly from the Interior Designer, Neil Santander.