7 Great Dining Table Lighting Designs from Our Tours
From a pendant cluster to a cantilevered lamp, check out these ways to illuminate mealtimes in style
It may seem like a last-minute decision when renovating or redecorating your eating space, but it’s a good idea to factor lighting for your dining table into the early design stages. In most cases, it will determine the location of your table and affect electrical fittings. That said, there are also flexible options if you think you’re likely to move furniture about. Take a look at these schemes for inspiration.
Utilise a wall
There isn’t always space for pendant lighting – perhaps it would ruin sightlines out to the garden or the table could be beneath rooflights. Both of these considerations were part of the reason designer Charles Elwell of Kitchens By Holloways opted for wall lights in this Georgian townhouse renovation.
“It was too busy above the table for pendant lighting,” Charles explains. “We’d also decided [pendants] should go above the island. Here, the wall lights create a softer light for when you’re at the table.”
Because the space is defined by the row of artworks above the bench, the choice of fitting had to tie in. Charles chose a stylish black design and gave the pictures black slimline frames. The effect is beautifully cohesive. “The wall of artwork faces the kitchen and is a really nice thing to look at while you cook,” he says.
Tour the whole of this space.
There isn’t always space for pendant lighting – perhaps it would ruin sightlines out to the garden or the table could be beneath rooflights. Both of these considerations were part of the reason designer Charles Elwell of Kitchens By Holloways opted for wall lights in this Georgian townhouse renovation.
“It was too busy above the table for pendant lighting,” Charles explains. “We’d also decided [pendants] should go above the island. Here, the wall lights create a softer light for when you’re at the table.”
Because the space is defined by the row of artworks above the bench, the choice of fitting had to tie in. Charles chose a stylish black design and gave the pictures black slimline frames. The effect is beautifully cohesive. “The wall of artwork faces the kitchen and is a really nice thing to look at while you cook,” he says.
Tour the whole of this space.
Add texture
When designer Marie Guédon of Home by Marie moved her family to this modern bungalow in France, she was keen to infuse warmth and charm into a house that was lacking both.
After recreating a characterful, Shaker-style kitchen on a budget, Marie found a circular dining table to add soft lines to the space. The oversized raffia pendant hanging over it softens the mood further still.
“For contemporary spaces lacking appealing architectural details, my key rule is to add texture,” she says. The woven design also diffuses light, adding warmth when switched on.
Learn more about how character was added to this new home.
Ready to renovate? Contact interior designers through Houzz.
When designer Marie Guédon of Home by Marie moved her family to this modern bungalow in France, she was keen to infuse warmth and charm into a house that was lacking both.
After recreating a characterful, Shaker-style kitchen on a budget, Marie found a circular dining table to add soft lines to the space. The oversized raffia pendant hanging over it softens the mood further still.
“For contemporary spaces lacking appealing architectural details, my key rule is to add texture,” she says. The woven design also diffuses light, adding warmth when switched on.
Learn more about how character was added to this new home.
Ready to renovate? Contact interior designers through Houzz.
Pick a period piece
The owners of this seaside flat in an Art Deco building asked interior designer Nicky Percival to revitalise their property.
Nicky homed in on their love of midcentury style in her revamp. “They have quite a nice collection of prints and paintings, as well as some quirky vintage furniture,” she says, “so it was important to accommodate these in the design scheme.”
The light fitting over the dining table was new, yet it has a real midcentury aesthetic and is a strong focal point in the space.
Explore the whole of this fun seaside apartment.
The owners of this seaside flat in an Art Deco building asked interior designer Nicky Percival to revitalise their property.
Nicky homed in on their love of midcentury style in her revamp. “They have quite a nice collection of prints and paintings, as well as some quirky vintage furniture,” she says, “so it was important to accommodate these in the design scheme.”
The light fitting over the dining table was new, yet it has a real midcentury aesthetic and is a strong focal point in the space.
Explore the whole of this fun seaside apartment.
Be flexible
A fixed light fitting, whether hanging or wall-mounted, isn’t the only way, of course. There are plenty of oversized floor lamps on the market that will have enough reach to illuminate the centre of a dining table. And it’s a great choice if you’re installing a dining table retrospectively, or might want to move it around.
It works perfectly for this secondary dining space in an Ibizan holiday home, designed by Ed Godrich of Godrich Interiors.
Take a look around this holiday home in Ibiza.
A fixed light fitting, whether hanging or wall-mounted, isn’t the only way, of course. There are plenty of oversized floor lamps on the market that will have enough reach to illuminate the centre of a dining table. And it’s a great choice if you’re installing a dining table retrospectively, or might want to move it around.
It works perfectly for this secondary dining space in an Ibizan holiday home, designed by Ed Godrich of Godrich Interiors.
Take a look around this holiday home in Ibiza.
Make it minimal
Strip lighting has come a long way… The slimline, linear pendant over this dining table is highly adjustable and can be set to cast a warm glow at mealtimes.
A major part of the redesign of this home, by interior architect Kate Whitfield of An Artful Life, was to bring in more light to the property, and new internal glazing has transformed the feel of the space.
In line with that, this beautifully minimal and elegant light fitting ensures the view to the garden (on the left) from the front door (right, through the glass door) remains unrestricted.
See how this formerly dark modern mews house got an inspired makeover.
Strip lighting has come a long way… The slimline, linear pendant over this dining table is highly adjustable and can be set to cast a warm glow at mealtimes.
A major part of the redesign of this home, by interior architect Kate Whitfield of An Artful Life, was to bring in more light to the property, and new internal glazing has transformed the feel of the space.
In line with that, this beautifully minimal and elegant light fitting ensures the view to the garden (on the left) from the front door (right, through the glass door) remains unrestricted.
See how this formerly dark modern mews house got an inspired makeover.
Go pale and interesting
This gorgeous Parisian flat was reimagined for its owners by interior designer Ingrid Cuny. The theme throughout is elegance and Scandinavian-style simplicity – a hint of Greek seaside was also part of the brief.
Naturally, this white lampshade – airy, light and minimal – fits in perfectly. The design, which is soft and gently ribbed, has a tactile look to it. Though it’s large, it complements rather than competes with the surrounding design classics, including two Thonet chairs in beech and Viennese wickerwork by Sebastian Herkner and two Gubi velour armchairs, which already belonged to the owner.
Explore the whole of this revived Parisian flat.
Tell us…
Which is your favourite of these dining table light fittings? Let us know in the Comments.
This gorgeous Parisian flat was reimagined for its owners by interior designer Ingrid Cuny. The theme throughout is elegance and Scandinavian-style simplicity – a hint of Greek seaside was also part of the brief.
Naturally, this white lampshade – airy, light and minimal – fits in perfectly. The design, which is soft and gently ribbed, has a tactile look to it. Though it’s large, it complements rather than competes with the surrounding design classics, including two Thonet chairs in beech and Viennese wickerwork by Sebastian Herkner and two Gubi velour armchairs, which already belonged to the owner.
Explore the whole of this revived Parisian flat.
Tell us…
Which is your favourite of these dining table light fittings? Let us know in the Comments.
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This stunning apartment in Italy is located within a 17th century ex-convent and has gorgeously high ceilings.
Architect Chantal Forzatti reconfigured the space for a young couple who love modern decor. She found the perfect second-hand table and cut it down so it was just the right size for this living/dining space.
The lighting she chose to hang over it adds architectural interest, with three differently shaped pendants hanging at different heights.
Although the room is open-plan and has that high ceiling, Chantal has created an intimate, cosy place to eat by hanging the cluster of shades reasonably low and sourcing a design with warm copper interiors to help cast a soft glow over the table.
See more of this 17th century flat beside Lake Como.