Small dining room lighting ideas – 10 ways to illuminate mealtimes in style – Ideal Home

A well-planned lighting scheme is one of the most important  small dining room ideas   for anyone serious about maximising the sense associated with space where they eat and entertain. Small dining room lighting ideas come laden with decorative benefits, especially now there are so many gorgeous designs in eye-catching shapes, colours and patterns to dress your eating room in style.    

Before you begin drooling over all the beautiful light fixtures available, first think about how you use your dining space. Is it the separate space used only for high days and holidays, or is it within your main living space plus constantly evolving from workplace, art and crafts station to wine bar? The different light levels and flexibility required will certainly impact your own light fitting shopping list, as well as the wiring plan.

‘A beautifully lit dining area that is carefully illuminated to avoid dark shadows, can feel far bigger than reality and will provide a more relaxed environment in order to socialise in, ’ says David Amos, CEO at  Amos Lighting + Home (opens in new tab) .

Little dining area lighting suggestions

With any dining room illumination ideas , it helps to establish a furniture plan. In the small dining area this may most likely be the dining table. Start by deciding the particular type, height and position of your preferred lights above the table, then work outwards to wall lights, lamps and candles.  

1 . Light in layers

Rob Ellis, head of design at  dwell (opens in new tab) , recommends a variety associated with lighting options to make it easy to change the mood in a small dining room. ‘Over the particular table, go for the striking pendant light as this will create a focal point to draw the eye up – plus it makes a good  conversational piece, ’ he explains. ‘Pair your pendant light with a floor lamp or table  lamp to create other areas of interest within the area and use dimmer controls for even more flexibility. ’ 

Layering your own lighting adds warmth plus cosiness to a small dining space, and it also offers an opportunity to have fun along with different light-fitting designs. Don’t feel obliged to buy rigidly matching fittings, a more eclectic mix may look more relaxed and comforting.  

2. Use lighting in order to zone

Open-plan kitchen ideas has undoubtedly ushered in a more relaxed approach to dining but, if room allows, it’s still nice to retain an air of distinction between eating and relaxing. Lighting can be a saviour when establishing clear boundaries.  

We love exactly how the festoon lights are used to frame the entrance to the compact eating area in this open-plan home. Go for  battery powered string lights, available from £10 at Amazon (opens in brand new tab)   to reduce the eye-sore of trailing cables. Also consider the trio associated with pendants, or one out-sized chandelier, in order to clearly define the dining table if the eating area lacks hanging opportunities.  

3. Choose a statement chandelier

Don’t be fooled into thinking a small eating room can’t handle the particular glamour plus opulence of a chandelier! By contrast, going bold with your chandelier selection – within both size and design – can be all it takes to make a diminutive dining space sing.  

‘A show-stopping chandelier can seriously impress when hosting family and friends around the table, ’ enthuses Julian Page, head of design at  BHS (opens in new tab) . Look for chandeliers with interesting, conversation-starting designs. ‘Tinted shades, unusual metal finishes and multicoloured glass can all create a stunning focal point in a small space, ’ provides Julian.  

As chandeliers tend to have the lot more bulbs than other fixtures, it makes even more sense to switch to energy-saving LEDs. They also last longer than halogen and incandescent bulbs so a person won’t spend your life teetering on the dining table trying to replace them.

4. Source see-through shades

The design of the light accessories you buy with regard to a little dining area can have a big impact on the particular sense associated with space in the room. If you are wanting to make the room appear larger, steer clear of large solid light fittings and dark coloured shades that will dominate and attract in the room.  

Instead, source transparent materials, like clear glass, or spun shades that literally let the light through. If a shade will be see-through, you can afford to go far bigger without fear of overpowering your other  dining room décor concepts .

5. Be bold along with colour

While neutral dining area ideas are renowned for boosting the feeling of space in any kind of room, they can lack character. Lighting is the great way to get your own colour fix while enjoying the expansive benefits of pale walls. This small eating room, designed by Ciara  Ephson,   founder of  Fentiman Design (opens in brand new tab) , features a bright mid-century vintage necklace that helps draw attention to the particular room’s generous height. ‘Floor lamps with interesting colors, like these from  Pooky (opens in new tab) , will also add a pop of pattern at vision level, ’ Ciara adds.  

6. Reposition pendants

Like any room, small dining space lighting tips should be planned at the very start associated with your decorating schedule to ensure the electrics are usually exactly where you want all of them. Ceiling lights must be centred on the table, which can mean buying, or at least choosing, the table before the room is decorated.  

If the particular existing light fitting isn’t where you want it, install a longer cord, add a hook and drape typically the cord across. Allow around 70-80cm between table plus pendant lighting to prevent obstructing interaction among guests.

7. Switch up your lampshades

Invest in light fittings with removable shades to make it easy to change up your  small dining room lighting ideas without breaking the bank. You can even learn  how to cover a lampshade   and create different shades to suit this seasons.  

‘Switching out lampshades can instantly replace the accent colours in the small dining room. I particularly love colors in navy blues, reds and browns for injecting moody glamour into lighting schemes, ’ says  Mary Buchanan, creative director of Laura Ashley Lighting in addition to Mirrors.  

8. Work often the walls

Wall lights are a big design trend, and in a small dining area they can also prove a new space-saving choice as these people don’t block sightlines in the same way as pendants. Wall lights are also ideal if your dining room ceiling will be low. If wall lights are your only light source, do get them wired to dimmer switches – making sure the light fitting and bulbs you buy are dimmer-compatible – so they can provide both bright task lighting and even dim atmospheric illumination.

To avoid the expense and upheaval of hardwiring new wall lights, go for plug-in designs along with stylish cables that are simply screwed towards the walls above an existing socket. Don’t miss the opportunity to bring in some design interest with your wall lights, the latest designs are usually more like works associated with art than mere gentle fittings!

9. Make it yours

Don’t miss the opportunity to add some sort of touch regarding individuality, fun and texture with your lighting in your small dining space. Individual lighting components, want flex wires, bulb holders and ceiling roses, are now readily available and can be used to produce custom designs like this smart industrial-look design featuring reclaimed timber. Using Edison-style bulbs in a variety of shapes is a good clever way to save on pendant colors.

‘The benefit of building your own light fitting is it allows you to position the sunshine source exactly where you need this, and control the length and width of the illumination, ’ says Marketa  Rypacek, managing director, Industville (opens inside new tab) . ‘Further individual flair could be added with coloured flex or lightshades, to either create a statement or complement the décor of  your  small dining room. ’ 

10. Add sparkle

Candlelight is the exact unsung hero of all  small dining room illumination ideas. When space is at a premium, a few strategically placed candles can make the room feel deliberately cosy, rather compared to cramped, together with prove all you need to set the particular mood in order to relax.  

‘An assortment of candlesticks and additionally tealights within eclectic bowls displayed on  the dining room table and mantle will bring some sparkle to any evening, not just when entertaining, ’ says Rob Ellis, head of style at  dwell (opens inside new tab) . Fairy lights are not just for Christmas. Use them, in glass bowls not to mention along your table runner, to provide a similar twinkly atmosphere to candle lights without typically the potential fire risk!  

How do you lighting a small eating room?

Lighting can make or break the environment in a small dining room. A layered approach that may be dialled up, or even down, is the best way to be able to make sure the space is illuminated right into this corners. Interior designer  Nicky Dobree (opens in new tab)   recommends using plenty of lamps to cast a soft, warm mild across the room at lower level. As well as pendant(s) centred on the dining table, she likes to use indirect ceiling spotlights, on dimmers if possible.  

‘They’re more discreet and may end up being hidden throughout the beams, used for you to highlight often the artwork found in the area and accent other areas appealing, love a nice sideboard, ’ she says. Use floor lamps if there isn’t space for any lamp-bearing furniture. If you can comfortably accommodate some small dresser or shelving unit, add discreet LED strips under the shelving to bring in some cosy mood lighting.

What light is usually best for a little place?

A small bedroom will benefit from flexible lighting together with brightness levels that can be adjusted at your flick involving a switch. Dimmer controls are the exact easiest way to help change the light levels according to what you are doing around the room or space. Don’t forget dining tables are often used for working from home and homework, when brighter light amounts will be beneficial.  

In a small room dedicated to dining you should choose light bulbs that provide a fairly warm white light connected with around 2, 700 Kelvin (cold light is less flattering and also harsher upon tired eyes). Wall uplighters are great  dining area wall decorating scheme ideas   as they illuminate the ceiling to boost the impression of height, which may be a huge boon in a room.