What are the rules for dining room chandeliers?

Mar. 07, 2024

When it comes to choosing the light fixtures for your room, we often think that browsing through a catalogue will be sufficient to choose the lamp we like best. It’s not always that easy. Often, the lamp we like in a magazine or in a store, does not match the room we are furnishing at all.

Furthermore, dining room lightning requires certain features that must be known before choosing the light fixtures, to prevent errors that can affect the overall look.

In this article, you’ll find four rules to observe when choosing your dining room lamps and ceiling lamps.

1. Choose the right style

Lamps are an integral part of the room furniture. However, more often than not, when we design a room, we don’t choose the lamps that match the furniture, and we often opt for clashing styles that ruin the overall design.

Finding the right solution is not impossible, even if you choose your furniture a long time ago. However, you need to keep some aspects in mind, and style in particular.

If you have a good idea of how you want your dining room to look, choose lamps and ceiling lamps in line with that style. For instance, you can’t choose the ceiling lamp that doesn’t match the style of the table below it.

If your dining room is a classy and elegant environment, opt for a chandelier. Or opt for a ceiling lamp with dangling or precious details that create light effects and make the room elegant and refined.

2. Pay attention to the lamp-table ratio

When furnishing your dining room, the table is the main element. If you are choosing the light fixtures for your dining room, you already have in mind the style of the room your are going to place them in. Hence, you already know what kind of table will be the star of your dining room.

The table-lamp ratio is governed by three simple aspects, detailed below.

Shape and size

The first thing you need to keep in mind to choose your ceiling lamp is the table shape and size. Concerning its shape, the general rule you need to consider is to try and match the table shape as much as possible. In other words, if the table is round, we suggest you opt for a single round ceiling lamp; if your table is rectangular, go for a ceiling lamp with several light spots developed horizontally along the table.

Clearly, if you have a very big table, you should also opt for a big ceiling lamp. Otherwise, opt for a smaller one.

Even when it comes to size, it is important that the ceiling lamp-table ratio remains well balanced.

How many light fixtures

While keeping in mind what we just said about balancing the table and the ceiling lamp size and shape, ask yourself: would you rather have a single central element that fills the room, or several matching ceiling lamps?

If the room you are furnishing is not very big, we suggest you opt for a single ceiling lamp. You can focus on its style and size, and place it in a prime position.

If, on the other hand, you have a big room, you can opt for more than one light fixture, rather than a single central lamp. If you choose a combination of ceiling lamps to go with your table, we suggest you go for an odd number. The odd number provides balance, by ensuring that the layout is always focused in the middle. For your interior design layout to be well balanced and smooth at first glance, you need a central focal element. Therefore, if you want to install more than one ceiling lamp - maybe because you have a big room and a long table - place three or five. This way, the overall layout will be clean and classy.

In what position and at what distance

There is no general rule to indicate the precise distance between the ceiling lamp and the table surface. Let’s just say that, on average, the ceiling lamp should be placed between 60 and 90 cm from the table. However, it really depends on the room size and on the ceiling height. In any case, when calculating the distance from the table, always take into account the general room balance. Also, according to the ceiling lamp style, you may decide to install it closer to the table.

3. Add light fixtures

A dining room is much more than a table and some chairs. While it’s true that the focus of this room is the table, and the lamp chosen for the table will surely be the central lighting fixture in the room. You can still enrich the room with additional light fixtures.

Today, floor lamps are experiencing a comeback. With curvy or straight vertical lines, there are hundreds of types of floor lamps, with interesting design ideas. Apart from making the room brighter - maybe by enhancing a dark corner - they can further embellish our dining room.

The rule, when choosing additional light fixtures, apart from the ceiling lamp above the table, is always to preserve the room balance, both in terms of style and quantity. Do not overdo it by burdening small rooms with excessive furniture: it could create confusion. It’s best to follow the rule of the overall balance.

4. Dining room lighting: choose the best light

Once you selected your favourite ceiling lamp, and after assessing its style, size and the position it will take in the room, you have to choose what kind of light you want. Indeed, the lamps available on the market can emit a warm or cold light, and it is not always easy to choose which one is best. Similarly, choosing the light intensity emitted by our nice ceiling lamp can be hard. Even though secondary, these aspects may significantly affect the final result. The atmosphere of a room does not depend only on how beautiful and unique a ceiling lamp is, but also on the type of light selected.

Here you will find some indications and suggestions to choose the best light for your dining room:

Warm or cold light?

A classy dining room does not pair well with a cold and direct light. No one wants to be in a seemingly cold room, while comfortably eating dinner with their guests. A warm light is surely ideal to illuminate the dining room, if there is no need of functional lights (such as kitchen LEDs), and if you simply wish to create a comfortable and familiar environment.

Intense or dimmed lighting?

On the other hand, when it comes to intensity, keep in mind that if the light is too dimmed, it could be annoying for anyone spending some time around the dining table to share a meal with their family or friends.

Sure, a dimmed light can remind us of an elegant and refined environment - just think about luxury restaurants, where the purpose is often recreating an intimate and cocooned environment, where customers can dine with privacy. Don’t forget, though, that the dining room is part of the living area, and it would be best to use a more intense light. In some cases, you could opt for dimmable lights, so that you can adjust their intensity depending on the time of the day.

We suggest you opt for a warm light with a medium intensity for your dining room: chatting and sharing meals and dinners with your guests will be pleasant in a space designed and illuminated in such way.

Illuminating the dining room requires a sound style and conscious choices. Keep this advice in mind to avoid making any mistake. You can be sure you'll obtain a balanced and harmonious result.

We decided to break down some of the Dining Room rules you should be adhering to in your own home. The purpose of these posts is not to give you hard rules to follow (or reprimand you if you don’t follow them) but more to give you guidelines that can assist you in helping the room feel as pulled together and harmonious as possible. Think of it as the cheat sheet for what your dining room should be doing. As we mentioned last time, there are always exceptions to the rules but in order to break the rules… you gotta know them first. So let’s get into it.

In case you need more design rules, check out: Bedroom Design Rules | Living Room Rules

Furniture Placement:

photo by david tsay for ehd

RULE: Give 30″ to 36″ of a walkway between large furniture pieces (if your dining room allows for it) if not then at least 18″-24″.

You know how when you are sitting on a flight and the flight attendant pushes that tiny little cart up the aisle basically bumping every single sleeping shoulder on her way up? Well, it’s not the flight attendant’s fault it is the space they have to move in. Don’t let your dining room be that airplane aisle. Make sure you have at least 24″ of space all the way around your dining room table so that people can move freely around it without having to bump everyone at the dinner party on their way to use the powder room.

RULE: Give about 24″ of space per person for maximum comfort and food enjoyment.

Here is a seat guideline for rectangle tables depending on size:

48″long table: seats 4
60″-72″ table: seats 6
80″-87″ table: seats 8
92″-108″ table: seats 10
120″ table: seats 12

And for round tables depending on size:

42″-48″ diameter table seats 4
60″ diameter table seats 6-8

Similar to the last one. Rather than for the space around your table, this is for the space at your table. This isn’t a grade school cafeteria where you are all shoved on a table trying to scarf down your food. So, give your family and guests enough room to sit comfortably at their seat and not be curious which water is theirs because they are all so close together.

RULE: Chairs should be able to slide under the table with ease with or without arms. Ideally, there should be 7″ between the chair arm and apron of the table but that’s not a hard rule. Just for your reference dining chair seats are usually 18″-19″ high and dining tables are typically 30″ high.

This will not only help with flow when the chairs are empty and you need to move around the table, but it also helps those people that need to pull their chair in (little kids) easier accessibility to the table when they are eating.

RULE: This one is more of a guideline than a hard rule. The back height of your chair should be similar in scale to your table. For example, if you have a small round 36″ table you should stay away from a super large scale 4′ tall dining chair because it’s going to look really off. In terms of how short is preferred it doesn’t really matter as much as long as scale-wise it looks right to the table and room. Benches are a great option and have no back:)

This rule can be broken and technically still look good, but use your best judgment when it comes to proportions between your chair and dining table and don’t make the chairs too tall for the size of the table.

Rugs:

RULE: Allow at least 36″ from the edge of your table to the edge of the rug. The average dining table will need a rug that’s at least 8′ wide. This let’s gives you room to pull out your chairs without falling off the rug.

Not every dining room needs a rug, but if you do have one make sure there is plenty of room to pull the chairs in and out without having the chair half on and half off the rug.

photo by david tsay for ehd

RULE: Give at least 12″ between the rug and wall if you have the space.

Rugs are rugs, not wall to wall carpet, so make sure that there is some breathing room between the rug and the walls so that it doesn’t feel too tight in there.

SUGGESTION: Flatweave rugs are in our opinion the best choice for dining rooms. They are the easiest to move chairs around on as well as clean. If you don’t want a flatweave then tufted or low-pile rugs can also work. We just suggest avoiding shags and thick piles. They will catch everything that falls off the table and are much harder to clean.

Lighting:

photo by david tsay for ehd

RULE: Pick a chandelier about half the width of your dining table. You can also is to add the room’s length and width in feet. That number in inches suggests an approx. size for the diameter of your chandelier. So if you have a 10′ x 12′ room your chandelier should be about 22″ in diameter.

Having the right scale light above your table will help the entire space to feel more pulled together. Unless your fixture is a more abstract or sculptural piece – stick with something that is to scale with the size of the table, otherwise, your room could feel overpowered by the fixture.

photo by david tsay for ehd

RULE: Center a chandelier or pendant on the table, not the room.

You would think this is obvious enough, but we are including it just so that it is clear. If you do have a junction box that is off-centered to where your dining table is then either swag the chandelier over or have the junction box moved so that the light is directly over the table.

RULE: Hang your light fixture so the bottom is 30″-36″ above the table. This way no one’s vision is blocked and everyone can see each other:)

You don’t want to feel like you’re in an interrogation room with the light directly overhead, and you also don’t want to lose all sense of atmosphere. So keeping your light at the right distance from your table will help both worlds to work well together.

RULE: For rectangular chandeliers give at least 6″ from the edge of the table to chandelier on both sides.

Your chandelier should never go past the edge of your table in any direction. Anything bigger than your table and the room could feel top heavy.

RULE: For multiple pendants above a dining table we recommend hanging them about 26 to 28 inches apart.

If you choose to do a few different pendants or a row of pendants above your table this rule will help you to space them so that they don’t feel too close and claustrophobic next to each other. It will also help the light to diffuse evenly around the room rather than in one spot.

RULE: Place wall sconces between 5′ to 6′ up from the floor. If using multiple sconces in dining room (or any room) space them ideally 48″ apart but at least 24″-36″.

This rule not only is for aesthetics but also helps to keep the light bouncing around the room evenly so that you don’t end up with any dark corners.

Console:

photo by zeke ruelas for ehd | from: dining room makeover

RULE: Your console table or credenza should be at least the same height as your dining table but ideally higher.

When you enter into a room, your eye wants to see the surfaces that objects are displayed on so having your credenza slightly taller than the height of your table will help things to feel proportional and well placed.

Art:

RULE: Art, whether it’s one piece or a gallery wall, should be at least 2/3rds the size of the side of the table it’s on but typically not any larger than the table.

This rule can be broken, but typically any sort of art on the walls will look best if it is slightly more narrow than the length of your table. If your collection extends beyond it, the proportions in the room can start to feel off.

Tabletop:

RULE: Keep centerpieces 15″ or lower so again everyone can see each other across the table.

This isn’t a gala, save the crazy centerpieces or floral arrangements for a party. When you are seated at the table you don’t want to have to try and peer around a centerpiece to see who you are sitting across from. And, last but not least and EHD suggestion when styling…

SUGGESTION: An EHD personal rule is to never have a tablecloth on a table unless the table is set. Instead, use a table runner for everyday casual use if you need something on your table.

Let us know if you have any other questions or things that are confusing you when it comes to dining room layout and design, and let us know which room you want us to talk about next.

Check out the rest of our design rules: Bedroom Design Rules | Living Room Rules

Opening Photo Credits: Design by Velinda Hellen for EHD | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Sara’s Living Room & Dining Room Reveal

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What are the rules for dining room chandeliers?

1. Choose the right style

2. Pay attention to the lamp-table ratio

Shape and size

How many light fixtures

In what position and at what distance

3. Add light fixtures

4. Dining room lighting: choose the best light

Warm or cold light?

Intense or dimmed lighting?

Furniture Placement:

Rugs:

Lighting:

Console:

Art:

Tabletop:

What are the rules for dining room chandeliers?

Our Dining Room “Rules” Cheat Sheet