Candle light can really set the mood for a romantic dinner for two. Everything and EVERYBODY always looks better in candle light, don’t you think? Remember the movie Sixteen Candles, when Molly Ringwald finally gets to kiss Jake Ryan on her birthday? Cue the song, “If You Were Here” By Thompson Twins.. Cut to Molly and Jake sitting cross-legged on the dining table, lavishly lit by 16 flickering birthday candles atop the perfect birthday cake… I mean come on! Does it get better or more romantic than that? Sadly, not every dinner can be so perfect. Even sadder still, not every dinner has birthday cake.. But if you use your dining room table often, (mine is used as a pop up office almost daily), then you’ll want the right lighting to make dinner time more enjoyable and all those other “non food related” activities at the dining table, do-able! So if you need lighting over the dining table, here’s what you need to know before buying.
 

Lighting Over The Dining Room Table. What You Need To Know Before Buying, Tip #1: Get Centered
 

No I’m not talking about meditation or yoga. Although, you could benefit from learning one or both before undergoing a home renovation. (Namaste away form from my house while the contractors are there…)  The placement of the light fixture can really make or break the composition of your space.

• The ideal spot for your fixture to hang is directly above the table, not in the center of the room. This is especially important if you’re planning on having a sideboard or server in the space. There’s nothing worse than having to cobble a dining room configuration around a room centered ceiling fixture that doesn’t allow for enough space between the table and the server piece. God forbid you have a server and a buffet… Don’t get me started!

Lighting Over The Dining Room Table. What You Need To Know Before Buying, Tip #2: The Perfect Formula
 

I literally just had this exact discussion with a client the other day. She was chandelier hunting and she called me to ask if there was a rule of thumb to go by for picking the right size fixture for over the table. I said, yes indeed but it has more to do with the size of the room and not specifically the size of the table, most of the time… The perfect formula for the right size lighting fixture is:

• Room Length + Width, in feet = diameter of lighting fixture

So if you have a room that’s 18’ x 14’ than your formula is 18 + 14 = 32. The perfect size fixture for your space would be 32” around. 

Okay, but what if you have your heart set on a rectangular light fixture? If that’s the direction you’re going then I would consider the size of the table before the room dimensions. Here’s the formula: 

• Length of table / 3, subtract that number from table length. To determine width, subtract the answer from the length / 3 from the width of the table. For example:

76” x 46” table. 76/3 = 25. 76 – 25 =51. (That’s the length of the fixture). To determine the width of the fixture: 46 – 25 = 21. The ideal size rectangular fixture for this table is 51” long x 21” wide. 

In both cases, a few inches in either direction will not matter. Just don’t hang a single bulb over a gathering table and expect a wow factor! More visual? Here are the formulas in graphic form:
 

Lighting Over The Dining Room Table. What You Need To Know Before Buying, Tip #3: How High Can You Go?
 

The height of your hanging fixture can be accomplished in two ways: One way is to have the bottom of your light fixture no less than 6’ from the floor. The second way is to have the bottom of your fixture be no less than 30” from the top of your table. If you have chosen a counter or pub height table, I would suggest using the second option to arrive at the best height to hang your fixture. You would be surprised how imposing the chandelier can feel if it’s hung too low. 
 

Lighting Over The Dining Room Table. What You Need To Know Before Buying, Tip #4: Light It Up!
 

This tip is purely a personal opinion but it can really make a difference. In today’s world we are very lucky to have an abundance of lighting options. We have almost as many hues and bulb temperatures in the lighting options arena as well. In my opinion, you should only use warm hue lighting in dining rooms and over dining tables in general. Some led and florescent lights give off a blue or cool hue. This can affect how food looks and may even cause you to loose your appetite. So if you’re not planning on going on a crash diet, loose the cool blue lighting over your dining table!  
 

Lighting Over The Dining Room Table. What You Need To Know Before Buying, Tip #5: The Room Will Tell You.
 

Your dining room isn’t going to speak up and literally tell you what style and shape your lighting fixture should be. (If it does, then you should probably get that checked out…) Generally, the style and type of architecture of your home will provide a direction for the type and style of your dining lighting room fixture. Now, that being said, I often like to “go against type” when selecting things like chandeliers. I feel that it’s much more interesting to use a modern or contemporary fixture in a “traditional” dining room. And, I’ve been know on many occasions to bring in a very “traditional” fixture in minimalist lofts or spaces that feel more industrial. 

• The thing that makes this work is finding the bridge between the fixture and the space.

For example, say you have a ultra modern open concept industrial loft. The dining table has a distressed top and a simple, metal pedestal base. I would see if a “traditional” style chandelier with the same metal tones as the table base would work. That’s the bridge. I’ve found that when at least one element relates to other things going on in the room, you can make it work. Get to know the rules and then know when to break them!
 

That’s it! Now you know my 5 tips for finding the right light for over your dining table! I hope you’ve found this helpful and if you did, I’d love it if you’d give it a thumbs up. Know someone who’s in the market for a new dining room light fixture? Share this post with them to save them a few headaches. 
 

This post marks a bit of a milestone for me. This one is post number 25! Woohoo! To commemorate this milestone, I have a new blog signature right below with a few links to other pages on my site and a subscribe button to join my newsletter. 

The clock is ticking to be one of the first ones to read the inaugural issue, September 5th, 2017. If you like my posts, you’ll love the newsletter cause it’s going to have tons more stuff to help you with decorating your home, beautiful diy projects, behind the scenes looks at the projects I’m working on and so much more! Don’t miss out. Just click the green subscribe button in my signature below to get on the list! Thanks so much for reading and until next time, stay fabulous!
 

P.S. Here’s a little Jake and Molly to brighten up your day! Enjoy!
 

Michael is Principal designer and blogger at Michael Helwig Interiors in beautiful Buffalo, New York. Since 2011, he’s a space planning expert, offering online interior e-design services for folks living in small homes, or for those with awkward and tricky layouts. He’s a frequent expert contributor to many National media publications and news outlets on topics related to decorating, interior design, diy projects, and more. Michael happily shares his experience to help folks avoid expensive mistakes and decorating disappointments. You can follow him on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook @interiorsmh.