Friday, January 6, 2012

Dining Room Lighting Tips

Add candles to your dining room lighting for a sophisticated touch.


Use the dining room to experiment with different lighting options and intensities. Unlike a bedroom or living room, the dining room is typically used for shorter durations of time, which allows for more flexibility in design. Incorporate several lighting options to allow for more control over the mood in the room.


Hanging Fixtures


The dining room provides an individualized design opportunity to incorporate dramatic and bold lighting. To add drama and intensity to your space explore the possibilities of hanging light fixtures. Options range from simple pendant lights to elaborate chandeliers with myriad possibilities in between. Choose a fixture suitable for the space; a large crystal chandelier in a small dining space will look out of place while a single simple pendant in a grand dining room will quickly get lost as well as provide inefficient light. Put hanging fixtures on a dimmer switch to allow you the ability to control the mood of the room. Keep lights high for activities such as homework or crafting projects, and lower the intensity when dining or entertaining.


Candlelight


The dining room should be a versatile space for day-to-day dining with family as well as sophisticated meals with friends. Add dimension to the room with candlelight. Whether you want to create a modern simple aesthetic or an elaborate Victorian-inspired space, use candles to set the mood. Large pillar candles bunched in the center will add significant light and will create a focal point in the room. For additional light in the space add freestanding candelabras that can accommodate multiple candles at various heights. Take care to place candelabras in low-traffic areas to avoid accidents. Seek out salvaged or antique candlesticks and candelabras at secondhand stores in silver and gold to help reflect light around the space and texture to your design.


Wall Sconces








Wall sconces add subtle light to a space with minimal visual interruption. Sconces range in design from sleek modern glass varieties to industrial-type metal fixtures. Choose sconces which complement your existing design. Use sconces throughout the space to up-light the wall and highlight the wall color, or flank them on either side of a painting or fireplace to create a focal point in the room. Choose appropriate wattage for the function of the sconces. If adding background lighting, choose a lower watt bulb in a softer color. To highlight an object you might want a stronger brighter glow. You may need to enlist the help of an electrician to install wall sconces.

Tags: dining room, create focal, create focal point, focal point, focal point room, light space, lighting options