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Angle them toward the chandelier to add sparkle to the chandelier and provide down lighting.
The final layer of light should fill in the shadows around the room's perimeter. Consider recessed lights located in the ceiling toward the corners of the room. Wall washers, recessed or mounted on tracts, can illuminate drapes or paintings. Torchieres and sconces point light toward the ceiling.
Don't forget to light furniture around the edge of the dining room. Buffets, hutches or breakfronts can be illuminated internally with low voltage lights on the underside of shelves to light up collections and china.
Portable lighting, or table lamps, also plays an important role in the dining room area. Accent lamps on breakfronts or etageres or two great buffet lamps with unique shades can help create just the right mood for that special meal or occasion when the dining room is being utilized.
Other options include recessed or tract lighting above buffets or breakfronts. Miniature low voltage pendants suspended three feet above the buffet offer a more contemporary look, while tall, thin candlestick lamps on either end are more traditional.
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Top Tips for Lighting Dining Rooms.
FIRST STEP: A chandelier in the middle of the room defines the space. Choose that fixture first, then work out with accent lights.
HANGING AROUND: Choose a chandelier with a diameter 12" less than width of table. The bottom of chandelier should be 30" above table.
TALL ORDERS: For ceilings nine feet or higher, consider a two-tier style chandelier to fill the space from the fixture's top to the ceiling.
DIMMER SHIMMER: Always use a dimmer on dining room lights. Light becomes warmer as it is dimmed,.
HOME WORK: For those who use the dining room as a study area, consider bringing in a portable study lamp to brighten up the workspace. Overhead lighting may work well for general studies, but in depth or close work demands more light.
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GET SMART: So-called "smart" dimmers, driven by microprocessors offer convenience. "When you have several layers of light, smart dimmers can be set to various ambiences. Press one button for dining, another for lighting up homework, another for party-time.
THE LAYERED LOOK: Use multiple layers of light in the dining room. Chandeliers provide the central focus. Accent lights on either side of the chandelier and at the room's perimeter brighten things up. Accessory lights on and/or over other furniture pieces fill in the background.
TABLE THIS: Table lamps add a soft, humanizing touch to a dining room. Display them on a buffet or breakfront.
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