Dining room pendant lights are set to suit the table, not the room. Hung at the right height, they light plates and faces without dazzling anyone sitting at the table.
Height and diameter above the table
Leave 70 to 80 cm between the tabletop and the bottom of the light: high enough to see the person opposite, low enough for the light to fall on the meal. For a round or square table, a single design is enough, with a diameter between half and two-thirds of the table's width, so roughly 50 to 66 cm for a table 1 m wide.
Height-adjustable designs make this easier, especially if the table moves.
Long table: several pendants in a line
Over a rectangular table of 1.80 m or more, two or three pendants in a line spread the light better than one large central design. Space them 60 to 80 cm apart and centre the group along the length.
Aim for warm white at 3,000 K, which makes food look appetising, and dimmable light to go from lunch to a late dinner, with a dimmable bulb. Metal and glass dominate, in modern and classic styles alike; crystal dresses up tables for special occasions, while vintage, industrial or country styles suit more relaxed interiors.
For a bolder look, see our dining room chandeliers; if you'd rather have nothing hanging down, our dining room ceiling lights. Lighting for the rest of the room is in our dining room lighting; all our pendant lights and the guide how to light a dining room round out this advice.
Frequently asked questions about dining room pendant lights
How many pendants above a 2 m table?
Usually two or three, of modest diameter. Spaced 60 to 80 cm apart and centred along the length, they cover the tabletop without overhanging the chairs. Two wider designs also suit a narrower table. Keep them all at the same height, 70 to 80 cm above the top, for a neat line.
Which bulb for a dining room pendant?
An E27 or E14 LED bulb at 3,000 K, with a CRI of at least 80 for true colours on the plate. To dim the light, choose a dimmable bulb and check that the dimmer is compatible. Under a clear glass globe the bulb stays visible, so pick a decorative filament bulb.
Should the pendant be centred on the table or the room?
On the table, since that's what you're lighting. If the ceiling rose isn't in the right place, a hook fixed to the ceiling lets you offset the pendant by looping the cable across; an electrician can also move the ceiling rose. The rest of the room then gets wall lights or a floor lamp.
