Lamp above a dining table: how to choose size, height and placement
The right lamp above the dining table suits the shape and size of the table, hangs over the middle of the tabletop and gives a warm light that falls on the table without dazzling. As a rule of thumb, the lamp should be about half as wide as the table and hang 60 to 70 cm above the tabletop. The rest is about which type of lamp suits your table, and how it works with the room.
In this guide we go through the most important choices, from lamp type and size to placement and light.
Start with the table, not the lamp
It is tempting to fall for a lamp first and work out the rest afterwards. Above the dining table, though, the table decides. Measure the length and width of the table, and note its shape. A long rectangular table, a square table and a round table each make their own demands on the lamp.
Think about what the table is used for, too. If you only eat at it in the evening, the light can be dimmed and atmospheric. If it is also used for homework, working from home or games, the lamp needs to give enough light to see properly.
Which type of lamp suits a dining table?
Most lamps above dining tables are pendants, meaning lamps that hang down from the ceiling and bring the light close to the table. Pendants come in every size and material, and they are what most people choose. You can read more about what a pendant lamp is before you decide which type should hang above your table.
Over a long table, an elongated pendant or several smaller pendants in a row can spread the light across the whole tabletop. If you have high ceilings and a large dining table, a chandelier can pull the room together and become a focal point, even when it is switched off. A flush-mount ceiling lamp is rarely the best choice above a dining table, because the light ends up too far from the tabletop.
How big should the lamp above the dining table be?
The size should suit the table. A good rule of thumb is that the lamp should be between half and two thirds the width of the table. On a table 90 cm wide, that means a lamp of around 45 to 60 cm in diameter.
At the same time, leave at least 15 cm clear between the edge of the lamp and the edge of the table on each side. That way people can stand up and sit down without hitting their head on the lamp, and the light falls on the table rather than the floor.
Remember, too, that a lamp can feel bigger or smaller than its measurements. A glass lamp, clear or coloured, feels lighter than a closed metal shade of the same size, because you can see through it.
An elongated lamp above the dining table
For a long dining table, an elongated lamp is one of the most popular solutions. The lamp should be about two thirds of the length of the table, so the light covers the table without reaching all the way to the ends. On a 200 cm table, that is a lamp of roughly 130 cm.
If there is no elongated lamp that suits your style, two or three pendants in a row can give the same effect. Divide the table into equal sections, one for each lamp, and hang each lamp above the middle of its section. You can see how to work it out in the guide to the distance between lamps over a dining table.
A lamp above a round dining table
For a round table, one lamp in the middle is usually the best choice. It emphasises the shape of the table and brings together everyone sitting around it. The lamp should have a diameter of about half the table's. For a round table of 120 cm, a lamp of about 60 cm works best.
A round or dome-shaped pendant follows the lines of the table, but a chandelier or a lamp with a more organic shape can also make a nice contrast to a simple round table.
How high should the lamp hang?
A good starting point is 60 to 70 cm from the tabletop to the bottom edge of the lamp. That brings the light close to the table without the lamp blocking the view of the person opposite. Large lamps may need a little more space, while small pendants can hang a little lower.
The exact height depends on the lamp, the table and the ceiling height. We have gathered everything about it in the guide how high should a lamp hang above the dining table.
Choose the right light
Above the dining table, a warm light is usually the most comfortable. Choose bulbs with a colour temperature of around 2,700 kelvin, which gives a light similar to an incandescent bulb. If the lamp can be connected to a dimmer, you get both enough light for homework and a softer mood for dinner.
The material of the lamp matters as much as the bulb. A metal shade sends most of the light down towards the table, while a glass lamp lets the light spread into the room. Coloured glass gives the light a tone that changes the mood around the table, and hand-blown glass has small variations that become visible when the lamp is on.
The lamp is part of the interior, too
A lamp above the dining table hangs right in your line of sight, and it is still there during the day when it is switched off. It can easily be what gives the dining room its character. A vintage lamp in coloured glass can tie the room together with what is already there, and it gives a look you don't get from a standard lamp.
If you are unsure about the style, start from the furniture. A dining table in light wood can take a lamp with colour, while a dark table often looks good with a lamp in warm glass or brass.
Find your lamp for the dining table
The right lamp above the dining table starts with the table: its shape, its size and what it is used for. Then find a lamp that fits the width, hang it 60 to 70 cm above the tabletop, and choose a warm light that can be dimmed.
At Farveladeland you will find a changing selection of vintage lamps from Italy that can hang above the dining table. See, among others, Murano ceiling lamps and pendants, Murano chandeliers for the large table, or the whole range of vintage ceiling lamps. If you want to see the lamp in real life before you decide, you can book a viewing at the showroom.
