Pendant lights and chandeliers work well over dining tables and kitchen islands.
In the dining room and the kitchen, lighting is one of the most important elements. Light fixtures help create a mood or echo a design scheme in a room, as well as provide important ambiance or task lighting. Many types of lighting are appropriate for both the dining room and over the kitchen island. In fact, choosing similar lighting helps create a cohesive look between the two spaces.
Types of Lighting
Pendant lights and chandeliers are the most common lights used both over a dining room table and a kitchen island. Adjustable track lighting also helps to create a modern, industrial look. Crystal chandeliers give both the dining space and the kitchen a formal, elegant feel. Chandeliers do not have to be crystal, formal or traditional in feel. Floral chandeliers are whimsical, giving the space a garden feel. Painting a traditional chandelier with a bright color helps give an eclectic, vintage feel to the spaces. A chandelier made from antlers or a wooden frame works well in a rustic, cabin design. Pendant lights are often used in modern design and feature bold colors or geometric shapes.
Scale
After choosing the style lighting to use for the dining room table and the kitchen island, it is important to consider scale. While the same style lighting can easily be placed in both areas, it may not be ideal to choose the same size lights. Lights need to be chosen to scale with the furniture in the dining room and the size of the island. A light fixture, or grouping of fixtures, needs to illuminate the entire space adequately. A long, narrow dining table may require more pendant lights than a wide, square island. A large chandelier may be too big for an island, but ideal over a round dining table. For a single light, choose one that is about 12 inches smaller in diameter than the width of the dining table or the island, recommends Form Plus Function.
Light Levels
In addition to scale, kitchens and dining rooms generally require a different level of light. Dining rooms often require less light because the space is more about eating and atmosphere rather than food preparation. One way to use the same lights, but use less light in the dining room is to install a dimmer switch.
Height
Consider height when installing a lighting fixture in the dining room or the kitchen. In the dining room, lights generally sit a bit lower than in the kitchen. Hang a light about 30 inches from the surface of the table. In the kitchen, be sure the light figure is high enough that it does not interfere with cooking, as people generally stand at the island to work.
Tags: dining room, dining table, kitchen island, Pendant lights, table kitchen, about inches, both dining