There is a reason why chandeliers are a traditional lighting choice for the dining room. It goes back to Medieval times. At that point in history, lighting technology had only gotten as far as candlelight. So the candle chandelier was a huge technological breakthrough. It is hard sometimes to think of something as basic as a chandelier being high-tech, but it was.

Heating was also primitive, so houses, even for rich people tended to be simple affairs with a main room on the ground floor and a sleeping loft upstairs. So everything happened in the main room — eating, mending, talking. You need the best lighting available in your main room, right?

Gradually as all the home technologies improved and houses got bigger, chandeliers migrated with the dining area. Food, light, warmth — they seemed like a good combination to keep together. In today’s world, dining rooms have gotten another makeover. In many homes we do everything but dining in the dining room. The kids do homework; games get played; crafts get created… The dining room is, however, always ready for a dinner party or romantic evening for two.

That’s why chandeliers continue to be an outstanding choice for the dining room. They give off nice strong light which is perfect for tasks like homework, email or scrapbooking. They can set the elegant ambiance when complimented by a beautifully set table, crystal sparkling in the reflected light.

Chandeliers should not be the only light source in the dining room, however. All good lighting design needs balance. If the chandelier is set to offer bright light, it will not be the right lighting for a dinner party. The opposite is true, of course. One can’t do homework by the dim light of the “romantically” lit dining room!

Homeowners have a universe of lighting choices these days. Any taste, any style and you can find the chandelier for you.
Whether you choose a deer antler chandelier or a black chandelier (to name two of the more dramatic styles) just remember that it is only part of your overall lighting plan for the room.

Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind:

1. The chandelier defines the space. Chandeliers first, then accent lights.
2. The chandelier should have a diameter 12″ less than width of table. The bottom should be 30″ above table.
3. If your ceiling is nine feet or higher, buy a two-tier style chandelier it will fill the space perfectly.
4. Go with a dimmer switch. You have more control over the mood this way.
5. As we say over and over again here at Classic Interior Lighting, good light design is layered. The chandelier is the focal point, but bring in other light sources. Perhaps sconces or an accented floor lamp.