It's easy to light your dining room properly. First, consider how your dining room is used, because your lighting should set the scene for those activities.

Is your dining room a multi-purpose space where your family does homework, chats, parties and even shares the odd meal? Or is it reserved for formal dining? Your dining room lighting can accommodate the way you live.

If your dining room used for a variety of activities, a mix of lighting will give you the versatility you need. Hang a chandelier that suits your decor the right height above your dining room table. That will provide your general or background lighting, and lend a touch of elegance.

Add some task lighting that focuses on working areas of the table, where you need extra light. You can include portable lamps and pendant lighting, which has shades and is suspended over specific areas, to create layers of light and brightness for all purposes, without glare or distracting shadows. Down lights can also apply illumination where required.

People love the beauty of chandeliers, either as part of a general dining room lighting system, or as the focal point of a formal dining room. A dimmer will allow you to adjust the glowing chandelier to suit the mood of your dinner.

Low lighting can suggest romantic candlelight, while a brighter intensity will illuminate your party or special occasion with just the right amount of brilliance, enhancing your decor to best effect. 

Lighting can make the most of your dining room, allowing you to switch the setting from casual to formal with a few quick touches. Your dining room lighting can benefit from buffet lamps and wall-mounted accent lighting, which help to create the mood of a room, or can highlight artwork.

Lights should also be the right size, so that nothing looks out of place. For instance, your chandelier should suit your dining table, and not be hung too high or too low.

When you combine different types of lighting in your dining room, make sure the forms of light complement each other, for an overall effective and beautiful lighting system. Enjoy enlightened use of illumination in your dining room!