From Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, to meeting your friend for a catch up, the dining table has long been the site of discussion, unity, even betrayal. We think that the dining table should be respected and treated properly, and a large part of that is lighting: if not for the profound reasons already mentioned, then at least because we all like to see what we’re eating, right? So, whether you're looking for some of the finest dining room lamps or the perfect pendant, we’ve rounded up some of the best dining room lighting ideas for you to introduce to your home in 2020.
Opt For A Minimalist Pendant: Menu Steel JWDA Pendant Lamp
After mentioning the extensive history of dining room tables, we thought it was only right if our first selection was inspired by traditional oil lamps. By stripping back the oil lamp to its most characteristic features, the JWDA lamp is a simplified and decluttered pendant with a dimmer on its stem, making it perfect for all types of dining room scenarios. Keep it low to the table for intimacy and high up for a brighter look and feel.
Pick Up An Oversized Pendant: Muuto Large Fluid Pendant Lamp
While we understand that dining room tables have many functions, one that shouldn’t be explored is interrogation. Blinding, concentrated, and unfiltered white light is a no-go for the dining room. The Fluid Pendant from Muuto is about as diametrically opposed to unfiltered white light as you can get. The calming fluid shape is inspired by a resting drop of water, while the frosted matte glass surface disperses the warm light evenly. It's a larger dining room pendant than the Menu light above but its soft round shape ensures it can sit proudly above any sized dining table - from large rectangular tables to small circular ones, too.
Play With Scale: Hem Matte Ivory Dusk Large Lamp
Japan has been a home to design mastery for a long time thanks to delicate, thoughtful shapes and perfect execution. Hem have ‘Stockholmed’ the traditional Japanese lantern, and it comes in the form of the Matte Ivory Dusk Large Lamp. The lamp emits a cosy, enchanting glow, and the contrasting matte and gloss materials give the lamp a recognisable but understated aesthetic. Both the gloss and matte shades provide a soft glow and work just as well in a set as they do as singular, statement dining room lights.
Keep It Simple With A Classic Hanging Light: Menu Black Cast Pendant
Taking another trip through history, the Menu Black Cast Pendant takes inspiration from traditional lead weights, hanging from a line used by masons and carpenters since Ancient Egypt. The striking, dynamic shapes of the structure bring new life to a dining room, but aren’t exaggerated enough to be a styling problem. The Black Cast Pendant will naturally assimilate the decor of any room.
Add A Touch Of Colour: Hem Alphabeta Pendant Lights
Colourful, compact and contemporary, the limited-edition lamp, designed in collaboration with Luca Nichetto, is special in the sense that it emanates light from both the top and bottom of the shade. Which means, despite its relatively diminutive shape, it radiates a lot more light than you would’ve first thought. Perfect, then, for small dining rooms. The cable can drop to a maximum length of two metres, which is good, too. It can be customised to varying lengths to suit your needs; whether that’s hung over a dining table or used as a centrepiece of dining room lighting.
Shop and explore all the latest home lighting at OPUMO.
Looking for more design inspiration? Then you need to read this: The Best Wall Clocks For Every Room In The House.
