13 Dining Room Lighting Trends To Create a Stylish Space

From large Thanksgiving dinners with the entire family, to intimate date nights with roses and candles, the dining room is where special memories and delicious comfort food come together. Memories like these that are sure to last a lifetime deserve the best interior design, and that includes a dining space with exquisite lighting. These dining room lighting trends can transform your space.

13 Dining Room Lighting Trends

There’s no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to dining room lighting. For lighting that matches your vision and the dining area itself, you’ll have to consider factors such as size, style, color, and budget. If you’re not sure where to start, get inspired with these dining room lighting ideas:

1. Chandeliers

Whether you’re going for vintage or mid-century modern, a chandelier is a tried and true way to bring finesse and elegance to your dining room. With so many styles to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding a fixture that complements the vibe you’re going for. A truly memorable chandelier will undoubtedly be the center of attention.

If you’re hoping for a modern dining room, a sputnik chandelier brings a retro yet refined twist to your lighting. You’ll have all the light, just without the glitzy castle feeling. Want something more traditional? A crystal or beaded chandelier captures everyone’s attention and imbues your dining room with a sense of awe.

2. Geometric lighting

Think about the elements you notice when you walk into your dining room. The fixture itself doesn’t always come to mind, but if you add some geometric lighting, you create the lighting setup you need while elevating the lights themselves. Everyone will notice and remember your chandelier’s unique and exciting shape long after they leave.

Geometric dining room light fixtures easily stand out from your table, dining chairs, decor, and even the food. Search for fixtures with sharp edges, squares, triangles, straight lines, globes, and rectangles to cast your dining room in a whole new light.

3. LED lights

Board games, puzzles, and other fun activities don’t have to stay in the living room. A dining room can be a great place for entertaining guests, and LED lights can help transform the space into a fun and relaxing environment.

Many LED lights have the ability to change color, so you can switch up the ambiance at the touch of a button. They’re also highly energy-efficient, making them an inexpensive way to dress up your dining area. Additionally, some lights such as the Ark Ambient Aurora Light combine LEDs with laser lights for an awe-inspiring light show.

4. LED strip lights

Not every dining room needs a complete makeover for some extra pizzazz. You can also reimagine your space with the simplicity of easy-to-apply LED strip lights. Most LED strip lights are peel-and-stick, making installation quick and painless. Place your strip lights along artwork or your ceiling’s borders to elevate the room. With color-changing LEDs, you can pick from an array of shades including blue, green, and red to set the mood.

5. Vintage lighting

Vintage styles are making a comeback thanks to the classy look they bring into dining rooms. No, throwing it back doesn’t mean you have to illuminate your dinner scene by candlelight: Instead, try incorporating light fixtures made of glass or metal.

While some modern lighting can be harsh, vintage lighting is often associated with warm color temperatures and soothing hues. Once you find a vintage light fixture that mentally transports you to another era, pair it with a soft white light bulb for that warm and welcoming feel.

6. Pendant lighting

If you’ve got the itch to add a chandelier to your dining room but just can’t make it happen, fret not. You can still achieve that sophisticated atmosphere with pendant lights. These lights are available as glass globes, wooden flared cones, woven wicker bells, and so many other shapes.

For a contemporary appearance, you can hang multiple fixtures made of glass, steel, or aluminum above your dining room table. If you’re sticking to neutral colors, a simple pendant made of birch can add a touch of nature into your home and inject your space with earthy wonder.

7. Colorful lampshades

Dining rooms are often designed with neutral colors such as whites, blacks, and greys. These neutral colors are neither overly stimulating nor excessively calming, meaning they won’t affect your mood and appetite too strongly. That said, there’s no need to fear adding a splash of color in your living room. Lampshades are a great way to add this tiny accent.

If you’re using floor lamps or table lamps, consider switching out your boring lampshade to a colorful one. The lampshade’s color will have no effect on your light’s color, so your lampshade truly provides a splash of color, not an overwhelming effect. You’ll be surrounded by a softly lit glow with just a hint of color.

Unsure about what color to choose? Take a look at what’s already in your dining room. Should you find any consistent colors in your artwork, photos, and decor, choose a lampshade that matches these colors. Both you and your guests will appreciate how this decision ties the room together remarkably well.

8. Accent light

Every room needs a focal point to draw the attention of you and your guests. Depending on the size of your dining room, you may want to hang a beautiful piece of artwork on the wall or place a sculpture in front of it. Accent lighting is an excellent way to shine an extra glimmer of light on these charming decorations while brightening up your dining area.

Accent lighting is best used along the sides of paintings, directly above pieces of furniture, or below a sculpture with the light pointed upwards. Get creative with it and watch as your stunning pieces of art become journeys to faraway worlds.

9. Natural light

Some days are best spent in your home movie theater watching rom-coms and eating popcorn. Others are better spent sitting at a window, soaking in the sunlight, drinking tea, and reading your favorite book. Plus, natural light can actually improve your mood and well-being, putting you in a state of tranquility.

You can emphasize natural light in your dining room by adding light colors and plants to begin your journey into serenity. You can also add a dining room table with a shiny surface to easily reflect your natural light across the dining area.

10. Transparent fixtures

Transparent fixtures are in a league of their own. This type of dining room light fixture has the unique power to take natural light and amplify it throughout your dining space, giving it a more organic feel. Because transparent lights are typically made of glass or plastic, they add a contemporary charm to your Sunday brunch or birthday feast. They make your dining room into a one-of-a-kind space.

11. Wall sconces

If you have limited floor space or a low ceiling, you might struggle to find lighting that’s stylish and functional. The solution? Wall sconces. You can incorporate these fixtures into your dining room lighting design for an ornate and classy look that doesn’t take up any crucial space.

Sconces come in all kinds of shapes and materials, ranging from glass globes to metal cylinders. While most wall sconces require an electrician’s presence to add behind-the-wall wiring, some sconces easily plug into an outlet and make setup hassle-free. These sconces are ideal for transforming your surroundings with the flip of a switch.

12. Starry lights

Picture this: You’re on vacation, eating dinner outside, enjoying the hot meal and sweet aromas, and gazing up at the twinkling stars in the sky. Then, you come home and wish you could relive that moment. With starry lights, you can come pretty close. These lights transform your dining room into an evening sky with thousands of tiny, colorful stars. They add magic to any meal, for any occasion.

With the BlissBulb, you can fill your dining area with glistening red or green laser stars. Under these stars, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation right from home. Your comfort is all but guaranteed.

13. Galaxy lights

Yes, we now have space travel, but it might be a while before an interstellar restaurant exists. But that shouldn’t stop you from styling your dining room as a mesmerizing outer space sight with galaxy lights. These lights can transport you to space for your favorite meal, all without you moving an inch.

For a galaxy living room, set the mood and begin your journey with the SkyLite Evolve Galaxy Projector. With just the push of a button or a tap on your phone screen, an evening of colorful, slowly rotating nebula clouds and twinkling stars will fill your living room. Your galaxy lights will lighten your spirit, and you can wish upon your stars for anything you want. It’s your world, and you’re living in it.

Sky Lite Evolve: Smart Galaxy Projector

$49.99$39.99

The latest evolution in smart galaxy lighting.

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Transform your dining room with BlissLights