Guides · Lighting
Lamps & lighting
Guides to vintage lamps and light at home — from Murano and mushroom lamps to choosing, placing and caring for them.
4 guides
Lamp above a dining table: how to choose size, height and placement
The right lamp above the dining table suits the shape and size of the table, hangs over the middle of the tabletop and gives a warm light that falls on the table without dazzling. As a rule of thumb, the lamp should be about half as wide as the table and hang 60 to 70 cm above the tabletop. The rest is about which type of lamp suits your table, and how it works with the room.
Distance between lamps over a dining table: how to place 2-3 pendants
You have found two or three pendants you would like above the dining table. But when they are about to go up, the question arises: how far apart should they be? Hang them too close and they look like one lump in the middle of the table. Hang them too far apart and the ends go dark and the lamps look random. And once the holes are drilled in the ceiling, moving them is a hassle.
What is a pendant lamp?
A pendant lamp hangs down from the ceiling and brings the light closer to the area it needs to light. It is often used above the dining table or kitchen counter, where it can gather the light around a particular surface. How far the lamp should hang down depends on the room and on what it is used for.
How high should a lamp hang above the dining table?
As a rule, a lamp above the dining table should hang around 60 to 70 cm above the tabletop. That's a good place to start, but the right height also depends on the size of the lamp, the shape of the table and how the dining area is used. A large pendant may need a little more air, while a smaller lamp often works well closer to the table. What matters most is that the light falls pleasantly on the table and that the lamp doesn't block the view.
