Pendant lights for dining table

Hanging lamps - The perfect lighting for every home

Pendant lights are an important part of any home and not only provide excellent lighting, but also an attractive visual enhancement. After all, they are the most practical way to stylishly illuminate different areas of the home, such as the dining table. Pendant lights fall into the category of hanging lights. They can be used both as a decorative element and as a light source that perfectly emphasises a cosy living atmosphere.

Designer pendant lamps: an almost limitless selection

Pendant luminaires are offered in an almost limitless selection of different materials, shapes and designs. They usually beam their light cone directly downwards, making certain areas of the room particularly well illuminated. Pendant lamps are particularly suitable for use in a modern, well-lit kitchen. They can be placed above the cooking island, worktop, counter or dining table and provide precise light on the worktop or table - if they have not been installed at a single ceiling outlet in the centre of the room.

Round or square?

Whether square or round is a question of taste when choosing the right luminaire. The question of which luminaire fits which table shape is less easy to answer. General answers to this question can hardly be given. What is certain, however, is that a round luminaire is best suited to a round table. A long pendant luminaire can easily be used over a longer table or an angular table. In this case, however, several round luminaires are also possible, which provide pleasant light above the table. The use of round luminaires above an angular table does not necessarily have to be at the expense of room aesthetics. 
In general, however, it is important to consider the height of the room in which the luminaire is to be installed when deciding which pendant luminaire to use. Flat-length pendant luminaires are particularly suitable for low rooms. In rooms with high ceilings, on the other hand, large pendant luminaires with an opulent design can also be installed without visually crushing the room.
Irrespective of the shape, the lighting for the dining table should always avoid disturbing glare. The illuminant should therefore be invisible to glare-free light or covered by a diffuser. It is particularly pleasant for the eyes if the light is emitted both directly downwards and indirectly upwards.

What is the ideal height?

So that the lamp does not dazzle anyone, the distance between the lower edge of the lamp and the table top should be about 60-65cm. If this distance is maintained, the table can be optimally illuminated without the luminaires impairing the view of people seated at the table. Of course, the lamps can also be suspended higher, but in this case the lighting on the table is weaker and the risk of looking into the light source and being dazzled by it increases.

Metal pendant luminaires with direct light focus the lighting on the dining table, whereas glass lamps with diffuse light can illuminate the entire room. Ideally, the pendant luminaires have a dimmer which allows the luminous intensity to be varied as desired. Pendant luminaires with a large shade and a cover can also be suspended higher above the table and still provide glare-free light. It is important here not to select too great a distance so that the dining table and luminaire can still be perceived as a single optical unit.
If the dining table is made of glass, it is advisable to choose a pendant luminaire with only indirect light distribution (upwards). The reason: The light hits the glass surface of the table directly, so that disturbing reflected glare can be the result. 
If it is not possible to install the pendant luminaire directly above the dining table, the best alternative is to use curved lamps ( floor lamp).

How many pendant luminaires above the table are ideal?

► For a small table: 60x60cm / 70x70cm: 1 x Ø 16-20cm
► For tables 80 x 140cm / 80x160cm : 2 x Ø 22-26cm
► For tables 90/100 x 200cm: 2x Ø 35-40cm or 3x Ø 22-26cm
► For tables 100 x 240cm: 2x Ø 35-40cm or 3x Ø 25-28cm
► For tables 110/120 x 300 cm: 3x Ø 35-40cm or 3x Ø 40-60cm