The dining table is where a light has the most work to do: it has to light the table, mustn't dazzle anyone, and it gets looked at every evening. Three builds that have proven themselves for years.
1. The single pendant for round and small tables
For tables up to 120 cm in diameter, one pendant is enough. A globe bulb 125 mm in diameter looks like a classic on a black metal lamp holder, Scandinavian on porcelain, straight from the workshop on wood. Feel free to go for a contrasting cable colour: terracotta or mustard yellow against a white wall, jute with wood. Hanging height 65 cm above the tabletop.
2. The row of three for long tables
From 180 cm in length, you need more than one light source. Three pendants on a rectangular ceiling rose, 50–60 cm apart, all at the same height. It looks tidy and lights the table evenly. The same lamp holder three times, the same cable – variety comes from the bulbs: two globes and one Edison, or three different shapes in the same colour temperature. Important: all dimmable, all 2200 to 2700 kelvin, otherwise one always looks wrong.
3. The spider for anyone who likes it lively
One ceiling rose, three to five cables running over ceiling hooks to different points and hanging at different depths. The spider needs more cable than you'd think (rule of thumb: distance to the hook times 1.5 for the arc, plus drop height) and works best with a cable colour that stands out against the white ceiling – black, dark green, terracotta. The heights: 50, 65 and 80 cm above the table, which gives depth without chaos.
Combinations that always work
Black cable, black metal lamp holder, Globe 2200 K – the industrial classic. Jute cable, wooden lamp holder, Edison bulb – warm and calm. White cable, porcelain lamp holder, Ellipse bulb – the Scandinavian take. Terracotta cable, brass lamp holder, Globe 2700 K – Mediterranean, our house favourite.
And the height?
60 to 70 cm between tabletop and the bottom of the bulb. Lower dazzles, higher no longer lights the table. When seated, you should be able to see the person opposite over the light.
All three set-ups are available as a starting point in the configurator – change the cable colour, swap the lamp holder, set the length, done.