The right light can make or break the look of a room – especially when it comes to the space where you share your meals. From new finishes to up-and-coming shapes and styles, the landscape of dining room lighting trends is ever-evolving. So, if your outdated dining room makes you want to dine and dash, consider using one of these lighting ideas to illuminate and refresh your eating space.
Published October 24, 2019, Updated January 18, 2021
Go Geo
Looking for dining room ideas to freshen up your space? The perfect mix of clean, contemporary and unique, geometric light fixtures are taking shape as one of the biggest dining room lighting trends heading into 2021.
Related: Pinterest Predicts 12 of the Most Popular Home Decor Trends for 2021
The Bigger the Better
Go big and go home. One of the biggest (pun intended) trends in dining room lighting is to opt for oversized fixtures. While oversized lighting works particularly well in a spacious, open-plan area, it makes a bold statement in any room.
Related: Backsplash, Tile, Cabinetry: The 15 Top Kitchen Trends for 2021
All Mixed Up
Speaking of materials, another burgeoning dining room lighting trend is to combine multiple materials for a totally unique and distinctive look. Look for light fixtures that integrate a combination of rustic, natural elements with industrial-inspired metals or glass – for the best of both (or three or four) worlds.
Related: The Best Ways to Incorporate the 2021 Pantone Colours of the Year Into Your Home
Back to Black
As Drew and Jonathan Scott showed in this Property Brothers renovation, black light fixtures are fast becoming one of the most covetable dining room lighting trends. Whether matte or glossy, black fixtures offer a sleek, stylish and modern alternative to traditional metallics – making a chic statement. Find more inspiring Property Brothers kitchen transformation trends.
Smoke Show
Not all glass is created equal: playing with colour, finish and opacity is an increasingly popular way to refresh kitchen and dining room light fixtures. One particularly sophisticated take on this trend? Subtly smoky-shaded glass brings a chic tone to minimalist fixture designs.
Light as Air
Perhaps the most elegant trend in dining room lighting? Deliciously delicate options that seem more like ceiling jewellery than light fixtures. Opt for an ethereal feel with pretty hanging lights featuring touches of crystal and glass the emulate the look of flowing waterfalls.
Related: We Predict the Biggest Home Design Trends for 2021 (Hello Zen Vibes and Home Offices!)
Contemporary Candelabras
Modern, meet mega classic. One of the more attractive ways to add interest to modern geometric light fixtures is to incorporate nods to the past – like candle-inspired lights – for a fresh look. For more creative ideas, check out our favourite Property Brothers’ dining rooms for the inspired entertainer.
Maximum Minimalist
Understated but never underwhelming, clean-lined minimalist light fixtures – like this eclectic choice favoured by the Masters of Flip team in this Nashville home – continue to trend.
Related: 14 Incredible Celebrity Dining Rooms You’ll Want to Have a Feast In
Slivers of Silver
It’s not all about the gold anymore. The newest trend in metallic is a classic: silver. Whether featuring elements of silver leaf or antique silver finishes, silver kitchen pendant lighting will be swinging into more spaces in the coming year.
An Open Weave
As an alternative to minimalist and industrial-inspired options, many dining room light fixtures are opting for a more woven feel, with options ranging from wicker-look designs to metal features with weave interpretations.
A Little More Texture
Texture isn’t just for rugs – more and more dining room light fixtures illuminate the stylish possibilities of incorporating different finishes and multi-bulb designs for elements of texture and dimension – like this DIY version using mason jars. Find more DIY home renos and upgrades you can check off your list this winter.
All the Little Pieces
Texture comes in many forms. For a more elegant spin on textured kitchen lighting, fixtures are experimenting with multi-panel and multi-piece designs that create modern movement and soft light effects.
Elegant Rustic
There’s a reason why rustic spaces are so popular – there’s almost nothing more inviting than coming home to a cozy, homey space. While rustic dining room lighting designs remain popular, they’re evolving – with fixtures incorporating chic elements like fresh colours or delicate details.
Play With Numbers
Another trend when it comes to kitchen and dining room lighting is to multiply a lighting look: Instead of using a single pendant light, hanging multiple lights creates a bolder (and brighter) effect.
Columns of Light
Delicate, but not diminutive: column-shaped lights offer a refined, minimalist take on the popular pendant light trend.
Related: Quiz: Which Celebrity Home Should You Live in Based on Your Design Style?
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