Besides mealtime, the dining room can be a place for arts and crafts or family game night and needs to be lit accordingly. Chandeliers are still a classic option and serve as an ambient light source.To draw people in, make the table the brightest spot in the room. Elsewhere in the room, indirect lighting is best—it’s relaxing and flattering. Give the space a subtle glow with a pair of small table lamps on a sideboard or matching sconces on the wall above. Battery-powered votive inside a glass-front china cabinet can be a nice touch.

Good to Know
Place overhead lighting on a dimmer switch to create mood lighting for a dinner party.