Dining table and lighting: centring the light fitting over the tabletop
A light fitting that does not hang centrally above the dining table is noticed immediately: the top is lit unevenly and the room looks unsettled. The cause is often that the ceiling outlet sits in the middle of the room while the table, for practical reasons, stands elsewhere. In restaurants and hotels there is the added factor that tables are rearranged according to occupancy. With some planning, table and light can nevertheless be matched to one another. The following sections explain how to find the right point on the ceiling, which height has proved its worth and what is possible with an offset outlet.
Centre of the top, not centre of the room
The decisive point for positioning the light is the centre of the tabletop, not that of the room. So first settle where the table will stand, taking into account the chairs and a passage of about 80 to 100 centimetres behind the seats. Only then is the point on the ceiling determined, most easily with a plumb line or a laser. Our range of Dining tables includes round, oval and rectangular tops; the shape determines whether a single light point is enough or whether several are needed.
Hanging height and freedom from glare
As a guide, allow a distance of about 60 to 75 centimetres between the tabletop and the lower edge of the fitting. This keeps the view of the person opposite clear, and the light falls on the top without dazzling. With high ceilings or wide chandeliers, the fitting can hang a little higher so that it does not dominate the room. Check the height both seated and standing before the suspension is shortened for good. A dimmer is useful in commercial operation because brightness can then be adapted to breakfast, lunch and evening service.
Matching fitting size and table shape
The fitting should be narrower than the top, generally about half to two thirds of the table width. That way nobody knocks against it when standing up, and the proportions remain balanced. Above round tables a single central chandelier is usually sufficient. Long tables are lit more evenly when two or three fittings hang at equal intervals along the longitudinal axis. Baroque furniture with carved aprons and veneered tops is shown to good effect in warm white light, whereas very cold light makes wood tones and gilding appear flat.
Offset ceiling outlet and changing table layouts
If the outlet is not above the centre of the table, the cable can be led to the right spot via a ceiling hook or a track. Work on the electrical installation should be left to a qualified contractor. With extending tables, the fitting should hang above the centre of the top as it is mostly used day to day. In restaurants, where tables are pushed together, track systems or several evenly distributed fittings have proved their worth. Record the planned position in a dimensioned sketch so that table and fitting match up at installation.
Related categories: Chairs, Benches, Mirrors. The full range: Baroque furniture.
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