When decorating our dining rooms, many of us focus on the big-ticket items like tables and chairs. But, these aren’t the only must-haves worth considering. Dining room light fixtures are just as necessary and can make a significant difference in your space—adding contrast, cohesion, or even a pop of show-stopping drama.

So, don’t just stick with the dining room light fixtures you’ve inherited. Instead, spend some time thinking about what your space needs, and snag a fixture or a combination of fixtures that delivers it. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up 10 stunning dining rooms and light fixture ideas worth stealing from each of them.

01 Color-Coordinate Your Space

ForgeCurve Dining Chandelier - Modern Hand-Forged Chandelier with Organic Curves Suitable for Dining Room And Living Room

If you’re not sure which dining room light fixture to choose, start by taking a look at what you already have. Is the room filled with color-coordinated accent pieces? If so, consider picking a matching fixture. Echoing that accent color along your ceiling can be a quick and easy way to bring your space together.

02 Play With Scale 

Crystal Vintage Elegance Chandelier - Vintage-Inspired Solid Crystal with Finial Details and Fluted Effect, Tumbled Brass Finish for Dining Room

Whenever you’re shopping for light fixtures, size is always a consideration. But remember that there’s no perfect ratio to shoot for. In fact, playing with scale—pairing an enormous fixture with a sleek dining room table—can be a fun way to add drama to your space.

03 Double Up

Modern Industrial Forged-Iron Pendant Light - Adjustable Height Hanging Light Fixtures, Suitable for Dining Room And Living Room

No one said you had to stick to just one chandelier. So, if you want to bring more light into your space, consider hanging two chandeliers, instead. You can mount the fixtures symmetrically over your table so that each illuminates one pair of chairs. This should make sure you have plenty of well-balanced light, and it should keep your space feeling cleanly designed, too.

04 Pair New With Old

Add contrast to your dining room by pairing a sleek fixture with older furniture. You can exaggerate this contrast by pairing an obviously contemporary fixture with very ornate antique furniture. And you can use modern-yet-sophisticated accents—like sprawling abstract paintings—to add harmony to the striking combination.

05 Mount Lights Along Your Wall

Ceiling-mounted lighting is a popular choice. But, if your dining room table is tucked away in a corner, you may be able to use wall-mounted lighting, instead. Mount a row of sconces that span the length of your dining room table. Just make sure they jut out enough to offer you the light that you need.

06 Mix and Match Your Pendants

If you want to play with multiple light fixtures, layering pendant lights can be a great option. And remember, those pendant lights don’t have to match. By combining three pendant lights that look similar but just a little different, you can craft a space that feels dynamic but harmonious.

07 Drape Your Longest Lights

One easy way to DIY your own light fixture? Stock up on a few extra-long industrial lights, and drape them over hooks. This is a popular choice in industrial design, but you can make it work in just about any décor scheme. The hooks will allow you to customize the size and shape of your fixture, giving you a chandelier that’s unique to your space.

08 Add Contrast With a Chandelier

Vintage Crystal Raindrop Elegance Chandelier - Faceted-Glass Crystals and Rain Drops Display for Dining Room and Living Room Lighting

A glam chandelier may seem out of place in a rustic dining room, but it may be just the thing you need to bring your space together. Remember that lighting can add either contrast or cohesion, so consider which one your space needs, and snag an option that delivers it.

09 Warm Up Your Space With Off-White Lights

VersaGlow Premium Metal Pendant Light - Elegant Multi-Functional Design with Premium Material for Dining Room

White is a pretty rare choice for a pendant lampshade, and off-white is an even rarer one. But, the warm neutral can make a surprisingly striking addition to your space. Off-white is a decidedly subtle color, but it’s still bold enough to make an impact.

10 Invest in a Small but Mighty Fixture

If your dining room is filled with natural light, you may not need a massive fixture. Instead, you might be best served by a small, targeted spotlight that adds a touch of visual interest to your space. An arc lamp could do the trick, or you could spring for a long-arm sconce that extends off the wall to hover over your table.