The dining room is possibly the best opportunity to do something really fabulous with lighting. Ceiling lights are often given the task of being the jewel of a design, the star of the room. If I didn’t have so many other areas of my home more badly in need of attention (currently working on my full bathroom!), I would be hopping to upgrade my dining light. The above room features a cluster of IKEA shades. (Which, alas, appear to now only be available in a silver finish and not in the U.S.) Grouping several individual pendants together like this is a super smart way to create a lot of impact that is customized. And inexpensive if you go with something in the $25 a piece range like these ones!

If a grouping of $25 pendants doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps you’d like to spend closer to $18,000 on a fixture like this! Created by Lindsey Adelman, it’s stunning, but never in a million years would I spend that much money on it. Lindsey has a very interesting page on her site encouraging folks to make their own light. You don’t need access to fancy hand-blown glass like this. Some simple tubing and wiring from the hardware store plus a creative streak and you could have yourself a totally unique piece to brag about.

If it suits your style, you don’t even really need a fixture at all. Light bulbs by themselves can be wonderful little sculptural pieces. You could go classy and gold like this, or raw and industrial.

There are an abundance of Etsy shops selling really awesome lighting. Here’s a few of my favorites!

one // Photographed by Tony Amos & Maree Homer, styled by Erin Michael & Sarah Ellison for real living via dustjacket attic
two // Incorporated via desire to inspire
three // By Ilse Crawford via Shop Talk

Everything about this is stunning. I would love to have this dining room. I’ve long coveted chandeliers like this one with glimmering glass drops, but the prettiest ones are always very expensive in my experience (like this one). The light in this room is fantastic and I love all the wood. The pop of color in the flowers and oranges is absolutely necessary to pull it all together in my opinion. It’s amazing how often stylists use flowers to introduce the only source of color in a photograph. The home of Keri Russell photographed by William Waldron for Elle Decor, via Emily Henderson.

Continue reading for more dining rooms >>

I have no where near this many books, and while I do like to read a bit I doubt I’ll ever have a big enough collection for an impressive library like this. Isn’t it wonderful, though? I love the inky blue wall color and the combination of a traditional table with modern chairs. The tulip chair is not my favorite modern design but it is iconic and fun. The home of Minnie Mortimer photographed by Claiborne Swanson Frank for Vogue, via My Favorite and My Best.

That rug is amazing. Lovely dining chairs and a killer gallery wall. I wish it had a chandelier and a shot of warmer color somewhere, but otherwise this is drool-worthy. The home of Julia Leach photographed by Patrick Cline for Lonny Mag, via pinkshirtsandcarwrecks.

This really melts my face off. It’s quite similar to the first photograph with its library style walls combined with a dining area, but it’s a bit more edgy. I love love love the black walls and combining that with the black dining set screams moody, masculine, bold awesomeness. The chipping on the chairs is a perfect touch of imperfection and seems to imply that despite the high-class of this room it really just wants to be a comfortable and well-loved nook for merry-making. The home of Mark Badgley and James Mischka photographed by Roger Davies for Elle Decor.

I love discovering trends in the images I’m drawn to. I had no idea I was hoarding shots with so many books! The home of Podge Bune photographed by Franscesco Lagnese for House Beautiful via My Favorite and My Best.

Deceptively simple. The gold framed bird art makes it for me. I love birds. And gold frames. The home of Zoe Johns and Max Catalano photographed by Liz Daly for Design*Sponge.

I am in love with this color palette, though it leans heavily on the piece of art. The colors in it are just lively enough to give this space so much energy yet the room’s clean lines and sophisticated pieces keep it classy and calm. Love it! The home of Katie Graham photographed by Derek Swalwell  for Design*Sponge.

I really didn’t think I was in the mood for pulling together a post today. I’ve had a lot going on at work and in my head this week and I kind of feel like just zoning out. But then I perused my stash of dining room shots and I was completely swayed by the awesomeness. Some seriously delicious eye candy here today.

The lover of simplicity in me is mesmerized by this. It is warm and visually interesting despite being entirely neutral and dominated by white. Those chair legs… and that rug… they are killing it. Atlanta Homes + Lifestyles via delight by design.

I don’t love those chairs, but they’re alright. The chandelier is delightful. But the best part is definitely the picture rails. I love love love picture rails because it allows you to move around and swap out art on a whim. I often find vintage portraits totally charming, but I’m super nervous about ever incorporating one into my own art collection. They can read “creepy” really easily, and I worry that they could seem out of place in my home. I went to an estate sale yesterday and saw several old portraits that I couldn’t help but linger on. One in particular had fantastic abstractly bright colors and was very inexpensive… but it creeped me out! That painted lady seriously had evil eyes. No thank you. Designed by Charles De Lisle via desire to inspire.

Oh yes another lovely pared down interior. Gigantic windows + Kitten = Fail safe. Hans Blomquist & images by Debi Treloar for The Natural Home, scanned by Haute Design.

Also: Danish Modern Chairs + Kitten = Fail safe. I seriously have a fever, and the only prescription is more Danish modern chairs. Apartment Therapy via i.go.blog.

Stuck with grandma’s old dining set with pink vinyl upholstery? Own it! I can’t say I’d ever choose this table and chairs, but if you’re running a vintage theme through your home you could totally rock it. Does anyone know the source of the window drapery fabric? It elevates this room so much. By Jared Fowler, styled by Shannon Fricke, scanned by dustjacket attic.

There’s a whole lot of lovely going on here but I have to give a lot of credit to that amazing floral arrangement. It’s color and presence in the room is irreplaceable. Photographed by Catherine Gratwicke.

It is hard to know where to start with this shot. Part of me is so visually confused I don’t like it… but I so appreciate the bold mix of pattern here. What parts, if any, do you like? Designed by Gabriel Hendifar via Shop Talk. 

Is. So. Pretty. I have no words. Okay I have some. Green is not a color I usually go to first, but when I see it used to such fantastic effect it is really inspiring. Paired with the lovely shape of these chairs, I am smitten. Despite the rest of the shot being largely neutral, this dining space feels energetic and cheerful thanks to kelly green. Designed by Christina Murphy for Trad Home via Savvy Home.