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Dining area lighting with soffit over table

2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago

Due to building pipes running through our condo ceiling, we had to create a soffit type drop over our dining room table. When it was being built, the lighting lady thought we'd have no room to hang fixtures so she had them put in 3 electrical boxes for flush mount lights. it now looks like we CAN have a chandelier type fixture but we still have the 2 additional electrical boxes up there.

Has anyone ever seen three lights over a dining table, 1 that hangs and 2 flush or semi flush mount? Not sure im explaining well, attaching a few photos of the space to see if anyone has advice. Many thanks!






Comments (8)

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Sorry for all the typos! Example of what we were originally thinking, with something more dangly in the center, Would all be same collection.



  • PRO
    2 years ago

    I have two downlights and one junction box for my chandelier

    My chandelier provides no sparkle on the table so I added the downlights.




  • 2 years ago

    Do you actually need additional lighting over the table? That view is so wonderful, I would not want anything that might conflict with it. I’d focus on ambient light on/over the buffet.

  • 2 years ago

    ffpalms we actually do need the lighting. One reason we considered flush mounts. But it also does need some sort of eye catching fixture as well. It’s the whole look when you enter the apartment.

  • 2 years ago

    This could be interesting floating over the cityscape at night. I don’t know if the height is adjustable, though.



  • 2 years ago

    The first and third ceiling electrical boxes appear to be beyond the edges of the table so I'd only use the middle electrical box. I'd consider a linear suspension fixtureconnected to that electrical box.


    "The dining room light should be at least 12 inches smaller than the table in all directions. For a 4-foot-wide table, look for a light that’s no more than 2 feet wide.

    "For proportion, linear suspension lights should be anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 of the length of the table. Linear pendants and chandeliers are the ideal choice for long, rectangular dining tables or extension tables.

    "The ideal hanging height for dining lights is about 30 inches above the surface of the table. Keep in mind suspension length when choosing a fixture." -- Dining Room Lighting Ideas + Tips


    Also, LED tape lights installed on top of the soffit close to the soffit edges could provide cool ambient lighting.

    -- amateur

  • 2 years ago

    We have the same as Beverly, although they are grouped closer together than your junction boxes are. I really like it. It lets us use a smaller-scale pendant in our low-ceilinged room (still shopping for the final light), and get good light at the table ends, even when it's fully extended. I think that's a good solution for you. It's hard to tell from the pictures exactly how the lights line up relative to the table. If the outer lights are at or beyond the ends of the table, you could use gimble trims to focus the light where needed on the table top.

  • yesterday

    I agree with wdccruise that proportion matters most here — a single linear suspension over the middle box, sized to about one-third to two-thirds of the table length and hung about 30 inches above the table, would look more intentional than three mismatched fixtures. The outer boxes could then be capped or used for slim recessed trims aimed at the table ends, which keeps the light where you need it without cluttering the soffit. For a different step-by-step explainer, see Snapchat features explained step by step