3: Dining

* Good task lighting over the table is critical.

* A pendant can look great over a table but may not throw enough task light onto the table itself. In this case it's a good idea to add a recessed downlight either side of the pendant to light directly downwards onto the surface. These should be controlled independently of the pendant, so that the right overall lighting level can be set, whether it's a moody evening meal or Christmas board games on the table.

* Feature lighting of pictures around the perimeter of the room can be created using recessed downlights set 400mm back from the wall (450mm for ceilings over 3m). For a more Classic effect use wall-mounted picture lights instead of downlights.

* A sideboard probably won't have a table lamp for reasons of space so, for accent lighting of pictures or artwork, use either a recessed downlight directly above it or a wall-light over. Only use a wall-light if there are other wall-lights in the room, otherwise it will look uneven.

* A free-standing Dresser or Display Cabinet may come with its own internal lighting, which will add to the background lighting in the area. If this is the case, connect it via a 5amp wall-socket so that the light can be controlled via the light switch.

* To create soft but dramatic background lighting when dining, fit miniature uplighters into the window sills but check for curtains because these may hide the effect when closed.