Anne Hathaway's statement lighting brings a luxe ambience to her dining space – but top designers say it won't work in every home

The actress elevated the dining space in her former NY apartment with an ultra-modern lighting fixture – you can get the look, if your space allows

Anne Hathaway
(Image credit: Getty Images / Cindy Ord / Staff)

Of all spaces in the home, your dining area is often best suited to a statement lighting fixture. Anne Hathaway's former New York home is no exception to the rule.

Among the properties in Anne Hathaway's property portfolio, this stunning apartment, designed in collaboration with Gramercy Design, is one of the most playful when it comes to lighting ideas.

The actress introduced style and sophistication to her dining area with an uber-modern pendant chandelier, designed to make a statement while offering an ambient glow for diners. It demands attention in the open-plan space, while zoning the dining area to ensure it feels separated from the living area, despite the lack of physical walls.

Shop the look

Unsurprisingly, statement light fixtures, just like Anne's, come with approval from designers.

Niki Wright and Scarlett Hampton, the co-founders of lights&lamps explain that you can emphasize your fixture's ambiance further by installing a dimmer switch, perfect for when light levels need adjusting through the evening of the summer months.

'There are a few ways in which this can be achieved. The main way is to choose light fixtures where the light direction and brightness level are adjustable. Creating a layered, ambient lighting effect in any of these rooms can also be achieved by using dimmer switches, which will allow you to adjust the light levels throughout the day,' they say.

For kitchens, consider using a low-hanging pendant over a dining table, which will cast a soft, warm hue over your dining space. For living rooms, table and floor lamps are a great way to create cosy corners.

However, in all its beauty, following Anne's lead comes with caution. If you enjoy your dining table in your kitchen, Niki and Scarlett warn that such a sizable fixture may not be suitable.

'Oversized lighting can work in a kitchen, but it depends on the size and style of the kitchen and also personal preference,' they say.

'Oversized lighting fixtures can provide ample illumination and make a bold design statement, but they may not be suitable for small kitchens or those with a more traditional style. It’s important to consider the scale of the lighting fixture relative to the space and other design elements in the kitchen to ensure it complements the overall aesthetic.'

Would you invest in a light as dramatic as Anne Hathaway's for your dining area? Or do you prefer to keep things more understated? Let me know in the comments.


Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.

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