Dining Room

The main light source here will be over the dining table. The use of a dimmer will allow the table to be used for jobs such as sewing and yet give a low mood light for dining.

Don't hang pendant so low that your diners have to peer round it, about 60cm above the table is about right. Better still fit a rise and fall pendant.
If you like to dine by candle light, make sure the light is fitted with a diffuser so that your diners are not looking at a reflection of the light bulb.
Long tables can be very effectively lit with a longer light fitting suspended on two wires.
Living room