For many, a dining room is probably pulling double (or maybe triple) duty. It might be where you work, a place where laundry is folded and groceries are stacked. Besides all these, it’s also the place where family and friends come together to share meals together.
So make it a place you would like it to be. The dining room is mostly functional but that doesn’t mean it can’t look good, too. Several factors should come into play initially as you begin to plan the room. These factors are style, color, and function, from contemporary to classical.[break]
You can breathe new life into your dining room with simple decor changes. Add a mirror to make the room appear larger, or overhaul the entire room with some new furniture. Add a wall of windows to shed light on family dinners or install low-hanging chandeliers for delicate ambience.
Photo Courtesy: Arjun Shah
Eye-catching chandeliers are the hallmark of a well-designed dining room. You can even opt to modernize your dining room with industrial-style lighting and balancing their streamlined look by combining the lighting with natural furnishings, like wood tables and wicker chairs. There’s so much you can do, really.
The Week presents you some ideas that might inspire you the next time when you decide to redecorate your dining room.
Get the basics right; set the ambience
Place a carefully chosen artwork or something that holds special meaning to you, like a framed collage or family portrait at the center of the wall opposite to dining table. Add interest and pattern to your walls with a striped paint treatment or use stencils to create patterns. A simple makeover can take your dining room walls from boring to beautiful. Find something that’s uniquely you and personalize the space. Greenery or branches add a touch of the outdoors. There’s nothing like bringing the outdoors in to remind you that you’re snug and cozy inside.
Paint what you can’t replace
Maybe your dining room could use a little extra pizzazz. But you don’t want to buy new furniture. All you need is a little paint and a little bit of time. If you already own a matching set of chairs but want to inject a little color into the proceedings, why not paint them all different colors? Conversely, painting a bunch of dissimilar chairs the same color is a great way to achieve cohesiveness, and put the focus on the shapes of the different chairs. This is a great budget option. Since you don’t have to find a matched set of chairs, you can gather chairs from all over and make them a matched set.
Invest in an elegant dining table set for the centerpiece
Glass-topped tables look exquisite and elegant. A sturdy wooden one is more forgiving of stains and will last a lifetime if taken care of properly. While wooden tables are still the most readily available, tables in more unusual materials are increasingly popular and can really set the tone for a dramatic dining space. You can also place the dining table close to the window so that the views can be admired. At the same time, you can update boring old chairs using slipcovers and change the look of any upholstered chair. For added sophistication, have slipcovers made with your monogram, or use interesting patterned material. You can also add some fabric to the tabletop. Covering bare surfaces helps add warmth to your table.
Display beautiful cutlery and glassware
When it comes to setting your dining table, sometimes simple is best. Keeping classics on hand ensure a clean, chic, timeless table, regardless of the season or holiday. Neutral colors and natural materials always look great solo, together, or mixed in with special occasion wares. Invest in some chic serving bowls. They quickly dress up a dining table, plus they double as décor when not holding dinner. You can also make a style statement by displaying a favorite collection of dishes in glass cabinets or open shelves.
Focus on the details
When buying everyday objects, it’s incredibly easy to overlook the small stuff. But sometimes, it’s that small stuff that can bring the greatest doses of joy and character to a home. Interesting dining table accessories, like salt and pepper shakers, napkin holders and table mats, could add a little bit of zing to your space with their hyper-functional and hyper-fun designs. Even small accessories, like coasters, can have a big impact on the cohesiveness and personality of a room. Add some whimsy and show off your personality through knickknacks.
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