Decorating a Dining Room

Dining rooms should be simple to decorate - after all they do have a clearly defined purpose, don't they? Strangely enough, dining rooms often turn out to be quite difficult to get just right - and can often fester away, unloved and unnoticed.

It's all too easy to reserve your dining room for special occasions, then see it become a dumping ground for all those odds-and-ends without a proper home. Shove it all in, and keep the door shut...!

So, don't waste your dining room. Make it into a gorgeous and stylish room, that you will want to use regularly. These considerations apply, whether you have a separate dining room, or have to cram your dining area into a corner of your main living area.

• Think about your dining area and how you want to use it, before you plan your scheme for decorating your dining room. Do you want to use it daily? Or only for special occasions? Will you be using it mainly during the day? Or in the evening? Will it be just for the family? Or do you plan to hold dinner parties and entertain friends?


• Try and make sure that you can access your dining room safely and easily from the kitchen, whilst carrying hot plates or trays.


• A quality table, and comfortable chairs are the focal point for decorating your dining room. Consider the size of your table, and how many will eat regularly around your table? Will there be more for special occasions?


• An extendable or drop-leaf table may be your best choice. It will not take up too much space ordinarily, but can be easily extended when you have guests for birthdays, Christmas and parties.


• Instead of an extendable or drop-leaf table, consider using extra coffee tables, that can be raised up to become full-height dining tables.


• For those rare occasions when you need even more space, a piece of hardboard, over two trestle legs can create an emergency table extension.


• Arrange extra chairs around your room, in other rooms, or buy some folding chairs, that can be stowed away easily when not in use.


• Choose chairs with slightly sloping backs, rather than straight upright backs. These will be far more comfortable, and will encourage you to relax and enjoy an after-dinner cup of coffee, glass of wine, or chocolate.


• Choose a matching set of table and chairs, for a smart, formal feel. Continue this with a sideboard, dresser or storage unit for crockery, cutlery and table linen, if you have the space.







• For a more informal feel to decorating a dining room, choose non-matching chairs. It doesn't actually matter if the chairs are all different. If possible, though, try to find chairs in a similar shape or style. If necessary, you can unify your look by painting second-hand finds, all in the same color. Or cover drop-in seats with smart, matching fabrics, or cover the whole of your dining room chairs, in a set of matching slip-covers.


• Check out the section on ideal spacing to make sure that your guests will be comfortable sat at your dining table.


• In general, try to position your dining table in the centre of the room. Make sure your guests will not be sat on top of a scorching hot fire, if you are lucky enough to have a fireplace in your room. Also try to ensure that guests will not be sat either facing, or with their backs to a window, if your dining room is to be used during the day time. This will make sure that everyone can see each other clearly and chat easily over dinner.


• When arranging any flowers, candelabra or other centre-piece on your table, try to ensure that you keep it low, so that your guests can interact and maintain eye contact easily.


• Your lighting choices are important too, especially if you want to use your dining room during the evening. Check out these important home lighting ideas for decorating the dining room. Make good use of lamps and other mood lighting to create a wonderfully relaxed feel.


• Try placing candles in front of a bare window, or mirror for a dramatic lighting effect.


• Candles are great, and a must-have for any evening dining. Do bear in mind though, that candles (or other artificial light) can cast a very warm lighting effect in your dining room. This will mean that cool colors in your dining room, will look far less attractive at night.


• Dining rooms which are mainly kept for evening dining, will really suit a deep, warm color, which will give a great, dramatic effect - very warm and relaxing.


• Red is an excellent choice for decorating a dining room - find out why here!


• Try creating an accent wall, with paint - red? - or a dramatic, statement wallpaper.


• For special occasions, go to town, and really dress up your table. Choose beautiful, matching tablecloths, table runners and napkins. Add smart crockery and glasses. Layer up charger plates, platters and bowls, combining white and colors, to get a very modern and sophisticated effect.


• Don't forget a beautiful table centre-piece - flowers, a plant or candles. Use your imagination, get creative and make your own - combine a clear glass bowl, or vase, with a candle, and add interesting flowers, foliage, beads, pine-cones etc. Have fun! For more table decorating ideas, click here
  
  

When you have completed decorating your dining room, you will have a beautiful room, that you will be proud to use everyday, or show off to friends and family for special occasions. Sit back, relax and enjoy your entertaining!

If you need some inspiration to start you off, take a look at the decorating dining room ideas and photos in these gallery pages.

Will your dining room be part of an open plan interior design for your living room and dining room? Check out useful hints and tips here.

Why not kick off your interior design skills with a visit to the How to Design Section, for great interior design tips.





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