Having a sophisticated and inviting dining room has less to do with dollars than ingenuity. A space doesn’t have to be formal to display great style. Rustic furniture and “found” objects are just as trendy today as designer fabrics and polished silver. And matched sets of anything are definitely in the past. Mix and match, and add a lot of personality to come up with the best dining room in town. If you have a dining room or just want one, we have some tips you can use to make yours a standout.
Let your creativity shine and be willing to break a few rules. Accept furniture donations from friends and family if you wish, but don’t feel obligated to do so. Be open to refinishing, repainting, repurposing and recovering. Set a budget and stick to it. The best dining rooms take time to evolve, so resolve not to rush the process. If you’ve planned a dinner party and the dining room isn’t quite done, simply order pizza and sit on the boxes if you have to! Just smile.
Here are 5 basic guidelines:
Color It Personal
Color sets the mood and creates the shell for whatever else you do. You will want your dining space to complement the rest of your home decor, but it doesn’t have to match exactly. Nor do furniture styles have to be the same. If you’re fortunate enough to have a dedicated dining room, you can be a bit more daring than if you have only a dining nook, or if your eating space is part of the kitchen or the great room. But setting the space apart in some way signals a change, and color is a great way to influence mood. Red stimulates conversation as well as appetite. Soft butter yellow is a happy color, lifting spirits and fostering the expectation of good times. Soft grey can be sophisticated or casual, depending on what you add into the mix. It might evoke the memory of playful beach cookouts, or the upscale ambiance of of a continental restaurant. Paint the entire room, including the ceiling, or paint only one wall — it’s up to you.
Table and Chairs
Although they are the basic building blocks of any dining room, your table and chairs do not have to match. In fact, the best and trendiest looks today feature a mix. Combine upholstered chairs at each end of a trestle table with lighter side chairs. Find similar style chairs at a flea market or resale store and paint each a different color for a fresh, young look or a country setting. As an alternate, gather a group of mismatched chairs — ladder back, French provincial, molded mid-Century or bent wood , and perhaps even a bench, and paint them all the same color. Think watery blue for a lighthearted look, burnt orange to make a “statement” or white or black to add drama. Your table might be wood, a treasured antique, or a glass top on a stunning base. If you have hand-me-down chairs with upholstered seats, redo the seats in an animal print. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, make slipcovers or “aprons” for old chairs. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. If you don’t have a single large table, think about using two square tables pushed together to seat six, or separate them for eight.
Light It Up
A great chandelier will make the room sparkle and will speak of your good taste. If yours is less than awe-inspiring, do something about it. Shop for bargains. You can spray paint a traditional and dated brass chandelier, wrap a multi-arm wrought-iron model with rope or add crystal drops, or put shades on open candelabra bulbs. You can also fashion dramatic pendants from wire wastebaskets, wine bottles and colored vases. If you haven’t the will or the know-how to do-it-yourself, look for local artists and crafts people and explain your ideas. If your room has recessed lighting and no wiring for a chandelier, you could also suspend candle holders from chains, or simply plan to place lots of candles on your table. Don’t forget dimmer switches for all dining room lighting. You want to set a mood!
Ready, Set, Action
Setting a dramatic table should not be difficult. Think of it as “make up” and plan to create layers of interest. It may take a little practice, but it does not require any special talent, nor do you need a kitchen full of special occasion dinnerware and accessories. Whether you use your dining room for everyday family meals every night of the week, or reserve it for special occasions and for guests, your table settings should be attractive, tied to the type of meal you’re serving, and appropriate for your decor. If you have a basic set of dinnerware that you like and use regularly, purchase place mats and chargers that complement the color and pattern. Also, invest in several different sets of cloth napkins and napkin rings. Then, just have fun. Add Grandma’s hand-painted salad or dessert plates; use jelly jars for ice water and pick up unmatched wine glasses at a flea market. Buy a funky set of salt and pepper shakers or snag soup bowls from a restaurant supply company.
Be Artful
Add something interesting on the walls. Graphic black & white photographs add drama. Colorful scenes of foreign places can be great conversation starters. Large scale prints or paintings of fruit are delectable and appropriate. Even unusual framed menus can add the perfect finishing touch to a dining room. Again, let your creativity soar. Grab inspiration from everything you see and everywhere you go. Surf home decorating sites online, or visit local furniture store to absorb new ideas. Most importantly, do whatever you choose to do because it makes you happy, not because it’s the latest trend.
