From holiday dinners to birthday parties, board games to family gatherings, so many important moments happen around the dinner table. It is an extension of the kitchen, the heart of the home, a simple area where memories are made and gatherings are cherished. It’s also a space that’s easily forgotten in the time spent devouring meals in front of a screen.
If your dining room table has become a messy collector’s item or is otherwise no longer a room you enjoy spending time in, it’s time for a dining room makeover. Whether simple DIY projects will do or every element needs modernizing, you can breathe new life into your dining room with these brilliant dining room decorating ideas.
1. Space saving solutions
To avoid overwhelming a small dining room, make sure your furniture and accessories are to scale. A small round table with four chairs is better than trying to fit a six-person table in a small space. Give the room a big impact with an eye-catching wallpapered accent wall and matching rug. Hang a large mirror opposite the window to double the natural light.
Banquet seating is ideal in a small dining room or kitchen breakfast nook, especially since you can use the area under the seat for storage. You can also push the table against the bench to create more floor space between meals. Throw fun pillows along the seat to add a touch of color. Check out the video below and learn how to make your own banquet or bench.
2. Creative table designs
In most cases, a dining table is a big investment. Make sure you measure the space and only look at table models that fit the room comfortably. Your heart may long for a long farmhouse table, but a round pedestal table might be more practical. Note that chairs don’t have to match the table and mixing/matching different styles of chairs is a fun way to give the room an eclectic feel.
Dress up your table with placemats or a runner and an eye-catching centerpiece. A simple arrangement of candles and greenery can suffice or opt for a more traditional floral arrangement. Display beautiful apothecary jars on a narrow tray or display a collection of succulents in colorful ceramic pots.
3. Light up the dining area
A beaded chandelier can help soften the lines of a modern dining room. For maximum lighting and decorative effect, combine the light sources for the dining room. Recessed ceiling lights, a dangling chandelier or pendant, and a table lamp or two add a natural glow to the room.
What you choose as your main lighting fixture will be one of the room ideas that makes the biggest impression. Avoid the temptation to go small when deciding what to hang above the table.
Rustic or farmhouse decorations often include a light-filled ladder holder above the dining table. Find out how to make a ladder light yourself in the video below.
4. Stylish wall decoration
A classic dining room wall decor effect is to hang the wainscoting up to the height of the chair rail. Replace traditional wainscoting panels with beadboards in a vacation home or beach house. Use horizontal shiplap for a farmhouse look, either below the chair rail or on an entire accent wall. Hang a statement wallpaper on a wall to add texture and color without overwhelming the space.
The decor you choose for the dining room walls will allow you to showcase your personality. For an eclectic vibe, hang a selection of shallow baskets or colorful plates from around the world. Choose a large painting that depicts your favorite things, or frame a series of paintings or photographs for a gallery wall. Don’t forget the power that mirrors have to expand your space and reflect natural light.
5. Enjoy rustic charm
A rustic or industrial dining room features distressed wood surfaces, lots of metal accents, and repurposed items. Exposed brick works well in a rustic design, whether it’s bare or whitewashed. A large stacked stone fireplace can be the anchor point in a large rustic dining room. Stained or painted wood trim also works well as an accent wall or on all four walls.
Cover the ceiling with wood paneling or add faux wood beams to a high ceiling. A dining table with a bench on one side fits a rustic, casual interior design concept. Keep window treatments simple, e.g. E.g. wooden blinds or shutters instead of soft curtains.
6. Find a balance
“Transitional” is a word used to describe an interior design that combines traditional and contemporary finishes, materials and furniture. It’s a way to make a space more comfortable and inviting. It should reflect your personality; Therefore, the space can be as versatile or sophisticated as you desire.
A transitional dining room may have a traditional table surrounded by different style chairs. For example, combine upholstered parsonage chairs and wooden Windsor chairs and place striped fabric next to a botanical print. In most cases, the transition design is based on a neutral color scheme. This helps create a calm atmosphere and allows the unique lines of each piece to shine.
7. Slim and chic
A modern dining room is a study in minimalism. The chair and table lines in the dining room are angular and strong, there is no clutter and the color is reserved for strategic accents. Modern room ideas focus on making the room functional and simple.
If you prefer mid-century modern style, a glossy white pedestal table surrounded by colorful Eames chairs is for you. Corner benches were also popular in the 1950s and 60s and are well suited for a small dining area. Hang a starburst clock and retro artwork to complete the mid-century vibe.
8. Harmonic integration
If you have an open floor plan, it can open up new dining room ideas. While many prefer the two room ideas to flow seamlessly together, others prefer using a different flooring or color to identify each room. You could build a dark wood platform to raise the dining table a step higher than the living room. Or place an eye-catching rug under the table to visually separate the rooms.
A low bookcase can mark the boundary between the dining and living areas, or the back of the sofa can work too. If continuity is your goal, use the same color schemes in the living room and dining room. Look for a dining table chandelier that matches the metal of your living room lamps or furniture. If you have a dark wood dining table top, use the same wood color for the mantel or coffee table in the living room.
9. Seamless Blend
If your kitchen and dining room are open-plan, this presents some design challenges. It can also make decorating easier because your design style and color scheme can flow seamlessly between the two zones. If you have chosen a distinctive color in the kitchen, repeat it in your dining room ideas. For example, look for green upholstered dining chairs to match a green kitchen island.
In a smaller home or apartment, you may not even have a separate dining room. If your dining table and chairs must be in a breakfast nook or eat-in kitchen, a more casual approach to the dining room is usually best. You can still achieve continuity by choosing the same style of bar stools and table chairs and coordinating your choice of rugs and curtains.
10. Enjoy contemporary flair
A modern dining room retains some of the formality of a traditional dining room while exuding a distinctly fresh vibe. White or gray walls are common, accompanied by furniture in a variety of neutral colors. Dining tables and chairs have curved edges and softer lines than in modern design. Textures are welcome in a modern dining room, but clutter is not.
Keep your modern dining area simple but impressive by focusing on specific pieces that make an impact. For example, hang a slightly oversized metal light fixture with lines that repeat the shape of your dining room chair’s details. While the overall color scheme should be neutral, a pop of color is appropriate, be it a touch of cherry red or a calming streak of sage green.
11. Timeless elegance
The appeal of a traditional dining room is timeless. While many modern homes forego a separate dining room, it’s entirely appropriate to create a space where memories can be made around the table. Their inviting formality makes your guests feel special in a way that isn’t possible in open spaces.
A traditional dining room is the perfect place to display inherited or found antiques. Toile and plant prints are traditional fabrics for cushions, curtains or artwork. Leather accent chairs ensure solid masculine strength. Muted colors create calm, while crystal and metal accessories highlight the room with subtle sparkle.
12. Blankets that inspire
From top to bottom, your dining room ceiling has the potential to take your dining room from ordinary to exquisite. Accentuate existing ceiling or ceiling fixtures with wood or mirror panels. You can add recessed lighting or draw attention to the ceiling by painting it a different color. A coffered ceiling is a classic dining room feature that benefits from a contrasting paint color.
Textures draw the eye to the ceiling. They can also help improve your overall design scheme. If you feel like doing a DIY project, add beadboard paneling and/or exposed beams to the ceiling. Cover a simple popcorn ceiling with antique ceiling tiles. Home improvement centers sell a variety of faux tin ceiling materials that are easy to make yourself, as shown in the video below.
13. Increase the atmosphere in the dining room
Any type of window treatment that suits your style will work in the dining room. Dining room curtain ideas usually involve some sort of layering. A country-style dining room might have flowing white curtains over rolling bamboo shades, while a more elegant dining room might have sheer curtains under darker, solid curtain panels.
A bold choice of curtains will help make a large dining room feel cozier. If you have an open floor plan where the kitchen and living room are open to the dining area, make sure your curtains complement the entire room. While it’s okay to use a different type of window treatment in this scenario, try to repeat the overall colors and textures in each area.