For most homes, the dining room is a simple space devoted to entertaining and feasting. It’s where everyone comes together to share food, laughs, and memories. Imagine family and friends seated around a gorgeous table, indulging in discussions and delicacies.
Sprucing up a dining room can be tricky, especially with the need to balance form and function. Luckily, there are many solutions available, whether you desire a small space outfitted with a cozy banquette, or a large, more formal setup.
Below are several tips for creating a stunning dining space that speaks for itself. Let’s explore.
1. Keep It Clutter-Free with Spacious Storage Cabinets
A clutter-free dining room is a must for hearty and comfortable mealtimes. After all, you don’t want dinner plates and crockery strewn haphazardly around the room. Custom-made storage cabinets are a perfect way to minimize clutter and keep the dining space tidy. Plus, custom cabinets can be designed to match your overall aesthetic.
In addition to cabinetry, you can also utilize floating or partitioned shelves to stow pots, pans, and cutlery. You might also consider using shelves to display decorative pieces or potted plants to brighten up the space — though propping up delicate China on exposed shelves isn’t advisable: that’s just a disaster waiting to happen.
2. Include a Focal Point
- Your dining table should be large enough to command the room, but not overwhelm it. Remember, you are seeking to balance form and function – plus you need to be able to move around the room freely.
- Think about the shape of the table you desire. Round or square tables are great for intimate parties, while long, rectangular tables are ideal for formal gatherings.
- The material of your dining room table is vital too. Timeless options such as solid wood, reclaimed wood, or stone can give your space a luxurious appeal. On the other hand, metal or glass is perfect for a more modern, minimalist aesthetic.
Once the dining table is situated, you can then arrange all other furnishings and accessories to complement this central focal point.
3. Choose the Right Flooring
If you’re remodeling, you could keep the floors you’ve inherited, provided they’re in good shape. However, since dining rooms are high-traffic areas susceptible to spills and stains, your flooring needs to be up to the challenge. You want flooring that’s stylish, durable, and easy to clean.
If you’re a hardwood floor enthusiast, we suggest you opt for engineered wood. It’s more resistant to temperature changes and humidity than solid hardwood flooring, a big advantage for dining rooms. Plus, engineered wood is difficult to tell apart from solid wood once installed, so you won’t have to compromise on appearance.
4. Choose Colors or Patterns
Your dining room’s color scheme will vary based on the overall vibe you desire. For example, lighter colors such as pinks and pastels create an airy feel, whereas darker hues generate a moodier, mysterious ambiance.
Your decision may very well come down to how often you want to use your dining room and at what time of day. If you only host brunches, going dark might be too intense. You’ll want to stick to neutrals, blues, and greens. However, if you tend to entertain in the evening, midnight blues and crimsons, among other rich, deep shades, will be more to your liking.
Paint isn’t the only thing that can bring a color scheme together. Patterned wallpaper is just as effective. You can even combine the two to make a unique statement.
5. Don’t Skimp on Lighting
Few things are as off-putting as a poorly-lit dining room. Without adequate light sources, your guests will feel as though they’re sitting in a cave. Of course, you don’t want to overdo it with fixtures that create awkward shadows, such as harsh downlights.
Popular choices include ambient sconces that disperse low light throughout the room. You might even consider adding a chandelier or pendant light above the dining table to add a touch of class. There are plenty of lighting options available, so lighting is one area where it’s easy to experiment.
If you use your dining room for multiple purposes, such as a student study space or a home office, dimmer switches can be used to help to change the mood of the room depending on its use.
6. Ensure Privacy and Intimacy
Besides pleasing aesthetics, a dining room must encourage interaction among your guests. Adequate seating and lighting are vital, plus the room shouldn’t be noisy or distracting. It’s hard to converse when there’s a lot going on, so be sure to separate the dining room from other areas of the house, if possible. With open-concept homes, where there are no walls dividing spaces, try using floating screens to create separation.
7. Be Careful About Layout
Most homeowners think there’s only one way to set up a dining room: a table at the center and chairs around the edge. While such a traditional layout makes sense, it’s not the only way.
For smaller dining rooms, consider placing the table in a corner. This way, you’ll have room to add a loveseat or bar cart. Larger spaces may benefit from having the table in the center, but you can always add bookcases or cabinets at the edge of the room to double as storage.
No matter what layout you pick, remember to leave enough room for people to move freely. It’s no fun for you or your guests if they need to maneuver around each other on their way in and out.
8. Bring Your Style to the Space
Although there’s nothing wrong with modeling your dining room on a home furnishings catalog, such a one-of-a-kind unique, personalized area should reflect your personality. Pick decor, colors, and accessories that represent your tastes.
If you don’t know where to begin, just think about all the things that spark joy in your life—such as family portraits, comic book characters, or even famous artworks—and choose pieces or a design based on that.
The Bottom Line
A well-designed dining room is non-negotiable for those who love entertaining. What’s more, it’s easy to achieve. Hopefully, these tips have given you some insight into how to design an eye-catching, functional dining space that charms your guests every time. With a little planning and imagination, you’ll be able to create the dining room of your dreams in no time.
Proper storage plays a huge role in dining room décor. At Holland Custom Cabinets, we design attractive dining room storage cabinets that seamlessly combine style with utility. For more information, feel free to call us today.
