Whether you’ve just moved into a new home or you’re planning renovations this year, it’s important that your dining room works for you. Along with meeting practical needs for the whole family, your dining room should be a comfortable and inviting space.
Creating a dining room that you can enjoy on both a formal and a relaxed basis takes time, skill, and careful planning. No matter your experience or vision, it’s worth learning a few of our top tips on creating the right dining room for your home.
Designing a dining room: Our top 5 tips
Choose the right furniture
The core components of your dining room are the table, chairs, and any extra items of furniture you include. You need to choose based around a size and shape that both fits the room and maximises the space you have available, too.
It’s worth thinking about the materials. These not only influence the practicality of your dining room, but since they define texture, materials also contribute to the style of the space. Why not create a focal point underneath the table with a jute rug?
Get the lighting right
Lighting serves an aesthetic and a functional purpose in a dining room.
Since many of your evening mealtimes will take place after sunset, you should try to install a practical lighting solution. You don’t need to compromise on style though: there are plenty of luxury fittings to choose from!
We recommend layering your lighting by using multiple types of lights. You could pair wall lights with an ornate table lamp, for example, if you’re looking for a timeless aesthetic. Alternatively, matching miniature lampshades placed on a side table gives a contemporary feel.
Add some storage
Storage is key in any busy household, so it’s worth making sure that your dining room gives you even more opportunities to keep things tidy and organised.
Whether it’s a bay window bench or a stylish ottoman, there are so many ways to incorporate more storage without drawing unwanted attention. For a rustic effect, a vintage console could safely stow away your best crockery and stoneware. To decorate your dining room furniture, you could add a touch of greenery with houseplants.
Choose practical flooring
The flooring makes a considerable difference to your dining room. While it mostly comes down to personal preference, it’s important to remember that flooring influences practicality, aesthetics, and longevity.
Hard flooring options are a no-nonsense choice for families with children or pets because they’re easy to vacuum and clean. With many options like hardwoods, vinyl, laminate, and stone to choose from, you’ll be certain to find one that suits your décor style.
Let natural light inside
Lastly, remember that any dining room is effortlessly improved by natural light! You could create a seamless sense of flow from the dining room to an outdoor entertaining space by using sliding doors at floor level. Alternatively, bay windows offer an opportunity for cosy seating too.
No matter which style you choose, try to allow as much light into your dining room as possible. Large, floor-to-ceiling mirrors make the room effortlessly modern, while traditional shapes could help you stick to your interior style. It’s your call!
