Your family dining room is one of the most essential rooms in your home. Considering how busy most people are today, it’s crucial to take the time to sit down together as a family and enjoy a relaxing meal and good conversation. Your dining room is also the perfect place to entertain guests, hold family game nights, and much more.
A cluttered or outdated space just isn’t conducive to socializing. Here are ten dining room decoration ideas to help you create a dining room that’s comfortable, functional, and stylish.
1. Choose a round table
A room full of boxy, rectangular pieces can easily start to feel cramped. A circular dining room table can add a dynamic element and a softer style. A round table is also easier to navigate around in a tighter space.
Another thing that you’ll like about circular tables is that they provide richer personal interactions among the people seated at the table. Rather than sitting at awkward angles, guests at a round table are (in a way) all facing each other. Consider a versatile option such as this table and chair set.
2. Try textured neutrals
Neutral colors are generally foolproof and reflect an excellent way to ensure that your space looks polished and inviting. Neutrals, such as grays or browns, combined with natural materials, such as stone and leather, work seamlessly together to create a beautiful and comfortable room.
You can add interest by layering in a variety of textures—for example, you might choose a woven rug, a rattan pendant, bamboo-look wallpaper, and a rustic wooden table to keep the look of your family dining room engaging yet pulled together.
3. Apply a fresh coat of paint…
New paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a big difference in the appearance of any room. You can do so much with paint, whether you choose deep, saturated hues to create a cozy space, a classic color combination such as white with black accents, or a pastel palette for a calm, relaxing dining room. Avoid getting too matchy-matchy with paint–instead, develop a natural look with colors and items that do not match exactly but go together comfortably.
4. …or wallpaper
Wallpaper is an extremely durable wall covering offering endless color and pattern options. You can choose an understated solid color or a bold print–either way, you are adding a protective layer to your walls that is cleanable and long-lasting.
New wallpaper styles are much easier to remove than older ones, so don’t worry about being stuck with your wallpaper forever–you won’t be. There is wallpaper available to suit a wide range of budgets. Lining only the area above your wainscoting or chair rail is a great way to reduce costs even further.
5. Consider a sectional
Traditional dining room chairs look great, but they are far from your only option. If you tend to prefer unconventional décor, consider a sectional sofa around two sides of your dining room table. A corner couch can give your dining room an incredibly comfy feel in addition to an unusual and appealing look.
Add chairs on the other sides of the table for maximum seating. This approach will provide you with more seating than chairs alone and give you an extra way to introduce unique colors and textures.
6. Discover the advantages of bench seating
Dining benches are a relatively new option for seating. Instead of two chairs on one side of your table, you can add a spacious bench that will easily sit three, helping you make the most of the space that you have. A bench can also make your dining room look less cluttered and give it a cleaner feel.
There are lots of different dining benches on the market to suit a wide range of styles and budgets. You may even be able to find a dining bench with hidden storage, making it even more practical.
7. Go for mismatched chairs
There is no rule that says all your dining room chairs must be identical. Take a different approach: find a table that you love, then surround it with complementary chairs that look good together but don’t match precisely. You could choose six different coordinating chairs or three different chair pairings; either way, you’ll unlock a way to add intrigue to your décor and more color, texture, and visual appeal to your family dining room.
8. Hang the right curtains
Your window treatments can make a huge statement and contribute significantly to the look of your dining room. Whether you go minimal and bare, soft and ethereal, or quirky and fun, your curtains will help set the tone for the rest of the space.
Playful, bright window treatments can bring your dining room to life and set off the colors in your other pieces; more subdued, elegant drapes can give your room a sophisticated feel. Your windows are a blank slate and an opportunity to build a foundation for your dining room décor.
9. Use mirrors to add light and art
Mirrors make fantastic artwork. They come in an endless array of sizes, styles, and shapes and bounce light around a smaller room, creating the illusion of open space. Lots of mirrors make candlelit dinners beautiful.
Consider putting together a collage of mirrors on one or more of your dining room walls. Look for mirrors with shapes and colors that don’t necessarily match but work well together, such as this one, this one, and this one. Or, try using a grouping of mirrors of different shapes in all-white frames.
10. Add the unexpected
Your dining room table, chairs, rug, and curtains act as focal points, but what you do with the rest of your space can make a big difference. Consider adding some unexpected touches, such as an interesting paint border on the ceiling, bright pillows that pop on your chairs, or bold, layered rugs that offset each other. A whimsical tabletop touch such as this family of owls will put a smile on your face every time you come to dinner.
Decorating your dining room doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. These are just a few dining room decoration ideas to get you started–with a touch of creativity and help from Home Zone, the sky is the limit for creating a fun and inviting space for your family and guests.