The dining room table is often where we come together with family and friends to share meals and swap stories, often late into the night. While you can technically do this anywhere, lounging on comfortable furniture against an attractive backdrop of designer decor is especially appealing. Here are some dining room design ideas for turning your dining room into an inviting space that promises good times.
Deciding on a Dining Room Layout
Designing your room layout is fun. At the same time, creating a functional and beautiful dining room can benefit from some thought. Before you search and shop for “dining room furniture near me,” consider the following:
Function
How will you use your dining space? Is it mainly for casual dinners? Will you be working there? Will you be hosting formal dinner parties? Understanding all its uses will help guide your dining room layout, furniture, and decor choices.
Space
Dining room furniture choices depend on functional and space needs. You’ll want your dining room to feel warmly welcoming. However, larger, open-plan areas require a different layout and furniture than smaller, dedicated spaces.
Dining room furnishings include a table, chairs, and — if you have space — serving and storage pieces such as a sideboard, with the dining table usually serving as the focal piece. Do you need a large, extendable table for a substantial number of family or guests? Or do you need a smaller piece for more intimate dinners? You’ll want to ensure that your furniture size and layout leave enough space to both move around comfortably and pull the chairs out easily.
While a sense of intimacy is easy in a small dining room, ideas for a large, open area include dividing it into smaller activity zones. For example, placing buffet servers against two perpendicular walls creates a distinct dining nook for a small round table. Other ideas include tucking a narrow rectangular table behind a sofa or pairing a round table with upholstered chairs that match your couch.
Essentially, you can distribute your furniture and decor strategically and evenly to create a harmonious look and experience.
Choosing Dining Room Furniture
When choosing dining room furniture, consider your lifestyle. Home decor store showpieces may look exciting but aren’t a good match for everyone. Always consider how you plan to use the furniture before buying it. Five points to ponder include:
Table Size
Does it offer enough space for your family and typical dinner party guests? Will it fit comfortably in the room? Always leave at least 24 inches between dining room furniture and the walls or other obstacles. Remember to choose seating options that match the table height to ensure comfort.
Table Shape
Square or oblong tables, perhaps with extendable pieces, are perfect for larger spaces. Round tables are best for smaller spaces, leaving plenty of room for chairs and convenient moving around. Choose a table that matches your general furniture style. For example, modern dining room furniture usually features simple design ideas without excessive decoration.
Material
Again, consider your lifestyle. For example, the best dining room furniture set ideas for families with children feature durable tables that are easy to clean. Glass, wood veneer, or melamine are all good options. The material should also reflect your interior design style, such as choosing wicker to match boho or rustic home decor.
Seating
Dining room furniture sets that come with matching chairs offer a traditional look. If you’re after something more contemporary, consider mix-and-match seating. For example, pair a dining room bench with stools or use upholstered armchairs to play with color for a unique and lighthearted touch.
Price
Whether or not you’re decorating a dining room on a budget, always do quality checks to ensure you purchase affordable, durable furniture. Examine the finish and construction, test for stability, and look for material imperfections before accepting the sale price. You can also buy secondhand, especially if you have vintage home decor.
Other Dining Room Considerations
Color Scheme
Dining room trends and color scheme fashions come and go. However, if you want to make the room feel welcoming, colors with a warm undertone will always be in style. Terra cotta, maroon, peach, coral, mauve, yellow, teal, beige, and khaki are just a few examples.
You can bring these colors into the room through centerpieces, rugs, furniture, and other home decor. There are generally two ways of generating dining room color schemes: working with shades of the same color or using contrasting colors.
For the first option, for example, select yellow as your color family and then choose table runners, wall art, and upholstery with analogous colors that are close to the shades of yellow. For option two, choose yellow and blue as contrasting colors. Mix and match your dining room decor ideas and furniture to highlight both hues.
Decor
An empty dining table in a bare room is hardly welcoming. Even if you prefer minimalist or modern home decor, adding some dining room wall decor ideas and design accents is necessary to complete the space.
Start by choosing a rug for the room, ensuring it’s large enough for the table and every chair (when occupied). A rug instantly makes the space feel warmer and provides opportunities to play with patterns and colors.
To complete the dining room look and theme, add color accents and personal touches using wall art, family photos, bright mats, unique art pieces, and different textures, such as velvet or tufted pieces. Invest in table runners, glassware, napkins, candles, and an appealing centerpiece to create a striking tablescape.
Lighting
Lighting is essential to convivial dining room interior design, helping transform a dining room into a romantic nook or impressive entertainment space. Some dining room lighting ideas include making your space warm and welcoming by using layered lighting with downlights, a chandelier, table lamps, and candles. Dimmer lights are perfect for after-dinner drinks and late-night chats.
Luxury modern dining room design ideas often rely on statement chandeliers centered above the table. Glass and metal are top material choices if you want this style. Look for home decor ideas incorporating mirrors or reflective surfaces to give the walls and furniture a warm, inviting glow.
Shop Dining Room Furniture at Home Zone
Home Zone offers contemporary dining room furniture and decor made from high-quality materials built to last. Contact us for more dining room design ideas, or visit one of our home furnishing stores near you to shop our range in person.
