With open-plan living so much a part of our homes these days, traditional dining rooms have morphed into living spaces. Whether you have a designated room for dining, or just a table and chairs between the kitchen and living areas, make it a welcoming place to come together and share the events of the day or entertain friends over lunch and dinner.
Start by defining the space with a rug that’s large enough to house the table and chairs. When choosing a table, it should be large enough to give each setting a comfortable .6m of table space, but small enough to allow that same space between the chairs and any walls. Beautiful mood lighting is key, so look for a scene-stealing pendant for above the table. To create an intimate space hang it low, about a metre above the tabletop.
How you decorate your dining area will depend on whether you use it only for eating, or whether it has to multi-task as a work-from-home desk for you, a homework station for the kids and a workbench for everyone’s hobbies.
If your dining space is a workhorse and you conduct long Zoom meetings from the table, comfortable seating is essential so choose upholstered chairs rather than cool benches. While a vase of flowers or bowl of fruit is a nice touch on the table, take care not to style your centrepiece with too many objects you’ll only have to remove when you sit down to work each morning.
If there’s room, a buffet is a great addition as it will take overflow from the table and you can use it as storage for large platters, glasses and an impromptu bar.
Use colour
Dining rooms are social rooms and, like kitchens, are at the heart of your home. Given that the dining room is a place where you bring people together to socialise and share a delicious meal, you need to consider how you would like your guests to feel in the space. Colour is a great way to start building a mood. Colours like mustard or ochre are warm and energetic and encourage conversation, while cooler colours, such as green and blue, create a more relaxed atmosphere. Art, cushions, rugs, decor items on your buffet or a table centrepiece are simple ways to add colour, and they’re easier and cheaper to swap out than big-ticket items like tables or chairs if you decide to change your colour scheme….
