6 Cool Styling Ideas For Your Dining Room

HEY! Today, I’m sharing my 6 expert decorating & styling tips to help you design a dining room that’s both functional and stylish. I want you to style the perfect meal ready for when we can entertain friends and family again with these dining room decorating ideas.

It doesn’t matter if you have a stand-alone dining room or have a table pushed into a corner of your open-plan home, a dining area is a fun-loving space built for parties. Sadly, it is often is one of the most overlooked areas in our homes. Not any more! In this post, I’m sharing by 6 dining room styling and decorating ideas that will transform this area in your home.

I want you to have a dining area that is practical, functional and beautiful all rolled into one. A place for family dinners, homework and dapper dinner parties. Your dining room has the potential to be one of the most-frequented rooms in your home if you get the styling right.

Apply these tips to your own home for a delectable dining room that functions brilliantly for the whole family and guests too. It will become the heart of your home with these dining room decorating ideas.

If you are looking for help with your home – don’t forget, I now offer a remote interior design service with a fellow designer – click here to find out more.

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6 expert decorating & styling ideas to help you design a dining room that's both functional and stylish by Interior Stylist Maxine Brady

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT TABLE

When designing dining rooms for my clients, I always dig deep to find out what type of entertaining they plan to have. You really need to consider what type of diner you are!

> A round or oval table is perfect for people who love diner time conversation to run until the small hours, as the shape of a round table creates a social space. They’re also fab for open-plan rooms as there are no sharp edges to knock against.

> A long thin table is ideal if your dining area is in the corner of your kitchen. Pair with benches that can slip under when not in use as a space-saving solution. Benches are also ideal if you have extra guests dropping in at meal times as you can squeeze more bums on seats.

> If you want a grown up look, go for a dining table that is square or rectangle for a more formal look.

> Love to entertain? Then you’ll want a table that extends out to fit all your friends and family around at meal times.

> For busy homes will want a hard-working table with a durable surface that is easy-to-clean after children’s meal times but also can be styled into a smart dining table when it is time for the adults sit down ant eat.

READ: STYLING TRICKS FOR OPEN-PLAN DINING ROOMS

2. EXTRA STORAGE SPACE

Dining tables can become busy! Platters of food, table decorations, glassware, candles and wine bottles can all take over your table top. If you always run out of space during meal times, think of investing in a side table or even better a folding tray table that you can put your drinks and side dishes on which will save space on your tabletop.

A sideboard is great for storing all your glasses and serving ware. Or what about treating your room to a cocktail trolley where you can serve a cool drinks before and after eating. French Connection have a cane one which gives me all the trills. Not only does it look cool – but you can pop your stereo in it and still use the remote to control the music.

If you living in a smaller property, shop for vintage pieces as they are have better proportions. If you like a more modern look, West Elm and Habitat have a great range of side tables made from metallic surfaces that will sparkle at nighttime.

READ: MAKE YOUR DINING ROOM SPARKLE WITH THESE STYLE TIPS

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3. DEFINE THE SPACE WITH RUGS

We always dress our dining rooms with an amazing rug. You could elevate meal times with a luxe rug under your table! Look for one with a textured pattern to add lots of visual interest like mine from Modern Rugs. What statement rug you go for will have a huge impact on the look of your room.

For family rooms, you’ll want one that can be popped into the washing machine so it is easy to clean every so often!

Whatever you pick, make sure it is big enough so that chairs don’t get caught on the edges of the rug. And use a slip grip mat under the rug to make sure it isn’t a trip hazard when you start dancing after the cocktails!

4. CONSIDER THE HEIGHT OF YOUR CHAIRS

Check the dining chair and table / bench heights together before you buy them. This is most true if you love buying vintage like me. Old tables can look great with sleek, modern chairs but if you get the heights wrong it is very uncomfortable.

READ: 5 DECORATING IDEAS FOR A LUXE LOOK FOR LESS

5. ESSENTIAL LIGHTING

The key is a great diner party is your lighting over the dining table. Pendant lighting adds a focal point and a decorative design element to the room, it helps define the space. And it means you can banish unflattering downlighters. If you can, install a dimmer switch so you can set the ligthing at the perfect just-so point for eating.

Another tip is look for lighting that is adjustable – so that you can pull it down lower at meal times – as they can create an intimate mood at night – and be moved out the way when not needed.

Complement a central pendant light with lots of table lights dotted around the rest of the room. And then dress your table top with candles for a relaxed atmosphere.

READ: GUIDE TO LIGHTING YOUR DINING ROOM

6. STYLE YOUR TABLE WITH INTEREST

When designing dining rooms for my clients, I like to create spaces that have interest to them – rather than just being a room full of table and chairs. There are many ways to make these spaces more creative by mixing and matching your chair style, with stunning art on a main wall, a co-ordinated colour scheme.

When not in use a dining room can feel a little unloved. It can get covered in everyday clutter like paperwork, post, car keys and homeowner or a laptop. So when not in use, style of your table like you would your shelves or coffee table – with vase of flowers, a beautiful table cloth, stack of books to create a focal point in the room (which will stop it turning into a dumping ground).

READ: 11 CHIC ROOMS THAT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO PAINT YOUR WALLS DARK