While determining what items to put in a dining area before guests arrive for dinner is straightforward, furnishing it and knowing how to design a dining room effectively is not.

Whether you’re looking for a sleek modern or rustic design, having a clear plan will make it easier. Rattan dining chairs can tie a room together beautifully.

The dining room is where you, your family and friends can gather to enjoy a meal and each others company. Add a splash of opulence to the surroundings to elevate it to a fine dining experience. These tips and ideas will guide you if you’re thinking of creating a luxury dining room.

Candles

Candlesticks and candelabras are classics of dining table decoration. These accessories are available in various materials, colours, sizes and styles. Candle holders are multifunctional and can look fantastic in any environment. Candles and tea-lights not only provide lighting, but they can also evoke a sense of calm and warm atmosphere to the space.

Mismatched chairs

Some may think that uniformity in chair design is essential, particularly in a dining room. A set of four dining chairs and two carvers at either end, has traditionally been the norm – but this doesn’t have to be adhered to in this day and age.

Using different chairs can add personality and a playfullness to your dining area. Keep colour, style and practicality in mind when deciding on which chairs to put together around your table.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper has many advantages. It’s highly versatile, is incredibly durable and can literally cover up a multitude of sins. The choices are plentiful when it comes to sumptuous and elegant designs.

Finding wallpapers that suit your personality and the room’s colour palette is the perfect fit for complementing your dining area. Using highly decorated, opulent wallpaper means there’s no need to hang decorative artwork; freeing up space, if needed, for walking around the table comfortably.

Monochrome

A monochrome colour palette is excellent for a luxury dining area since it draws focus away from the room and onto the food and company. If you believe your dining area could benefit from a colour makeover, a grey-scale design could be just what you need.

White walls, white or transparent furniture

It’s well known that white space promotes the feeling of restfulness, airiness, tranquillity and joy. White gives an impression of purity, balance and harmony in colour psychology.

The colour white is soothing and is ideal for items that are not meant to move or have a very light touch sensation. A white or translucent table & chairs, along with light-coloured or white walls, will provide the impression of dynamic balance and purpose. You can enhance this further by accessorising the dining table with a clear glass or white vase filled with flowers as a centrepiece. You’ll notice an immediate transformation.

Having a dining room that is proudly presented demonstrates confidence, which adds positive energy to the space and helps to foster a convivial vibe to the socialising.

[disclosure*]

Having a dining room lends a certain cachet to your home. If you have a dining area, it’s not the same thing as a dedicated dining room for a number of reasons. Firstly, with the former, the entire space isn’t assigned exclusively to the dining experience. It’s probably a multi-use space that also functions as a place from which to work, do homework and any number of other tasks. Secondly, a dining room is more than just a table and seating arrangement. It’s a room that has its very own style and function. Thirdly, a dining room has an ambience that no other room can match, especially when it has been dressed for entertaining guests.

All of this and more is something that will make you want to have your own designated dining room if you don’t already have such a space.

All about entertaining

Why do we want to entertain? It’s because we want to wow our guests; share good company, serve good food & drink and give them an all-round enjoyable and memorable experience. All of this culminates into the art of entertaining or, as we’d also call it, throwing a dinner party. If you want your dining room to have great winter appeal for this entertaining, pendant drop down lights from the ceiling can set the mood. Even better, try to buy flicker LED lights. These simulate the flicker of real flames and look as natural as possible. It adds to the ambience of any dining experience, as the light emitted feels like it’s coming from a candle, makes it more cosy. Alternatively, warm LED table lamps positioned in the corners of the room offer soft, indirect lighting.

Comfort is key

The reason why many of us don’t spend time in the dining room, is because it’s not the most comfortable space in the home. After a hearty meal we just want to sit back on the sofa and enjoy an after-dinner glass of wine. But, we have to leave the dining room, slightly ruining the mood of the evening. So, why not buy dining benches with backs as they offer you plenty of comfort due to the cushioning and back support. Check out the Mark Harris Malibu model as it has a classic 80s vibe with its slender but wide-leg support. This kind of bench is much warmer than hard, wooden chairs.

Mix and match

Why not add a little mix and match style to your dining accessories and fittings? Cutlery, crockery, linen etc can all help show off your personal style and taste; they can be different colours, themes, designs, shapes, etc. For example, a round coaster teamed with a round placemat would be a great choice. However, also consider the materials; don’t necessarily opt for the synthetic, plastic choice. There are leather coasters, glass coasters, felt coasters and even mosaic coasters.

The dining room is a space that often gets overlooked in terms of styling with a seasonal theme. But these things can really brighten up your room, making it the centre stage of your social gatherings.

[disclosure*]