Expert Styling Tips for Dining Rooms
Style Your Dining Room Like A Pro With These Expert Styling Tips!
The dining room holds a special place in a family home – it’s where milestones are celebrated, friends gather to share good food and conversation, and everyone comes together at the end of the day.
Here, our expert interior designers reveal how to create a beautiful and welcoming dining space from the ground up. You can also watch our short styling video here.
Choose comfortable seating
If comfort is a priority, upholstered dining chairs with padded seats and high, supportive backs are the way to go – they create a cosy spot to sit, encouraging diners to linger at the table long after the meal has ended.
Seek out chairs upholstered in a stylish and durable fabric that will last the distance, such as leather or cotton- or linen-polyester blend, in a colour that harmonises with the tones in your adjoining kitchen and lounge. Patterned fabrics will generally do a better job of hiding wear and tear than plains.
Choose hardwearing materials for your dining table and opt for timber to bring warmth to your dining room. Featured here: Scarborough Grand, Smiths Lane, Clyde North.
Credits: 1. LANY Dining Chair - Charcoal, Freedom. 2. Vistosi - Jube Pendant, Mondoluce. 3. Jute Rug, James Lane. 4. Kries Dining Table, Brosa.
A timeless dining table
The dining table is not a piece you’ll want to replace in a hurry, so look for one in a hard-wearing material with simple lines that will adapt to different decorating looks.
A style with tapered legs will suit a mid-century-style room scheme, while straight legs convey a more classic feel. For texture and interest, consider a table with a round, ribbed base.
The table you choose should be big enough to accommodate the entire family. If you entertain, consider an extendable style that can seat a few guests without swallowing up space day-to-day.
You’ll want it to be around 110cm wide (big enough to accommodate platters, glassware, and table settings) and to allow around 60cm space for each diner.
A timber table will give your dining room a warm, natural look, while bold black is more dramatic. A glass top is great for maximising the sense of space, while a marble top exudes luxury.
Make your dining room stand out by hanging unique artwork, or go bold by adding a pop of colour with wallpaper! Featured here: Sacramento, Redstone Estate, Sunbury.
Inviting colours
If you have an open-plan dining room that connects to a lounge and kitchen, create a sense of cohesion by choosing colours that tie in with these adjoining areas.
A warm neutral scheme consisting of patterned timber floorboards, a timber dining table, and greige and stone tones on your dining chairs and window coverings will create a relaxed yet sophisticated aesthetic. Or, for refined luxury consider layers of cool grey across your upholstery and flooring, with whitewashed walls.
Lining the walls with a patterned wallpaper will bring instant colour and personality to the space. For a warm, cocooning feel consider textured linen or grass cloth wallpaper in a rich, earthy hue.
Or, bring in accents of black in lighting, artwork, and chair legs to instantly up the drama factor.
Dial up the drama! Add a pendant over your dining table, but always remember to be mindful of proportions! Featured here: Kensington Grand, Orana Estate, Clyde North.
Statement lighting
No dining room is complete without great lighting. Pendants work a treat over a dining table, creating an appealing focal point while illuminating your tabletop at mealtimes. Connect them to a dimmer switch so you can adjust the lighting level and mood of the room to your requirements.
When selecting pendants, consider proportion carefully; they should be a good fit for the size of your dining table, without visually overwhelming it.
Make a statement with a trio of curvy, smoked-glass pendants over your dining table; add a sense of luxury with a minimalist, linear pendant in brushed brass; or dispense with a pendant and opt for classic sconces that create a gentle wash of light across your dining room walls.
Hardwearing flooring
The flooring in your dining room is likely to take a beating, so choose a durable material that will last. Timber floorboards, either straight or in a chevron or herringbone pattern, are hard-wearing and easy to clean and will convey a natural feel. For a more modern look that’s equally tough and easy to maintain, consider large-format, stone-look floor tiles.
Incorporating a rug into your dining room will help create a distinct dining zone, opt for durable material such as jute or wool. Featured here: Scarborough Grand, Smiths Lane, Clyde North.
Lay a rug
Create a distinct zone for your dining area (particularly important in an open-plan room) with an area rug. It’s also ideal for adding softness underfoot.
Select a rug in a durable, stain-resistant material. Such as wool, jute or even an outdoor style. Go for a low-pile style rather than a shagpile rug as crumbs and spills will have fewer places to hide.
Size-wise, look for a rug that is around 60cm wider than your dining table so that chairs can be pulled out comfortably.
Complete the look
A tall plant in a beautiful textured or metallic pot in the corner of the room, a stylish bar cart, candles and twinkling glassware will all finish off your dining space to perfection.
Bon appetit!
Want more expert styling tips, check out these posts for inspiration
Looking for fresh ideas for the dining room in your new home? Come and visit our beautifully designed display homes, located across Melbourne & Geelong, or start saving your favourite rooms to your Carlisle Profile via our Inspire Gallery.