Don’t make a meal out of doing up your dining room; be inspired by these stylish eating areas and some top tips from interiors writer Kara O’Reilly…
- A feature light suspended over the table is a classic dining scheme design device (Ursula pendant lamp, £395, pooky.com)
- Try a bold, patterned floor like this Platinum Cabana vinyl, from £17.99 per sq m, carpetright.co.uk
- Lighting is a useful way of demarcating your dining area. A simple, effective idea is to introduce a line up of matching lights. Odd numbers always look better – and remember to put them on a dimmer switch. Large black 7380 pendants by Davey Lighting, £479 each, originalbtc.com
- Create a cosy dining area with soft furnishings: think upholstered chairs or seat pads; tablecloths and napkins, plus floor-sweeping curtains, all in a complementary palette of colours (Perth fabric collection, from £49.50 per m, ianmankin.co.uk)
- Wood is always pleasing as a choice for dining tables and chairs, so why not go for café-style shutters in the same tones? (Premium teak shutters in light oak, from £159 per sq m, californiashutters.co.uk)
- Embrace a glamorous, contemporary take on the classic 1950s and 60s Don Draper style with sideboards and hostess trolleys, plus tables and chairs with elegant, shapely legs (Camille chairs, £795 each; all other pieces, from a selection, all uk.jonathanadler.com)
- Mix and match your seating options to add interest to your dining area. Here, the whole look is held together by the muted grey colour scheme (Balmoral rectangular table, from £3,720; Arundel bench, £700, all from neptune.com)
- A strong statement wall treatment is a brilliant way to define your dining area (Aloe Walk wallpaper from the Tresco collection by Hugh Dalton, £215 per roll; paintandpaperlibrary.com)
- Choose so-now darker colours and furnishings for an elegantly atmospheric eating space that works well in both contemporary and more classic environs (Midcentury extending dining table, £799, and Dane dining chairs, £299 each, all by West Elm; other pieces, from a selection, all johnlewis.com)
- The table is the centrepiece of the dining room, so choose an eye-catching design. Try unexpected materials, colours, shapes or scale; or, as here, a striking pedestal base (Silhouette dining table, £899; all other items, from a selection, all westelm.co.uk)
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