3. Go eclectic
Despite its function as one of the most primal family gathering places, the dining room tends to be underutilized. Since it is a family gathering place, display family memorabilia.
That china cabinet you inherited from Great Aunt Mabel doesn’t have to be filled with bone china teacups, crystal pickle servers and liqueur glasses. Use it to display Oregon beach glass, Caribbean seashells, family photos or a sculpture collection. Mount the masks you’ve collected in your travels, create an ancestral family tree or show off your pottery.
Instead of paint, why not spend a Saturday morning creating a feature wall with stick-and- peel wallpaper? Paint the buffet Chinese red or French blue. Invest in some linen or silk removable slipcovers for your dining chairs. Mixing industrial with glam is also a great choice.
4. Bring the outdoors in
Some of the most elegant dining rooms have French doors leading onto a patio. If you can’t make that happen, think about replacing and enlarging a window or adding another. Another option is to feature elaborately patterned area rugs. They anchor your dining table and establish a clear traffic pattern for the room. However, keeping them clean takes time and money. If you buy a natural fiber rug, you won’t have to feel guilty about composting it in a few years.
5. Consider designating the room a dual-purpose area
If you’re short of space or just don’t like the idea of a room going to waste, turn your dining area into the family library. Bookcases don’t take up a lot of room and provide great sound insulation between rooms.
Using the dining room as a designated homework area is a good idea if you want assignments done before dinner. If you’re child-free, use the dining room as a home office. When you’re looking for dining room inspiration, spend some time in the room at breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snack hours. This will help you assess its flaws and features as you plan to make your dining room a comfortable and beautiful gathering place.