Tips for Updating Your Dining Room
As the place where you host your most special events, your dining room deserves special treatment. It’s more than just a place to eat—it’s a singular space where people gather to talk, console, laugh, and live. With that in mind, consider whether it’s time to update it with a fresh look. Whatever your budget, consider these tips for updating your dining room while bringing a new, inspiring look to the heart of your home.
A New Coat of Paint (or Three)
Whether to add sparkle or a more sedate tone, you can rarely go wrong with a new paint job. Consider the overall look and feel you want to convey, and choose an appropriate background color. Red, yellow, and orange produce a bright, warm effect, while green and blue are calming and contemplative. Pick a color scheme that presents a proper canvas for the furniture and other elements that will occupy the space.
Add Personality and Variety
The easiest way to decorate is to pick up design magazines and visit websites, looking for professional decorators’ ideas and purchasing whatever products you find there. Just remember that this is your space, and it should reflect your tastes. Do you prefer antiques or more modern furniture? Dark or light-colored wood? Stains, lacquer, or varnish? Framed paintings or photographs? Find a look that works for you, then accessorize!
Let There Be (New) Lights
Replacing an old ceiling light fixture can bring light and life to a room. A chandelier offers class and illumination to any room, of course. But consider the size and layout of the room. Is it better served with pendant lighting, flush lights, track lighting, or wall sconces? Find a balance between light and shadow and install a light dimmer switch. Don’t forget the bulbs! Different bulbs can set different moods.
Rugs Really Tie the Room Together, and More
A bare wooden floor has its charm, but a rug adds real elegance to a room. But that’s not all they do. Rugs protect wood floors from scratches and catch spills and other accidents. Darker colors are better than easily stained light ones, of course, and try to choose a rug that’s easy to clean. Make sure the rug extends a foot or more past the width of the table and chairs, and choose a short-pile or flatweave style to prevent trips.
The Centerpiece!
If the dining room is the heart of your home, the table is the heart of the dining room. One of our key tips for updating your dining room is to choose a table with a size and shape that complements the room’s shape—rectangular and ovular tables look best in rectangular rooms, round tables fit well in square rooms, and so on. Go for a classic look, as this piece of furniture will outlast all the others. Naturally, we recommend purchasing one of our distinctive custom wood dining table tops as the surest way to bring a rich, enduring, and unique piece to your home!