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As a place where we eat, relax and entertain, the dining room needs to be comfortable and inviting. Even the simplest dining room can become a showstopping space with the right accessories and finishing touches. Whether you have an open-plan dining area or a separate room, these dining room ideas can help you make the most of it.
The way you use your dining room and its location in your home will help to narrow down your style. Separate dining rooms tend to be a bit more formal and only used for special occasions so your dining room décor ideas should reflect that with darker colours and luxurious fabrics. Rooms connected to the kitchen or part of an open-plan living space are likely to be for everyday family dining so will have a more relaxed look and feel. Either way, it’s a chance to add your own personal stamp on the space.
Window dressings, like curtains, blinds or shutters, are a quick and easy way to bring in colour or pattern to your dining room. Remember to choose fabrics and styles that complement the room, filter light effectively and suit how the space is used. If style is your top priority, full length velvet or heavyweight lined curtains go perfectly with formal dining rooms with dark decor and minimal natural light. In busy family homes and kitchen diners, easy-to-clean designs can be a more practical option. Roman blinds work well in period properties or country homes, especially when made from a traditional patterned fabric. Picking out a colour from the design and featuring it on a painted cabinet, seat cushions or artwork helps to tie the whole room together.
“My dining room was just dull and lacked any personality… My new window treatments are the star of the show! They completely frame the window and warm up the room no end.”
Emma Fishman, interiors stylist and writer
The focal point of a dining room is usually the dining table - it’s big and it’s often the first thing your eye is drawn to. Changing the shape of your table from rectangular to round can tweak the overall look and feel of the space, but changing the focal point can bring a whole new dynamic. Think colourful dining chairs, bold artwork hung behind the table or a dramatic pendant light overhead. In rooms with full height windows, floor length curtains draw attention to the grandness of the space, and vertical stripes give the illusion of even more height.
Lighting is so important for creating the right mood at different times throughout the day. A mix of overhead lighting plus wall lights, floor lamps, table lamps and even candles will provide many lighting combinations for your dining area. If you're doing a renovation, replacing your main light switches with dimmer switches allows for bright lighting at breakfast and lower lighting in the evening. Even just swapping from cool to warm light bulbs can help create a calm and relaxing dining ambience.
Blinds control the amount of natural daylight that comes into the dining room while also providing privacy. If your dining room windows are full length or south-facing, then Vertical blinds can reduce glare while keeping the room bright. For dining rooms with sliding or bi-fold doors, Diffused blinds, a cross between a sheer curtain and a Vertical blind, give a softer, more filtered light.
To avoid your dining room becoming somewhere to dump papers or laundry, adding clever storage is the secret to making your room work even harder. A mix of display and hidden storage is best, such as a dresser with cupboards at the bottom and either open shelves or a glass display cabinet on top for fancy glasses or decorative accessories. Paint it in a contrasting colour to make it a focal point of the room. Sideboards are also brilliant extra storage, and adding table lamps on top brings another layer of mood lighting to the space.
Updating your dining room flooring for something practical yet beautiful can totally change the look and feel of your dining room. If you’ve always dreamt of a real wooden floor in your dining room, luxury vinyl (LVT) is a more practical alternative that’s easy to clean. Luxury vinyl flooring looks just like real wood or stone, but it’s stain-resistant with a tough wear layer, making it ideal for busy everyday family dining rooms. LVT is also scratch resistant, which helps to reduce scuffs created by dining chair legs moving back and forth from the table.
With its classic zig-zag design, herringbone flooring will instantly elevate both modern and traditional interiors. If you're looking for small dining room ideas, herringbone flooring can help a compact space feel much bigger and longer. In open-plan layouts, continuing the same flooring through the dining and living areas helps create a seamless look and enhances the sense of flow. Natural wood finishes bring warmth and timeless appeal.
To enjoy your dining room all year round, it needs to be a comfortable temperature. If your dining area is part of a conservatory or garden room, thermal blinds can help reduce UV rays when it's hot and sunny while also reducing heat loss during the winter. Available in a huge selection of colours to match your dining room décor, they're both practical and stylish. Adding a fly screen during the summer months is a great idea for dining rooms with sliding doors, allowing you to enjoy insect-free dining with the doors wide open.
“I previously avoided sitting in my dining room, especially during the winter months...Thermal lined floor to ceiling curtains work perfectly to keep out the chills.”
Soozi Danson, interiors content creator
Dining rooms are also an opportunity to play around with colour and pattern. Richer tones work well here, so try using the more intense versions of colours already in your home - think bright yellows, deep teals, and bold oranges. Extend this colour palette to your blinds or curtains, either as a block colour in a different textured fabric or in a patterned fabric. For open-plan dining rooms, try painting the dining room walls a different colour to create a zone, or maybe even use a coloured or patterned rug underneath the dining table to clearly define the dining area while adding a bit of character.
Bring your dining room ideas to life
Whether you’re undertaking a floor to ceiling renovation or just planning a quick refresh, small changes in your dining room décor can make a big impact. Updating your curtains or blinds is an easy way to bring in more colour, pattern and detail, while the right lighting sets the mood for the entire scheme. Choosing décor that’s both practical and beautiful ensures your dining room works for your lifestyle while creating a space that brings you joy.
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*Order now for fitting in time for Christmas is available on selected blinds and curtains only and is subject to advisor capacity. Regional variances may apply. Wooden shutters, conservatory blinds, Duette blinds, Blind Screen, pleated blinds, awnings, garage doors and pergolas are not included.
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