How to Decorate a Dining Room

Whether you’ve got a small two-seater table in the corner of your kitchen, a huge open plan eating area or a dedicated dining room, where you can enjoy your meals is probably one of the most important nooks of your home. Decorating a dining room requires a little extra love and attention. After all, having the right ambience creates a space that enhances your home and makes your friends and family feel welcome, comfortable, and just a little bit jealous.

Putting a little care and attention into your lighting, flooring and furnishings will ensure your dining area looks and feels just right. To help you get your interior ingredients spot on, we’re looking at some of the most important elements to consider when decorating your dining room.

With gently curved edges, the Seb Extendable Dining Table Set & Seb Bench is a mid-century beauty that’s equally family friendly. Picture credit: @wildishjess

Rug and Roll

If you want to create a focal space in your dining room and ensure visitors’ eyes are drawn directly to your seating area, use a rug. However, be mindful of the material and pile height used.

This is important as your dining room rug is probably going to have to deal with a lot in its lifetime. From red wine spills to messy toddlers and dropped plates to trampled cakes, your dining room rug needs to take everything life – and dinner guests – can throw at it and still look fantastic.

When choosing a rug for your dining room, remember that synthetic materials such as polyester are stained by oil much more easily compared to natural fibres like wool and cotton. Having said that, do clean spills immediately regardless of the fabric you choose to give your rug the best possible chance of a full recovery.

It’s also important to remember that, while they offer undeniable retro charm, long pile (shaggy) rugs are likely to trap dirt and crumbs easily. Shorter pile rugs will be easier to clean and maintain, especially for a high traffic area such as a dining room.

Jute is a durable, natural material that’s suitable for the dining room too. Its neutral appearance allows it to blend in seamlessly with various interior styles.

Take a (Statement) Seat

Use statement dining chairs to add colour, style and personality to your space. Choose dining chairs in bold colours or eye-catching designs to make your dining room stand out from the crowd and impress your guests.

Different colours of upholstery could elevate the overall look of the room and avoid monotony. Bright, colourful chairs look fantastic when paired with wooden dining tables. Try to choose a tone that will enhance the other shades in the space and really bring your interior to life.

Explore using different styles of chairs for the ends. Often, the chairs placed at either end are larger and more ornate than the other chairs around the table. If you want to add a little grandeur to your dining room – and let’s face it, who doesn’t like a bit of drama with their dinner? – you could even invest in throne-like chairs and transform your dining area into a space fit for a banquet.

Dining benches are a fantastic option for smaller dining rooms and busy homes. Benches can be neatly tucked under the table and brought out when it’s time to eat. You can also fit quite a few people onto a bench. This can make it easier to accommodate extra guests when friends and family drop round for a meal.

For intimate dinners or cosy dining nooks, Theo Round Dining Table & Joshua Chairs is a great fit. Picture credit: @lemonleafhomeinteriors.

Smoke and Mirrors

Ok, while smoke may be a little much, mirrors are definitely a great addition when decorating the dining room. You can hang a mirror to enlarge the space, especially if the dining area is small. The mirror will give an illusion of space, making the room feel bigger without the need for an extension.

Mirrors have the bonus of being great reflectors. This means that they’ll bounce ambient light around the room, making it feel lighter and brighter in the process. Put your mirror opposite the main window in your dining area to maximise the amount of light in the room.

Here’s a charming dining nook we’d love to spend all day long – the Vincent creates an inviting vibe for guests to linger for a second helping of dessert. Picture credit: @thenativespirit.

Shine a Little Light on it

When it comes to decorating your dining room, few things are as important as lighting. Good lighting will make your eating area cosier, welcoming, and stylish. Get your illumination just right and your room will look sensational as soon as the sun goes down and the lights come up.

Add an ambient floor lamp to brighten up the room or table lamps to add pools of light to the space. Another fantastic option for dining areas is a low hung ceiling light. Hanging a ceiling light right down over your dining area will create an intimate feel around the table day and night.

Get more interior decorating ideas and explore our beautiful collection of dining room furniture and accessories, by looking around today.