Take your dining room from dull to divine with these six décor and design tips.

1. 6 Easy Steps to a Dining Room You’ll Love
Transforming your dining room into an elegant
and welcoming space for guests doesn’t have to
be a complicated process. Whether you love to
entertain colleagues or host casual dinners for
old friends, the following six easy tips will help
you make your dining room into a gathering
space that everyone will enjoy:
BY EUGENE CHRINIAN

2. Paint
When it comes to paint choices for your dining
room, think cozy rather than chic. Rich, classic
colors will help your guests to feel more
comfortable and inclined to linger over another
glass of wine. A dark chocolate brown with
white woodwork is a great option, as it wears
well and goes with just about any color of table
linens, china, and flowers. Other solid dining
room colors are red and coral, which
complement most skin tones and will help your
guests look good just by sitting there.
BY EUGENE CHRINIAN

3. Lighting
For most rooms, and especially the dining room, the key to a good atmosphere is several different
sources of ambient lighting. Installing two or more pairs of wall sconces is a helpful way to add
small pockets of light without overpowering the whole room. Mount your sconces so that the bulbs
are at a height of about 6 feet or a few inches less, and use lower wattage bulbs so the light will be
softer (an easy task, as many sconces only take bulbs of 40 watts or less). Moreover, choose
sconces with clip-on shades for a more diffuse glow.
When it comes to overhead lighting, a chandelier is the most obvious option, but make sure to think
carefully about whether it would be a good fit for your dining room. Chandeliers or other low-
hanging light fixtures are elegant and dramatic, but depending on the height of your ceiling, they
can limit the flexibility of the room by hanging too low for people to pass underneath if the table is
moved. If it is important for you to be able to rotate or completely move your dining table to make
space for another setup, like a stand-up buffet or cocktail party, you may wish to consider a flush-
mounted fixture rather than a chandelier. If you do choose a hanging fixture, the basic rule of thumb
is that the bottom of the fixture should reach to about 30 inches above the top of your dining table.
Whatever light sources or fixtures you choose, attach dimmers to all of them so that you can adjust
your light levels as needed based on the occasion and time of day.
BY EUGENE CHRINIAN

4. Storage
Most dining rooms are spacious enough to include
some sort of storage unit that can help to anchor the
room, relieve pressure on your kitchen cabinets
(which are more than likely stuffed to the brim
already), and allow you to have all the essentials you
need for entertaining in hand. Choose a piece that is
roomy, but not enormous, and transfer all your
serving essentials into it: fine china, napkins, serving
pieces, candles and matches, and occasional
centerpieces or vases.
BY EUGENE CHRINIAN

5. Dining room table
The most helpful factor in determining the appropriate size
of your dining table is the size of your dining room. In
general, the footprint of the table should take up no more
than a third of the total floor space of the dining room.
You’ll also want to think about the number of guests that
you’ll generally be entertaining. Up to 10 guests can usually
sit comfortably at a table about 3 by 8 feet. If you expect to
have more guests than that occasionally, but not often, a leaf
or table insert will provide you with flexibility without
permanently committing you to a massive table.
Square or rectangular tables are the most common choice, as
they are well suited for the shape of most dining rooms.
However, circular tables have the advantage of being more
conducive to conversation, so you’ll want to think about
both options as you shop. You should also be sure to test the
stability of the table and check that there are no awkwardly
placed supports that might make the seating uncomfortable.
BY EUGENE CHRINIAN

6. Chairs
Dining room chairs should invite after-dinner lounging. Nothing
ruins a dinner party like chairs that guests can’t sit in for more than
an hour. This means that chairs should be comfortable and easy to
move. Steer clear of cumbersome styles, overstuffed seats, and
splayed-leg models that are difficult to maneuver. If you prefer to
have upholstered chairs, remember that they may regularly come
into contact with spilled food and drink, so be sure to choose
leather or outdoor fabrics that are long-lasting and easy to clean.
As for the style of your chairs, choose ones that contrast with your
table rather than match it for a simple way to create a chic look.
Think about pairing wooden chairs with a marble-topped table, for
example, or an antique mahogany table with modern white-framed
chairs.
BY EUGENE CHRINIAN

7. Mirror
A mirror is a lovely addition to a dining room, as it adds to
the overall ambience by reflecting candlelight (or sunlight
during the daytime) and it can easily give the effect of a
window in a completely interior dining room. Just be sure
that wherever you hang it, the mirror reflects something
beautiful.
BY EUGENE CHRINIAN