Dining Room Ideas
Create Atmosphere

Dining room ideas without a “formal” dining room can create creative dining atmospheres and be quite flexible.

A cozy and intimate dining for two can easily be created with spare space in any room such as a family room or den. Figure on about eight feet for a table for four and thirty-six inches all the way around for movement of the chairs.

Or, if you will be hosting many dinner parties for friends, add some drama by being creative with your choice of seating. Mixing your chair styles will make a charming setting.

You’ll save money too, because you won’t have to worry about buying all of the chairs at once.

Diverse chair styles could include practically any seating, including upholstered in the form of the classic wing chair used as a host and hostess chairs at the head of the table.

• A casual or sleek style chair, when paired up with a formal table and chandelier is appealing and has an unexpected charm to it. Blending the classics of the traditional style with more modern furnishings can be sophisticated and very chic.
• Pair a more traditional style table with casual bamboo or wicker chairs for a different texture.
• An old pine farm table would look great with upholstered chairs of a French style.

• An old English pub feel is achieved with a long trestle table in dark wood and chairs upholstered in leather with nailheads.
• Mixing light weight wicker chairs with a table of a wrought iron base and glass top offers a stunning contrast of materials and textures.
• Other seating for your dining table could include benches. Collect several to use throughout the home when not needed for dining and pull up to the dining table when necessary.
• An upholstered settee or love seat works beautifully too and can be situated under a window in front of a table that can serve as a place to do paperwork when not in use for dining.
• Even ottomans can be pulled up to a round table (be sure they are on castors) for seating or at the very least have on hand for the extra place setting.

Dining room ideas reinvent dreary looking spaces beginning with the right table.

• A round table is a favorite for conversation and intimate gatherings and can soften a room that is a “boxy” shape.
• If you are short on space, a drop leaf table can be positioned anywhere during the day as a console table and turn into an elegant dining spot at night for guests.
• A small square table tucks cleverly into tight spaces creating intimate dining within another room.
• Long rectangular tables similar to the popular farm table are perfect fits for a dining room that has the same shape.
• Create a cottage feeling to your room when working with a painted table.
• Create dining in an open floor plan of a home by positioning a table in a great room away from the main seating of the living area with enough space to move about comfortably.
• Place a table cloth over the oversize round end table in the family room, in front of the fireplace if you have one and pull up chairs for a romantic dinner for two.

An area rug set underneath your table creates an anchor to the room.

A handsome armoire in lieu of a china cabinet gives hidden storage that comes in handy when you don’t want to constantly worry about how things are arranged, or for the bulkier items you need to store. Plus it is a versatile piece that looks great anywhere it is used.

By the same token, bookcases can be used in the same manner for a more showy display of wares. Flank a pair on either side of a window and it will appear to be built in and frames the view outside.

Photo courtesy of Wonderlane

Position a low console under a window and you utilize the space beneath the window with storage and provide additional top surface for serving when entertaining.

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