Creating a Dining Room the Whole Family Will Love: 5 Considerations

The dining room is the hidden gem of any household. The living room is the heartbeat of the home, and the kitchen is where everybody seems to congregate. A dining room is an amazing setting for your family to converse, play, and, of course, have dinner. So what does it take to create the perfect dining room the family loves? Here are a few things to bear in mind.

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How to Create a Dining Room the Family Loves

Choose Your Style First

You may feel like the dining room needs to mirror the rest of the home, but this room can be a new canvas for a different style. Think about the things you want out of the space. Do you want a contemporary look, or are you after something more retro? You may be looking for something more earthy, using it to inform what type of furniture you buy. Rustic looks can easily be achieved by a custom epoxy river table that serves as an amazing centerpiece. But a more classic look will be further exemplified by a luxury Italian classic dining table. Consider your style choices first, and this becomes your springboard. 

Consider the Size of the Room

It’ll be difficult to create a dining room that everyone loves if your proportions are all out of whack and the space is either too empty or too crowded. There’s just no way that this will be a nice space to spend time in with that being the case!  To avoid this eventually, you should, therefore, consider the size of the room, and the best decoration choices in light of that. 

If your dining room is large and spacious, for instance, a sizable table and substantial chairs will work well, as will additions like bookcases, large chests of drawers, and other storage solutions. By comparison, when decorating small dining room, you’ll want to think about keeping furniture simple. Something like a small round table would work well here, or even a table that you can fold down when it isn’t in use. Aside from that, you’ll probably want to keep the rest of the room clear to create some sense of space that sees the whole family enjoying their dinners here. 

Choosing Your Seating

Seating is the most important aspect of your dining room in terms of practicality. The table and chairs are the focal points and need to be big enough for your family to sit, but you may also want an extended table for guests or visitors. If you’re on a budget, you can upcycle a table you found from a thrift store. It can help you create something personal and unique. The most important thing to remember is to ensure the table fits the space. You could benefit from an extended table, but if the dining room is a little on the cramped side, you may want to limit your dinner parties to a select handful of guests. 

Is the Dining Room Doubling Up? 

Many people use dining rooms for more than a dining experience. It can be a storage space for kids’ toys and a playing area so you can enjoy the living room in relative peace. Some storage will be helpful, and you could link this with the overall colors and themes of the room. You could get simple storage solutions for storing toys. However, instead of colorful storage, if you want it to suit the style of the space, you might want to consider unique storage solutions, for example, leather storage chests that can link in with a more rustic free-range style. On the other hand, if you have the budget, you could benefit from underfloor storage. It is a lifesaver if it needs clearing quickly. 

Using Lighting to Set the Tone and Create a Dining Room the Family Loves

Lighting is something you should consider early on in the process. There are three different types of lighting: ambient, accent, and task. You will need all three but focus more on ambient, especially for dinner parties. Having a light directly above the dinner table is an easy option that draws focus to the table itself. A dimmer switch is always a good idea because you have more control over the ambiance, and can create a more intimate feel if it’s just you and your partner or you are having guests over. You may want to consider natural light. While artificial light is great for ambiance, think about where the natural light will come from. If the dining room has a small window, consider natural ways to increase the brightness. For example, mirrors and reflective surfaces like brass can help. 

Think About Additional Uses

A dining room is a luxury for many households, so you may want to use it for other reasons. For example, older children may benefit from doing homework in a distraction-free zone away from their bedrooms. It can also be perfect for kids doing crafts or learning food preparation. Have a tablecloth to protect the table surface or an extra thick playmat over the table if you have kids that love to use Play-Doh! 

Recap: Creating a Dining Room the Family Loves

A dining room is a blessing for any home, it can be multifunctional, but it can also make the place feel more like home. A dining room is a great space that should not be underutilized. Make sure you maximize its potential.