Ideas For A Formal Dining Room

Dark walls create an intimate dining space.

Eat-in kitchens are cozy for casual meals, but sometimes entertaining calls for a space with a more dramatic ambiance. Elegant dining rooms provide a refined environment that can accommodate both dinner parties and special family meals. Whether your decorating budget is lavish or frugal, you can create a formal dining room in your home.

Walls

Dark walls instantly create a dramatic mood. Neutrals, such as dark gray and cocoa brown, match with a range of accent colors. Jewel tones, including garnet red, royal blue and dark green, provide a backdrop of rich color. Dress up lighter shades of paint with a decorative painting treatment. The faux finishes of ragging and stripes adds subtle texture. Stenciling, applied as a border or as an all-over design, enhances plain walls. Mixing glaze with a metallic paint offers an understated sheen to your wall treatment.

Window Treatments

Elegant dining rooms call for curtains in rich, textural fabrics. Shiny taffeta, nubby silk dupioni and sensual velvet are suitable choices. Bold patterns complement simple wall treatments. Pick up design motifs and color schemes from area rugs and upholstery. HGTV recommends drapes that come to the floor or gather in a puddle for a more formal look. Sheer panels under heavier drapes permit light while providing privacy.

Furniture

Antique furniture fits the mood of a formal dining room, but isn't always a viable choice for all budgets. Reproduction pieces provide the elegant silhouettes and ornate details at a more modest price than the genuine artifacts. You can purchase slightly worn floor models at furniture showrooms for further savings. HGTV suggests selecting a round table to create an intimate, comfortable dining experience.

Light Fixtures

A dramatic chandelier provides a visual focus for your formal environment. Select a chandelier that is an appropriate size for your ceiling height. Tall ceilings can accommodate oversize light fixtures while lower ceilings call for more petite versions. Whether you splurge on a Murano blown-glass chandelier or pick up a garage sale fixture, invest in a dimmer switch to create the perfect mood for each occasion. Arrange wall sconces to provide added light where needed. Candles also create mood lighting for intimate dining.

Tags: create intimate, Dark walls, dining room, dining rooms, Elegant dining, Elegant dining rooms, formal dining