This modern dining room features clean lines and one stunning piece of art.
Dining rooms can be tricky to decorate because they all contain the same basic pieces: A table, chairs, and if there's room, a buffet or hutch. Add a light and maybe some artwork and you are done with the room. However, just because the footprint is the same in most dining rooms doesn't mean they have to be boring. Dining rooms can range from the elaborately formal to sleek and modern. It all depends on the style and furniture you choose.
Furniture
The first thing do when decorating a is to take a good look at your existing furniture. Formal furniture will need formal decorations, while casual furniture begs a more relaxing room. Modern furniture should be highlighted with modern items. Traditional furniture is the most flexible, as it can be dressed up or dressed down. If you have not yet chosen your furniture, think about whether you want a more formal or casual room, and select accordingly.
Paint, lights and windows
Formal dining rooms traditionally have rich, deep colors and heavy window treatments. Burgundy and other red tones are the most commonly used in formal dining rooms. For less formal and modern rooms, light neutral colors are usually used on the walls, along with lighter window treatments such as roman shades or sheer curtain panels. Formal dining rooms usually feature a large, traditional chandelier centered above the table. If your dining room is more casual or modern, you can have fun with the light fixture, choosing something more modern and whimsical, such as paper lanterns or pendant lighting.
Accessories
Formal dining rooms often feature a mirror placed above a buffet, or a large formal oil painting. Casual dining rooms may have floating shelves on the walls, which could display crockery, plants or photos. Modern dining rooms may feature one dramatic piece of modern art, such as an abstract painting, or an accent wall covered with wallpaper in a unique pattern. Some dining rooms also have rugs, which should be the size of the table surface and not interfere with chair movement.
Finally, consider your centerpiece. Flowers and candles are traditional, as well as seasonal decorations such as pumpkins in the fall. Modern dining rooms may look better with a more sculptural centerpiece, such as twisted branches emerging from a unique vase.
Tags: dining rooms, dining room, dining rooms, Formal dining, Formal dining rooms, Modern dining rooms