Liven up your dining room by adding accessories and wall decorations.
While a stark dining room is visually appealing for design catalogs, it's devoid of personality. Plants, mirrors and original artwork help pull together a room that lacks that personal touch -- without breaking your budget. According to "Good Housekeeping," accent walls, centerpieces and candles benefit the room by stimulating the senses and, consequently, increase the room's comfort level for you and your family.
Instructions
1. Hang original or self-made artwork on the walls. Avoid mass-manufactured or well-known reproductions. Mass-manufactured pieces lack individuality, while those well known are overused.
2. Add a mirror to the room. Mirrors create the illusion of open space in a dining room, which is helpful if your dining room's size is comparable to a walk-in closet.
3. Place plants in the corners of the room. A plant livens up the space, and adds warmth to an otherwise sterile environment. The plant's size should complement the room rather than crowd the space.
4. Paint one wall in the room darker or lighter than the current color. An accent wall brighter or darker than the rest of the room creates a focal point; decorate with artwork that contains similar or complementary colors.
5. Add seat cushions to your wooden dining-room chairs. The seats of chairs wear out over time, but a small seat pillow on top of the chairs protects the surface from scratches and stains.
6. Add a centerpiece. A tabletop centerpiece adds character to your dining-room table and is easy to create yourself. Place an empty glass pitcher or vase in the middle of the table, add two cups of tepid water and arrange your favorite flowers. Place two to three small scented votive candles on the table; their light creates warmth.
7. Cover your dining-room table. A tablecloth serves as decoration, as well as stain and scratch protection.
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