Formal Dining Room
A formal dining room is a place to entertain guests & throw dinner parties. Unfortunately, these rooms are going out of style in favor of eating at the kitchen island, or in breakfast nooks. These rooms can even focus you more on having sit down family dinners & teaching your kids table manners. If you have a formal dining room here is decorate it so you will actually use it.
Instructions
1. Consider parsons chairs. These have a formal feel to them. Most slip covers are fitted to this style of chairs. This way you can bring in a nice damask fabric on your chairs when you have company over. Plus, parsons chairs aren't overly fussy so they will suit most of the other styles that you may consider for your .
2. Use big gestures. The idea of a formal dining room may feel a little stuffy. It might even make you think of uncomfortable dinners at your grandma's house that you had as a child. A way around this is to get rid of all of the flower arrangements & statues that are often in a traditional dining room. Instead, make one or two big gestures like using a large print tonal wallpaper on one wall, instead of the floral paper that was common to such rooms. This way your room will still have a modern edge while being elegant.
3. Formal dining rooms often use dark colors such as a burgundy or eggplant. The more modern version of this is chocolate brown or even black if you are feeling especially daring. The furniture is often rich cherry wood. However, it's all about finding a balance that fits your home. You don't want the room to feel closed in. Rich golds & creams can bring in an elegant feel while still being light & airy.
4. Bring back the buffet. This is often an overlooked piece when buying dining room furniture. However, you can even serve food & store china in a buffet. It's a place to bring in lamps for mood lighting. It's never too late to add one. Scour local thrift shops for a deal since these were popular decades ago.
5. Add in a personal element. This keeps a formal dining room from seeing cold. It can be as simple as picking up flatware on your next trip. This gives you an instant conversation starter when someone compliments you on it. Bring in original artwork in the form of black & white pictures from your photo collection. Try cropping these shots. You can either blow them up, or frame them with an oversized mat to transform your family photos into works of art.
6. Make it work to your advantage. Since more casual dining is in, you have the upper hand if you want a formal dining room. You might be able to find dining sets or even crystal chandeliers that other people are throwing out or giving away for practically free because they favor a more modern approach.
7. Don't forget the ceiling. Many formal dining rooms go all out. You might consider adding faux ceiling beams. Some designers even painstakingly brush gold or silver leaf squares in the middle of a tray ceiling for a decorative element.
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