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Dining Rooms

Elegant Halloween Decoration Ideas For the Dining Room

You may never have thought to combine the words "elegant" and "Halloween" in the same sentence before, but Halloween doesn't have to be all about horror and gory decorations.

You can present a sophisticated, spooky yet elegant Halloween theme in your dining room without a bit of blood. Combining elements of Victorian style, black and silver, pumpkins, crows, cats and flowers will bring a hint of creepiness, yet maintain a tasteful, adult feel in your Halloween dining room.

Set the Table

Your table is the star of your dining room. Bring all eyes to it with creative, elegant, yet subdued decorations. Give it a creepy, yet restrained look with some of the following ideas:

Cover the table with a black velvet tablecloth.
Make a simple chair cover by sliding a black pillowcase over the chair's back. Black satin gives a little bit of shine for extra interest. Add to the creepy fun with a few faux spider webs complete with dangling spiders.
Set an ornate, gothic looking candelabra in the table's center, with black, white or red taper candles. You can spray paint the candelabra black for extra creepiness. Stretch faux spider webs on the candelabra, with a few plastic spiders for effect.
Place black, white or silver dishes at each setting.
Keep the theme going with fancy wine glasses, even if you are just using them for water.
Purchase inexpensive fabric flowers arranged in containers. Spray paint the entire arrangement black, then once the paint dries, spray again with a clear, glitter spray. Cluster the arrangements together as a centerpiece, or set one at each place setting.

Pumpkins

It's just not Halloween without pumpkins, so be sure to decorate your dining room with a few twists on the traditional. You can find a wide range of orange pumpkins, as well as unusual colors, shapes and textures at many grocery stores or your local garden center. You can also use craft form pumpkins to create decorations for use year after year.

Miniature white pumpkins look elegant and unusual. Decorate your table, hutch or side table with them, or use one at each place setting.
Spray paint regular pumpkins black, gold or silver, then tape a Halloween stencil on the pumpkin, and spray paint again with white paint for a more sophisticated take on the Jack O' Lantern. Remove the stencil carefully when paint is dry.
Paint several pumpkins with silver or gold glitter paint, then stack in a corner. Top the pile with one or two crow figures.
Turn a large white, gray or other unusual color pumpkin into a vase for a sinister Halloween floral display. Carve off the top of the pumpkin, scoop and clean the inside, then fill with fresh or faux flowers in blood red, burgundy, plum or dark purple.
Set miniature white or silver painted pumpkins on top of candleholders. Carve the tops of the pumpkins to fit candles, and decorate your table, sideboard or dining room cabinets with a display of several.
Fill a black basket with unusual gourds, squash and pumpkins, and set near the door or corner of the room.

Flowers

If you want the traditional look of flower arrangements on your dining room table, but want to give a twist to the usual, try some of the following ideas.

Fill a black, silver or clear glass vase with flowers in traditional fall colors, or more creepy shades of deep red, purple and burgundy. Top off by gluing spiders, small ghosts, bats or skulls to black twigs and arranging through the flowers.
Use a ceramic or plastic black cat's head as a vase, and fill with roses.
Paint real or faux flowers black or silver, and arrange in a ceramic skull base.
Surround a hurricane candleholder with black feathers and flowers, and burn a white candle inside.
Plant black pansies in small pots, and set at each place setting. There are several varieties you can find at your local nursery.

Cats, Crows and Bats

Black cats, crows and bats are the traditional animals of Halloween. Add their presence to your dining room with elegant, slightly scary decor.

String paper black cat faces on black or silver ribbon, and use as garland to decorate your sideboard or hutch.
Add a touch of creepy glamour to your room by spray painting plastic rubber bats with glitter paint, and hanging from your chandelier or light fixture.
Mount feathered crow figures to your lamps, backs of chairs, or top of doors to make visitors think of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven."
Set a ceramic cat face, or large crow figure in the middle of a large black platter, and use to present your desserts, candies, or hors d'oeuvres.
Create a display of black cats on your shelves or cabinets. A set of black, arch-backed cats gathered together will add a touch of sinister whimsy.
Serve drinks from a black cathead cauldron.

Halloween may be normally associated with gore, terror and horror themes, but you can easily use the traditional Halloween elements of black color, pumpkins, crows, bats and cats and add ornate or sophisticated touches to create an elegant Halloween dining room that will make a perfect setting for all your Halloween festivities.

Cape Cod Decorating Ideas For The Dining Room

The Cape Cod style developed in New England, with the feel of coastal waters, foggy mornings, seagulls and lighthouses. First designed in colonial times to provide protection from extreme New England winters, the Cape Cod home traditionally had chimneys in each room, faced south for maximum sunlight, and blocked out winter storms with shuttered windows.

Still characterized by an exterior with a steep, pitched roof, large central chimney and little ornamentation, the traditional Cape Cod home has a brightly colored front door with windows on either side, wooden shutters painted to match the front door and unpainted shingles weathered to gray.
The simple, relaxed Cape Cod style has been very popular in the eastern United States, and especially New England for centuries, but has caught on over time across the rest of the country, and especially in other coastal communities.

Cape Cod Decorating Colors

Set the stage for your Cape Cod dining room with walls painted in cheerful, bright colors like ocean blue, sunset red or yellowy beige. To keep the bright colors from becoming overwhelming, the style calls for white trim on doors, cabinet fronts, baseboards, and windowsills. You can go even more authentic with white wainscoting and white crown molding.

If bright walls don't suit your style, you can still stay on the Cape with pastel versions of blue, yellow or red. Stick with the white trim, however, which is an important component of the style.
Hardwood floors are customary for this decorating theme. Soften the look in your dining room with a bright rug to complement the walls. Cheerful and unfussy rug patterns will tie in nicely with your seaside look.
Cover your windows with simple curtains with small floral designs, stripes, or nautical elements. Sheer curtains will work well if privacy is not an issue, or back up the curtains with a roll-up shade.

Cape Cod Decorating Furniture Styles

Give your dining room Cape Cod style with wooden furniture that is simple in design. Casual and unfussy is the look you are aiming for, with a big table perfect for sharing home cooked meals, and comfortable chairs for sitting and talking.

White painted wood looks especially authentic, and complements the bright colors nicely. White wicker is also a great choice, and gives your home a more casual, cottage feel.
For a more rugged look straight from the Cape, cedar or teak furniture can be left unfinished, and has a sturdy, slatted design that brings the feel of the beach inside.
Don't feel you have to have matching dining room chairs; the shabby chic look of mismatched but compatible chairs is very at home in a Cape Cod dining room. Just paint the chairs white, and they will be perfect.
Chair cushions in bright colors, or with nautical themes such as anchors, lighthouses or seashells are a natural for a beach theme like Cape Cod, and make your wooden chairs more comfortable.
A hutch or china cabinet with simple lines and glass doors is perfect for holding your dishes and glassware. Look for white, or paint an old hutch to give it a shabby, distressed look.
Set a Cape Cod table with dishware that has seashell or nautical designs. Solid colors or white dishes are best complemented with brightly colored table runners, place mats and napkins to add cheer to your table.
Light your dining room with a glass and metal chandelier. Designs that look like ship's lanterns, or that have electric candles are just right for adding that nautical touch to your room.

Cape Cod Accessories

Continue the beach and ocean theme with your accessories and collectibles. Anything that makes you feel like you spent the day at the beach will be at home in your Cape Cod dining room.

Pictures and artwork featuring the ocean, boats, seagulls, or lighthouses are perfect for your walls.
Seashell covered picture frames, vases, or lamps have a beach house, retro flair that is fun and perfectly suited for your room.
A floor-stand spyglass or binoculars near a window will make you feel like you could look out to sea, even if you are miles from the ocean.
Nautical items such as compasses, sextants, ship's lanterns, life preservers or portholes make an interesting collection for display in a cabinet or mounted on the wall.
A whimsical collection of ceramic or glass lobsters, crabs, fish or ocean birds are a wonderful addition to your hutch or dining room cabinets.
Wind a string of lighted lobsters, lighthouses or other ocean themed lights around your curtain rods for a festive look at night.

Your Cape Cod home should be casual in feel, with a welcoming, summer vacation style that makes visitors want to slow down and stay awhile. The dining room is the natural choice for lingering, and with your cheerful, comfortable and interesting decor, guests will always be glad for an invitation to dinner at your place.

How To Decorate A Dining Room With Bright Colors

A dining room can easily fall into the doldrums, with a too-bland color scheme reliant on all neutrals, with no sizzle or pop. Playing it safe is easy, but can get boring. If your dining room has fallen into this common decorating trap, you don't have to redo the entire room.

It's simple to bring life back into your decorating scheme with carefully placed shots of color, and by using brights in small doses, you can avoid an overly stimulating, garish looking dining room.
Whether you have a formal dining room used only for special occasions, or just an area near the kitchen with a table and chairs, your dining room should make a good impression on guests, be an enjoyable place to savor meals, and be a space that makes you feel comfortable.

Choosing a Color Scheme

It can be daunting to decide on a color scheme for your home. If you are starting with a background of neutrals, you can go in almost any direction to add color. To narrow down the choices, do the following:

Look at the clothes hanging in your closet. Are there any particular colors you choose over and over?
Check the rest of your house, and colors throughout. What touches of color have you used in other rooms?
Flip through a decorating magazine. What are the colors used in rooms that catch your eye?
Consider how certain colors affect moods. Red, orange and yellow are stimulating colors that excite the appetites and wake you up. Blue, green and purple are soothing, relaxing colors, and tend to calm you down.

Achieving Balance

Once you have chosen two or three bright colors to accent your dining room, you want to use those colors throughout the area. For the best balance, you should use an accent color at least three times around the space.
You can create a professionally decorated look by following the 60-30-10 rule for your accent colors. This says that if you have three bright colors being used as highlights in your room, use one color for 60% of the highlights, one color for 30%, and the last color, usually the darkest color, for 10%.

If you have chosen two accent colors, use one for 60% of your bright highlights, the other for the remaining 40%. By avoiding too equal a division of bright color, you keep the eye moving around the room, and provide a more interesting look and feel.
For the boldest, quickest way to introduce color into a bland room, paint one wall to act as a focal point. A barn red, golden yellow or pumpkin orange wall will have tremendous impact on the feel of your dining room, and bring your neutral colors to life.
If a painted wall is too much, framed artwork will bring color to your walls. Designs should make use of at least one of your chosen accent colors.
Cover your floor with a rug that incorporates your chosen brights into its design.
Recover your dining room chairs in bright upholstery, or look for slipcovers to give your furniture an entirely new look.

Small Touches

Use the brightest accent color for the smaller touches in your dining room.
Bright-toned serving bowls, vases, pitchers and platters will highlight your hutch or dining room cabinets.
Choose dishware in bright solid hues, or go for a pattern that makes use of several accent colors.
Taper or pillar candles on your dining room table will add a warm touch of flame along with bright color.
Layer a brightly colored valance over your drapes or blinds.
Highlight your table with a patterned tablecloth.
Arrange a colorful centerpiece of silk flowers, and set it on a bright runner on your dining room table.

Flow Through the Rest of the House

Your dining room most likely can be seen from other areas of the house, and might be one of the first rooms seen upon entering. To keep your accent colors from looking lost and out of place, sprinkle them through the rest of the nearby rooms.

A few bright candles or collectibles throughout the living room can create a cohesive feel.
Toss a throw blanket in one of your bright accent colors over the back of the living room couch.
Artwork throughout your home can tie your color scheme together.

Bright window coverings or area rugs can carry your decorating theme throughout.
Neutral colors are safe, and can set the backdrop for an attractive, functional dining room. But adding bright accent colors brings a spark of flair, shows off your great decorating sense and creates a feeling of excitement and interest in your home. Find two or three colors that make you feel good, and use them to bring your living room to life.

Beautiful Fall Dining Room Decoration Ideas

Fall marks the start of the holiday season, and is the perfect time for dining and entertaining. Since most of your autumn meals will take place in the dining room, why not create a warm and inviting atmosphere for friends and family with the perfect fall décor.

Tableware

Your plates, utensils and glasses are some of the first things your guests will notice, not to mention use, and are a large part of designing a fall dining room theme. While you don't need to purchase separate plates and flatware just for autumn, having a set of dishes and silverware separate from those used during the spring and summer does help set the autumn tone. If you are looking to purchase fall tableware, consider the following:

Warm colors like tan, gold, bronze and orange are seasonally appropriate colors, and are neutral enough to be used to serve food.
If you don't want dramatic additions of color to your tableware set, try looking for white plates with small trims of color, rather than plates made entirely in one color.
Clear glasses work best, as they can be pared with any seasonal color scheme.
If you do want colored glasses, look for translucent reds, oranges or browns to complement the autumn tone.
Utensils are nearly always silver in color (and possibly material) and typically are not changed throughout the seasons. If you would like a separate set of utensils for autumn or the holiday season, gold utensils are often available at home retail and department stores. Be sure to pick a style that matches the level of formality of your events.

Table Décor

As one of the largest surfaces in your dining room, the dining table can make a subtle, elegant, dramatic or modern statement with well-chosen table cloths, linens and accessories. From centerpieces to napkins, each piece adds an element of style. For an autumn dining room theme, consider the following:

For more visual impact, select a tablecloth in striking colors like bronze, golden yellow or deep green.
Some tablecloths are available in styles that give a near metallic sheen, adding an extra dimension of style to your table.
If you choose not to use a tablecloth, consider placing a pane of glass on your dining room tabletop. Autumn leaves can easily be placed underneath, offering the colors and styles of fall, without fear of spills or damage to your table or your decorations.
For contained centerpieces, try filling a clear glass hurricane candleholder with acorns, leaves, pumpkins, candy corn or squash. Each piece will be clearly visible by your guests, but is neatly held inside the candleholder.
Great fall centerpieces almost always include autumn leaves and pumpkins or squash. Use faux leaves and pumpkins to reuse the centerpiece year after year. Fall centerpieces can often be purchased pre-made at craft stores, home improvement stores and many retail stores.
If you are inviting many guests and plan to use place cards, consider writing each guest's name on a small pumpkin set at their plate.
Select napkins that either exactly match, or contrast with your table or tablecloth color. Shades that are similar, but not exact often look messy and ill designed.

Candles

Candles are a frequent addition to fall décor, and are only slightly impeded by the logistics of a dining room. Because food will be served, avoid scented candles in the dining room. Even seemingly pleasant smells can interfere with the taste of food, bothering guests and affecting the perception of various tastes. For dining room candles, consider the following:

Unscented taper candles for dining table candelabras. Use classic white, or browns, tans, greens or metallic gold, silver or bronze.
Centerpieces with a large, central candle are a common fall décor piece, and are an aesthetically pleasing way to add color and light to your table. Try a three wick, unscented candle surrounded by autumn leaves.
If you plan to use candles as your main method of lighting your dining table, use tall candles, placed in a line down the table, rather than many small candles. The height will help shine line on each guest's plate, as well as help prevent anyone from accidentally touching the flame when reaching for food or their glass.

General Dining Room Decor

Adding a few key touches to your walls will help finalize your fall dining room. Select decorations that will complement the color scheme of your tablecloth, candles, tableware and existing wall color.

Wall sconce candleholders are a beautiful way to add decoration and light to your dining room walls. Select a metal color and style that reflects the style of your dining room furniture.
Try wrapping small sections of autumn leaf garland around wall sconce candleholders for an added touch of fall.
Drape autumn leaf garlands across the top of windows, large cabinets and shelves in your dining room.
Purchase slipcovers for your dining chairs in warm autumn colors to add a seasonal touch without permanently reupholstering.

Use candles, warm colors and autumn leaf décor to create the perfect environment in your dining room for fall entertaining. Simple additions make all the difference, letting you change up your year round design theme without breaking the bank.

Halloween Decoration Ideas For The Dining Room

Whether you plan to host a Halloween dinner party, or simply want to enjoy the season with your family, try some of these festive and frightening Halloween decoration ideas for your dining room. From black glitter pumpkins to blood dripped candles, create the perfect setting for your celebrations this season.

Halloween Table Décor

Skull Display: To really frighten guests, stack several plastic skulls inside of a clear glass hurricane candleholder and place at the center of the table. Use dirt, dried grass or spider webs for filler in between the skulls. Sprinkle fake spiders, rats and bugs on top of and inside the skulls, and inside the candleholder to complete the morbid display.

Dark Floral Arrangements: Black floral arrangements instantly set a spooky tone when placed at the center of your dining room table, or on side tables and buffets. Purchase fake or real dyed black roses and bunch together in a clear vase. For a touch of color, add several deep red roses in the mix. Tie a black ribbon around the vase for a final gothic touch.

Glitter Pumpkins: Create a unique and eye catching centerpiece or side table accent with glitter pumpkins and a tiered dessert platter. Simply cover small pumpkins in glue, then sprinkle with black, gold, silver or orange glitter. Arrange the pumpkins on the dessert platter for a tiered Halloween display perfect for sparkling in the dining room.

Lace Table Runners: Purchase a premade black lace table runner, or make your own from lace bought at a craft store. The antique pattern adds a spooky feel to otherwise plain tablecloths, but can be used again at non-themed dinners. To add an extra worn look to the lace, try fraying the edges.

Pumpkin Place cards: Greet guests with small pumpkins in a shade that best compliments the rest of your Halloween décor. Use a marker or acrylic paint to write their names, and set in front of each plate to let guests know where they should be seated.

Napkin Rings: For easy to make, one time use Halloween napkin rings, cut a six inch piece of black crepe paper, and twist until it forms a tight rope. Carefully tie the crepe paper around your napkins into a bow or knot, then glue a small plastic spider, skull, ghost or any other Halloween icon onto it.

Lighting

Spider Webs: One of the easiest and cheapest ways to instantly transform your everyday dining room light fixtures into props straight out of a horror film is with the use of fake spider webs. Found at most party stores, craft stores and retail stores, fake spider webs simply stretch across your dining room chandelier, floor lamps and sconces to create the frighteningly realistic appearance of cobwebs. For a dramatic effect, purchase glow in the dark spider webs, and reference your light fixture's normal bulbs with black lights. A haunting purple glow will be cast around the dining room, and the spider web will brightly glow.

Light Bulbs: If you'd like more than candlelight, but don't want the brightness of your regular lighting, try switching out your dining room light bulbs with 25 watt options. Colored lights can also lower the brightness, and add a dramatic effect. Green, blue and black lights all create the perfect atmosphere for a Halloween party.

Blood Dripped Candles: For a set of homemade gothic candles perfect for dining room candelabras, purchase a set of white, black or silver candles, and at least one red one. Light the red candle until it has burned enough to form a pool of liquid wax around the wick. Pour the melted red wax down the side of the white, black or silver candles to instantly create the look of dripping blood.

Candy Filled Candles: To add a subtle Halloween accent to your existing hurricane candles, fill a large clear hurricane candleholder half way with candy corn, acorns or black and orange jelly beans. Simply set your candle on top, and enjoy the extra decorative touch.

Dining Room Décor

Mirror Silhouettes: Create a startling ghostly reflection in your dining room mirror with a roll of frosted window film. Draw or trace a template of a ghost or human silhouette onto the window film (try Remlor, available on Amazon.com) and cut it out. Place the window film onto a mirror in your dining room to create an eerie, mysterious figure in the mirror's reflection.

Pumpkin Signs: Direct family and friends to the correct table for drinks, desserts or appetizers with welcoming jack-o-lantern signs. Carve a medium sized pumpkin with the words "Drinks," "Treats" or anything else describing what will be set out on a dining room side table or buffet, and place a small candle inside to illuminate the pumpkin's message. For a more ominous message, try painting the pumpkin black, or filling the inside with glow in the dark paint rather than a candle. Be sure to place a black light near the pumpkin in order for the pain to glow.

Black Chairs: To create a unified color scheme and darker your dining room's overall look, purchase some cheap black pillow cases, and slip them over the backs of your dining room chairs. For far less than the cost of reupholstering, the pillowcases instantly create a Halloween appropriate look that is easily cleaned and removed.

Pumpkin Ice Bucket: Create a festive and colorful ice bucket for your champagne, sodas or any other chilled beverages with only a medium sized pumpkin and a regular ice bucket. Simply cut the top off of a pumpkin slightly larger than your ice bucket, and scoop out the insides. Place your ice bucket inside, so that it is fully concealed, then fill with ice. Set your drinks inside the pumpkin and enjoy.
Try some of these scary, spooky and fun Halloween decoration ideas in your dining room, and enjoy all the season has to offer.

Wall Color Ideas For Dining Rooms

When deciding on a color scheme for a dining room or dining area, there are several factors to consider. Although there is no cardinal rule for dining room colors, you should keep in mind a palette that encourages an appetite and does not remind you of foods you might despise.

Dining Room Design Inspiration

A dining room does not have to be all one color and can have a bright color for accent, however the color scheme should be a comfortable one because it is a communal space where people congregate. Color will also depend upon lighting either overhead or perhaps from sconces on walls. In addition, windows and doors leading to open spaces can also determine a color scheme.

Depending on where you may live, a dining room color scheme can evoke blues and light tones of the ocean or greens and sage colors of the mountains or forest.
A dining room is also a great space for wallpaper on all walls or even just one. Color schemes can be created from a favorite pattern or motif in the wallpaper.
Depending upon the furniture and style of the dining room, color can play off wood, glass and even iron tables.
Dining rooms may even include mirrors to make a small space bigger and mirror frames can dictate a room's color scheme. However, mirrors can be intrusive while eating and can make guests feel uncomfortable.
Color for a dining room may also come from an inspiration about food and dining. Darker brown tones may work for a western-style hearty living and lighter greens and pale yellows for a country atmosphere of freshly picked from the garden. In a city where space is limited, a dining room may have pale colors to make a space feel bigger.

Dining room spaces are often an extension of a great room or a family room and may play off a dominant decorating theme from these spaces. In an open room space or a sitting area, the dining area may be less formal allowing ideas for a color scheme to be an extension of the adjoining or shared spaces.

Dining Room Furniture

A dining room can include several types of furniture such as side tables, bar carts and shelving. These items and others should be considered in choosing colors for a dining room so the furniture feels like a part of the dining experience.
Benches and straight back chairs can incorporate color in cushions or in the chair itself. Remember white is not always the best color for upholstery in a dining room because accidents do happen. Bright white is stark for a dining room and can feel institutional, warmer shades of white or cream colors are usually better options.

Dining Room Uses

If a home has a particular style including a collection of art, items or memorabilia, a dining room color scheme can incorporate colors or a color from the collection creating a semblance of flow in a home.
Dining rooms can also be a multipurpose space for a family and for anyone who conducts business from home. A color scheme of neutral tones beige, light browns and creams will work for a changing and busy atmosphere.

Selecting The Color

A dining room may also be an extension of a kitchen where a color scheme can rollover from one room to another, or carry a single or more accents that bring both areas together. Since dining rooms and the kitchen are so closely related, a color scheme should complement the two spaces.
When deciding on a color scheme, take a moment to browse paint and home improvement stores to see all the options available for painting. In addition, it might be helpful to take paint chip cards home to get an idea of whether or not you can live with a color that looks great in the store but does not match anything you own.
Ideas for color schemes for a dining room or area can be found in numerous home décor magazines as well as online. In addition, when sitting down to a meal in the dining room, take a minute to notice what color inspiration might already be in the room around you.

The Right Tableware Designs For Your Dining Room

Your dining room is where family and friends sit and enjoy a meal together, visiting and enjoying each other's company. The furnishings you choose, the style you set, and the small touches you place around the room all make a powerful statement and set the feel for your gathering. Room decor sets a mood, and you want your dining room to feel welcoming and comfortable.

You spent a long time furnishing your house to reflect your style and decorating taste, and you've developed your own look. Don't forget to extend that style to the dishes you set on your dining room table. Small touches, such as carefully selected dinnerware and drinkware, pack a big punch when it comes to creating a complete picture. Your style might be modern, ethnic, country or retro, but whatever your decorating theme, you can find tableware to complement it.

Modern

The modern or contemporary dining room is a study in simplicity. Simple lines, minimal ornamentation, a black-and-white color scheme with stainless steel or chrome trim, and a glass-topped table give a cool feel of sophisticated elegance.
Your tableware should be as sleek as your dining room. Great choices for the modern table include:

Dishes in solid colors, especially black or white
Minimal trim
Graceful shapes with gentle curves and lines
Square, oblong, or triangular dishes
Asymmetrical, abstract designs
Simple drinkware, with chunky or square shapes

Tuscany

The Tuscan dining room is warmed with earth tones of gold, orange, olive green and brick red. A dining table in dark, distressed wood brings the feel of old Italy to your home. Rustic pieces with a relaxed feel are the hallmark of this decorating style.Tuscan tableware is often hand-painted, with cheery colors of deep red, oranges, and gold. Typical design themes include:

Wine, with grapes, wine bottles and glasses
Texture and embossing on plates and cups
Hillsides or countryside designs
Villas or Italian homes
Fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes
Drinkware in heavy glass with textured designs

Asian

Asian-inspired decorating has become very popular. Furniture in black lacquer, with highlights of red or white is typical. Low, simple lines give a feeling of functional elegance.
Asian tableware ranges from simple, monochromatic designs to colorful, traditional Asian images such as koi or lotus blossoms. Give your table an Asian flair with design elements such as:

Black plates and bowls
Blue and white landscapes or florals
Rectangular dishes
Chinese characters or writing
Dragon designs
Teacups
Square or angular drinkware

Country

Your country dining room might have a farmhouse style table, or a heavy, rustic table with benches for seating. Colors found in nature, such as sky blue, greens, and tans are popular, with touches of red or yellow as accents. The feel is relaxed and comfortable, with well-used furnishings and simple decor.Set your country table with dinnerware that has a hand painted feel, and designs such as:

Roosters or farm animals
Fruit, especially apples and cherries
Stars or checks
Small floral patterns
Splatterware in blue, red or green
Mugs in pottery or heavy ceramic styles
Mason jar drinkware

Retro

If your dining room is a blast from the past, you have a retro decorating style, with elements from the 50's, 60's and 70's. Popular colors are turquoise, black-and-white, yellow or green, and pastels. Chrome and Formica give a funky feel to the table, and vinyl-covered chairs are reminiscent of a classic diner.The retro table looks great set with bright colors, dishes made of plastic, and themes popular decades past. Set your retro table with:

Fiesta ware in bright colors
Angular shapes and designs
Cherry and apple motifs
Coca cola memorabilia
Hawaiian themes
Glassware with bright stripes or designs

Eclectic

You know what you like, and are willing to bring together diverse elements from various decorating styles. Your eclectic dining room might have furnishings ranging from antique chairs to a traditional table, to a country sideboard. While you enjoy mixing and matching, you can maintain a cohesive feel by sticking to a color scheme, and harmonizing with your accessories.Set your eclectic table with tableware that has a fun, whimsical feel. You can choose designs that have a similar feel to other elements in the room or make a contrast. Look for settings with designs such as:

Animal inspired patterns
Insects such as bees or butterflies
Old-fashioned florals
Bright colors and bold designs
Dots, stripes, zigzag patterns
Glassware in bright colors

You spent a lot of time developing your style, and furnishing your home. Make sure your dinnerware continues your decorating theme, and set a table that reflects your tastes and lets guests know that you pay attention to detail. There are so many styles of tableware available, you can find just the perfect set to complete your dining room, and complete the finishing touch on your perfect table.

Create A Stain Resistant Dining Room

Your dining room is probably the most elegant room in your home, and serves as a graceful gathering space for family meals and special occasion dinners. Unfortunately, the luxurious fabrics and ornate dining accessories you love to share can all too often be subjected to spills of all kinds.

Because it's a place where people eat and drink in a formal setting, keeping a dining room in pristine condition is challenging. With a little planning on your part, however, you can create a truly stain resistant dining room.

Easy-Clean Seating

Dining room chairs can take a beating, especially if you have young children. To protect your chairs from stains, here are a few easy options:

Chair covers: Attractive covers protect your valuable chairs and many can be tossed in the washing machine if they get soiled. You can find chair covers in colors and styles to fit in with your dining room.

Fabric-free chairs: Fine wooden chairs, when well oiled and finished can be quickly wiped clean when spills occur.

Stain-resistant fabric: You can wipe away most spills without any stains setting in if the fabric on your chairs is stain resistant.

Unfortunately, some stain resistant fabric contains chemicals that may be dangerous to your health. If you're concerned about the safety of certain stain resistant fabrics, another alternative is to stain-guard your chairs yourself. Commercial sprays are available that will safely stain-guard cotton or polyester blend chair fabric.
Keep in mind that stain-guard sprays are not effective on microfiber, which is already stain resistant. Leather chairs are best protected by treatment with the leather conditioner recommended by the manufacturer.

Protecting Your Dining Room Table

Whatever food and drinks you serve at your dining room table are eventually bound to spill. Whether you've chosen a table made of deep rosewood, sunny maple or perhaps a Nordic teak, you'll want to protect your investment. The best way to start is by keeping fine woods well oiled and conditioned so that any unwanted spills that reach them won't penetrate.
Even with the best-conditioned wood, most people wouldn't go without some sort of protective table covering during a meal. You may want to try:

Glass or plastic toppers: A sheet of glass or plastic with polished edges, custom cut for your table, gives you an easy-to-clean surface and still allows you to see the color and grain of your tabletop. Many people also like to use these toppers to protect valuable heirloom tablecloths.

Placemats: Placemats compliment your color scheme and bring your room together. More importantly, they help keep the area around each place setting protected from spills. Placemats can be used over a bare table, tablecloth, or a glass or plastic topper.

Tablecloths: Depending on the occasion, you may prefer cloth, vinyl, disposable or one of the new treated cloth varieties that wipes clean like plastic.

Table pads: These provide an extra layer of protection for your fine wood, in case spills get through your tablecloth.

Keeping Your Dining Room Floors Clean

The law of gravity dictates that the final resting place for most dining room spills is the floor. The easiest way to keep your dining room floor clean is to choose a hard surface such as wood, laminate or tile for this area so that you can sweep or wipe away spills quickly.
If hard floors aren't an option for you, and your wall-to-wall carpeting isn't stain resistant, you may want to get an inexpensive stain-resistant area rug to keep under your table. Then if the area rug is ruined, you can just replace it. If you have very young children and a carpeted dining room, you may even want to consider a temporary plastic mat under the table.

When All Else Fails: Dealing with Occasional Stains

Stains are bound to happen once in a while, despite your best efforts. Here are some remedies for removing a few of the most stubborn stains from carpet or upholstery:

Beets: Mix two cups of cool water with one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Sponge and blot. If the stain isn't gone after repeating a few times, sponge and blot with a solution of one half of a cup of cool water and one tablespoon of ammonia.

Curry: Mix two cups of cool water with one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Sponge the solution onto the stain with a white cloth and leave on for half an hour, blotting with a clean white cloth and additional solution every five minutes. Then sponge with cool water and blot. If stain remains, sponge with rubbing alcohol and blot. If it still remains, try one tablespoon of dish liquid and one tablespoon of ammonia in two cups of cool water. Leave on for 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes and then sponging with cold water as in the previous steps.

Gravy: Scrape away excess and sprinkle on baking soda or cornstarch. After 15 minutes, vacuum. Then sponge the area with dry-cleaning solution and a clean white cloth. Blot until absorbed and repeat sponging and blotting until stain is gone.

Red wine: Blot up as much liquid as you can. Then mix one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with two cups of cool water for upholstery. For carpet stains, use two cups of warm water, one tablespoon of white vinegar and one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid. Sponge solution on with a clean white cloth and blot, repeating this step until the stain is gone. Finish up by sponging with cold water and blotting dry.

The Best of Both Worlds

Your dining room really can be stain resistant and attractive. Taking the time to protect your dining room now will keep it looking like new at all your special dinners for many years to come.

Easy Steps To An Eco Friendly Dining Room

It seems that just about everything is "eco friendly" these days. If you're on a mission to go green you can start with your own house. One room that tends to get overlooked in the great green transformation is the dining room. Turn your dining room into an environmentally friendly lounge with these tips.

Installing eco lighting

Finding the right eco lighting to brighten up your dining room may be the easiest part of the process. Several light manufacturers are now offering a variety of eco friendly options for any room in the house. Here are a few easy rules to get you started:

Opt for compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)
Try LEDs
Dispose of your old lights properly

Installing CFLs and LEDs in your dining room is a great way to get the most energy efficiency out of your light installation. Remember that eco friendly lighting isn't entirely about the bulb, you want to make sure you have the proper lamps, light fixtures, switches, and dimmers in your arsenal as well. When it comes time to dispose of your old light bulbs, make sure you follow proper protocol. Check your neighborhood for an energy recycling center and you will do your part in decreasing the amount of mercury making its way into the garbage.
When you get right down to it, remember that the most eco friendly form of lighting is natural sunlight, so make sure your dining room is getting a generous amount of it. Placing mirrors on walls opposite windows will reflect any sunlight coming into the room, instantly doubling the light, and requiring less use of energy and money draining light fixtures.

Heating and air conditioning alternatives

Keeping the window open and the shades up will not only welcome in the sunlight, but also fill your dining room with natural ventilation and air. Running the air conditioner all summer or the heating system all winter will drive up your electricity bill and ruin your chance at a eco friendly dining utopia. Keep all the doors in your house open to increase house-wide circulation, and strategically place low-energy fans throughout the house.

Eco friendly dinnerware

After a long day at work or school it's easy to want to bypass the dishes, and dive into your stock of paper plates and plastic cutlery. Don't do it! Items like this account for a good percentage of yearly waste products. Make sure you use items like:

Reusable plates
Metal silverware
Cloth napkins

If the dishes turn into too much of a headache, set up a family chore schedule, and take turns shouldering the responsibility. Or look at it the old fashioned way: whoever didn't make dinner handles the cleanup!

Eco friendly meal night

Take your devotion to the environment to a local level, and start instituting locally grown and organic meal nights. Organic farming has become such a trend in the last few years that it is easy to find both the ingredients and the recipes to point your family in the direction of sustainable eating. This can also be a great opportunity to welcome younger family into the kitchen for cooking lessons. Some of the best childhood memories can be formed when transferring knowledge of food prep. If you're really feeling brave, you can even start your own fresh herb window box or small backyard vegetable garden. Get the whole family to participate!
Don't forget to unplug electric items in your dining room when they're not in use, and to turn the lights off whenever the dining room isn't in use. Eco friendly dining rooms are relatively easy to maintain and can be a fun learning experience for the whole family!

How To Create A Southwestern Style Dining Room Design

A design known for its warmth and relaxing attitude, the southwestern style is a perfect dining room choice for anyone who enjoys intricate patterns, subtle accents and tranquil color schemes. Found most frequently in Pueblo and Spanish style homes, this style takes inspiration from the culture and colors of the American southwest and Native American artwork.

Colors

The beauty of a southwestern style room is the simplicity of the color scheme, and the ability to draw inspiration directly from nature. Two main concepts direct the colors of the southwestern style - the desert and Native American culture.

Use neutral shades for the table, wall and floor color.
Tans, browns and whites are usually best. They should resemble colors you would see in the desert.
For chair cushions, artwork and table accessories, use vibrant colors.
Bright blues, oranges, yellows and reds are perfect for tying in the ancient Native American color schemes found in artwork, pottery and rugs.
Neutral shades on larger surfaces like the walls, table and floors provide the perfect backdrop for brightly colored accessories to pop, without appearing overwhelming.

Furniture

Dining room furniture for a southwestern style is uniquely detailed and often intricately carved. This room theme's ability to be highly decorated without appearing stuffy, overdone or overwhelming is part of its allure, and is certainly appreciated in the complex design of many southwestern dining furniture pieces. When purchasing furniture for this room, consider the follow design standards:

Large wooden tables, often carved with Native American and southwestern cultural designs. Tables typically have wide, bulky legs, and should appear sturdy rather than delicate.
Chairs are also usually made of thick pieces of carved wood, displaying designs or pictures of Native American symbols.
Side tables, buffet tables and shelving for drinks, plates or any other dining accessories also carved with similar designs and patterns.
Furniture made of lighter colored woods.
Wood left either unfinished or roughly brushed with white or teal paint to create an antique, weather worn look unique to the southwestern style.
Carved accents on tables and chairs may be painted with teal, blue, white, orange, red or yellow colors to give extra emphasis to their design, and mirror Native American artwork.

Art

Artwork is a key ingredient in this style of room, and anyone decorating their dining area in the southwestern theme should take full advantage of the range of artwork available to display. Try several of these possibilities to liven up your dining room:

Photographs of landscape in southwestern states.
Framed Native American drawings or designs.
Native American pottery displayed on side tables, shelves or designated display cases.
Intricately patterned southwestern tapestries hung on the walls.
Iron wall decorations like horseshoes, spurs or other southwestern icons.
Antlers, cowboy hats and similar décor hung on the walls.

Accessories

Finishing off your southwestern dining room with the perfect accessories is the final step in decorating for this theme. Accessories are the best way to add style and function to any room, enhancing the theme while providing necessary utilities like storage, light and seating. Try including these accessories in your southwestern dining area:

An iron chandelier centered above the table with rugged, worn finishing. Use light bulbs shaped like candles, or actual candles to complete the rough, antique feel.
Sconces along two to four of the walls to add more light, as well as further the rugged ironwork detailing throughout the room.
A lamp anywhere more light is needed. Select lamps made of rustic iron with neutral colored shades.
Large area rugs in classic Native American designs and colors. Patterns are often intricate and unique, giving your dining room an incredibly personalized touch.
Placemats, dishes, candleholders, napkin rings and anything else that reflects the colors and styles of the southwestern theme. Even the tiniest details can make a difference.

When designing a southwestern themed dining room, inspiration isn't hard to find. Reflect the warm neutrals of the desert in larger surfaces like the floor, walls and table. Next, use brightly colored, intricately patterned accessories and decorations to pop against the neutrals and display the beauty of traditional Native American designs. A few simple steps with some appropriately styled décor and you've created the perfect southwestern dining room.

Small Dining Room Design Ideas and Tips

It's no surprise that the dining room is often the hub of the household. Most normal humans tend to congregate where the food is, making both the kitchen and the dining room prime pieces of real estate. If your dining room is smaller than average, you can compensate by making the best use of your space possible. Utilize these helpful hints to maximize your dining experience in your small space.

Choose the Right Shape for Your Dining Table

Square dining room tables take up too much space. They can be an awkward fit when the space you have is limited. Opt for a long dining room table, or a circular option. This will provide much needed walking space around the table, and allow you to comfortable eat and serve.

Add Personality to Your Tabletop

Once you've found the perfect table, it's time to make it your own. There are different items you can use to spruce up the top of your dining room table including:

Tablecloths and runners: These will add a pop of color to your tabletop. Tablecloths with large patterns and prints are great for special occasions, while runners provide a lengthening look that stretches your table and your dining room even more.
Candles: These can set the mood for any type of dining experience. You can opt for a large candelabra, stand-alone candlesticks, or votive tea light holders. Whatever you choose, keep proper spacing in mind. Also, you might want to steer clear of scented candles in the dining room, they will overwhelm the smell of whatever great meal you cook. These are better suited for bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms.
Centerpieces: Centerpieces can be anything from a fresh bowl of fruit to an elaborate floral arrangement.
Dining pieces: Your silverware, china and napkins should display your personality on your well-designed table. Make sure you have a matching set of silverware, to stay consistent. Try matching your napkins with the paint and the art on the walls.

Pick the Right Paint

If you want to make your dining space appear larger, it is a good idea to carefully select the color of the paint on the walls. Lighter paints will make your room appear larger. If plain white is not to your liking, try an off-white or earthy tone instead.

Avoid Bulky Furniture

You don't want to bog your space down with cluttering furniture. If your dining room is small, limit the décor to the dining set only. If you want to have an armoire, china cabinet or wine rack, try setting these up in the kitchen, living room or even the hallway.

Get the Right Light

Chances are your dining room will be equipped with a chandelier. Feel free to add additional lighting. You can still create mood lighting without eating in the dark with a dimmer, or some well-placed candles. If possible, utilize natural light wherever you can. It makes the space appear much larger, and gives the room a much more organic feel.

Decorate Your Windows

If you're lucky enough to have a window in your dining room, don't neglect it. The window can be a great resource for natural light. Go ahead and frame the sun! Pick bright curtains or blinds that complement your overall décor. You want to make sure you can attract some attention to what's outside of the window so that your guests will have more space for their eyes to roam, which can be difficult in a small dining room.

Keep the Tabletop Clear of Erroneous Items

You want to make sure that you're not using your dining space to do all your extra work. If you want to pay the bills, and file your taxes, do it in a room that isn't so small. When you designate the dining room for activities aside from eating, you run the risk of piling papers sky-high and cluttering your tabletops.

Choose Proper Wall Décor

Adding a mirror is sure to increase the space in your dining room, but most people don't enjoy watching themselves eat. When it comes to selecting wall art for the dining room, bold and bigger is better. Smaller pieces will crowd your walls and box you in.
Feeling at home in the dining room is important. Having a space that you want to visit will make you feel confident when it comes time to entertain your guests at your latest dinner party. Be conscious of your space, and don't let yourself feel limited. Remember that all you need to do when you design is pay a lot of attention, and put yourself into everything you do. It's best to love the space you have, and work with it however you see fit!

7 Tips on How to Feng Shui Your Dining Room

It's easy to let our inner interior decorator get the best of us. Sometimes we over-purchase, over-decorate, and ultimately clutter the most used rooms in our homes. Creating a feng shui dining room means clearing out excess furniture, decorations, and clutter, to make the space livable and breathable. But it's not as simple as it sounds. Everything must be balanced and in its proper place to really reap the benefits of a proper feng shui environment. Following these tips will ensure that you get off on the right foot as you set off to create a feng shui dining experience.

Rid the space of all electronics: The key to proper feng shui is to rid your space of unnecessary stressors. If you feel as though you've become overrun with all of the electronics in your life, let them go. Regardless of how frequently you entertain, the dining room is not the place for bulky stereo equipment. If you take into account the aesthetic of bulky electronics, you'll agree that it takes away from the balance of your décor.
Balance your wall décor: Wall art for your dining room should be elegant, chic and simple. You don't want to plaster your walls with cluttered posters or pictures. Pick a few smaller pieces, and take great consideration with where you place them. When attempting to make your space feng shui, measurement is a must. Dust off that ruler and measuring tape and be exact! A true feng shui master has a knack for spacing. If you can, try to keep the same measurements between all of your wall décor.
Install dimmable lighting: We've all heard of mood lighting; it can set the tone for a romantic evening in, or an uptown dinner party. Installing light dimmers in your dining room, allows you to properly balance your space. Feng shui takes all aspects of a room into consideration, so harsh lighting could be a deal breaker. Avoid anything too dramatic like ornate chandeliers or blinding fluorescents. Feng shui should be soft and simple.
Let in the air: If you have windows in your dining room, keep them open. In order to fully appreciate the feng shui experience, you and your guests must be able to breathe freely and openly. Stale air won't do. Potted plants are also a great addition to a feng shui room because they increase the oxygen levels. You can place plants in corners, or create a feng shui centerpiece for your dining room table.
Set the mood with candles and music: Candles add much needed ambience to any feng shui environment. Line the table or any other countertop with candles to balance artificial and natural light. Turn on relaxing music from another room when you have dinner, to add the finishing touches to your feng shui dining experience. Steer clear of loud our heavy music, and consider playing classical songs or sounds of nature.
Include all the elements: One of the fundamental design tips to attaining a proper feng shui environment is to include all four elements in your design aesthetic. You've handled earth with potted plants, taken care of wind with an open window, and lit a fire with your tabletop candles. Water may prove a bit trickier. One suggestion is to install a fountain outside your window, to include the sound of flowing water in your dining room experience. Keeping one indoors might prove tricky, but it definitely ties together the elements and balances the space.
Pair things up: Another key to a proper feng shui is to pair things up. Put artwork, tabletop accents, and furniture in pairs. Two is a magic number in the world of feng shui. It is the simplest form of balance, and allows you create symmetry without the clutter.

Becoming a master of feng shui is easier than it may seem. There are three things you must keep in mind: tranquility, harmony, and balance. As long as these are in order, the rest of your feng shui environment will fall into place. Don't worry about the design as much as the feel of the space, and the feeling you take with you when you leave it.

Designing and Decorating Modern Dining Rooms

Design Approach

As a design concept, modern dining rooms are simplistic and streamlined. Embrace the architecture of your room to create a space that is as attractive as it is functional. Incorporate bold colors and a minimalist approach to create an aesthetically pleasing eating space where food, family, and friends are the highlight of your free time. Enjoy a beautiful meal in a beautiful space as often as you would like without having to spend money on a trendy restaurant ambiance.

Modern dining rooms will help you and your guests relax while providing decorative elements that captivate the imagination. Even though you should plan to design your space with a minimalist approach, you can work with bold and bright colors to create an elegant space. Remain simplistic by passing on superfluous décor so that you have an extra budget for your everyday items like tables, chairs, curio cabinets, rugs, and dinnerware. You can even include a few items of art.
Even though modern dining rooms rely on minimal decorative elements, you can still find ways to express your personality. The theory of minimalist design does not suggest that items can't be artistic or beautiful; rather, art and beauty are in everyday items. It's true that you probably don't want to cover your walls in paintings, but you can feel free to treat your everyday items as art. Choose a bold, black table that shines slightly, and surround it with white chairs that have a unique shape. Paint an accent wall with white trim details to bring energy to an otherwise bland room.

Symmetry

Symmetry is a defining characteristic of almost all dining rooms. Take your tables, chairs, dishes, and silverware for example: when you set a dining space, you arrange everything as a mirror image reflection. Incorporate this idea of symmetry with your artwork, lights, mirrors, and sculptures wherever possible. Emphasize the idea of symmetry and mirror-image reflections throughout your dining space to create a calming and relaxing effect of balance. Symmetry will counteract the strong effects of bold and bright colors.

In a modern kitchen, you can get away with subtle exceptions to symmetric design. Keep the basics like your tables and chairs symmetric, but feel free to add singular design elements to switch up the pace. Create an accent wall to add bold and bright color to the room, or set up one small statue or sculpture. A modern dining room will captivate the imagination if it is not perfectly symmetrical. Mix symmetry with singularity to create a unique and intriguing style.

Furniture

Choose from a manmade or natural materials - or mix and match a combination of both. Both dark and light colors in various color shades can adapt to a modern design. Examples of materials include wood, stainless steel, metal, glass, and chrome. Choose a table with stainless steel or brown-black wooden legs with a frosted glass top. Choose chairs that are made from high quality plastics, or decorate your table with chairs that have a cushion or other ergonomic design.
If you have enough space, set up a curio cabinet to keep all of your dinnerware on display. If you'd prefer to keep your items hidden, choose a curio cabinet with solid instead of glass or translucent doors. As a general rule, don't buy more furniture than you can fit in your space. Along those same lines, avoid buying furniture that is too large for your space. A modern dining room should embrace your space's architecture, regardless of whether the room is large or small. Don't feel obligated to buy something because you think that you should have it, especially if you are trying to achieve a dining room that is aesthetically pleasing and well designed. Work with the overall shape of your dining room. If your space is square, set up a square table. If your space is circular, get a circular table. Your chairs and curio cabinets don't necessarily need to be purchased as a matching set with your table, especially if you are trying to achieve an eclectic look. Modern décor is sleek and streamlined, so choose furniture with straight, clean lines rather than round, organic shapes. Do your best to work with the space that you have to create an aesthetically pleasing dining area.

Colors

Traditionally, modern rooms are monochromatic - gray, black, and white-with one or two additional bright colors to add vibrancy and energy. This is the most straightforward color scheme to use, especially if you are new to the world of interior design and worried about choosing colors that clash. Stick to the basics for an effect that is functional yet attractive.

Feel free to experiment with additional color schemes. At most, choose one or two bold and bright colors to balance with a more neutral shade such as a cream color, gray or black. Choose complementary shades, for example: pastel maroon, olive green, light gray, and white. Paint an accent wall in one of these colors such as maroon, and add details such as a white trim. Match your white trimmings with white colored chairs to complement these accent details. Remember the idea of balance and symmetry: if you incorporate a color that contrasts with other colors, add another decorative item with that same color for a balancing effect.

Wall Surfaces

Paint and wallpaper are both ideal options for a modern dining room. Wallpaper should have linear shapes as opposed to organic designs. Avoid patterns that are condensed, and instead, choose a design that emphasizes space. If using paint, feel free to experiment with bold and bright colors with contrasting accent trips. Do you want a dining room that is bright green? Go for it with your modern theme. If you're worried about overwhelming your dining room with walls that are one bold and bright color, consider painting an accent wall along the dominant wall in the dining room for a burst of energy.
Some modern dining rooms incorporate additional decorative elements, including ceramic or glass tile for a portion. Choose tile color that complements the overall look of the dining room. With glass tiles, you can actually create artistic mosaics and pattern. Typically, tiles are used in the bathroom and kitchen. Make sure that you don't give your dining room the look and feel of a kitchen or bathroom, and instead; limit the tiles to a small portion of one of the walls.

Floors

Hardwood floors, natural stone, and manmade materials are all ideal options for modern dining rooms. When choosing a finish, make sure that you select one with some shine and luminosity. A dull hardwood floor, for example, can detract from a dining room's modern look and feel. Choose bright colors that are either dark or light, regardless of whether you are using a natural or manmade material. Floors in a medium shade are less ideal for modern dining rooms, especially if you are using wood.

Lighting

Incorporate a balance of natural light and electrically powered light for ultimate energy efficiency. In general, lights in a dining room should be relatively dim in order to facilitate a comforting and relaxed space. If you have large windows and skylights, consider installing blinds or shutters to control natural light. Try to layer your light by using a combination of different types of bulbs including LED lights that have a blue tint, fluorescent lights that are white and bright, and halogen lights that are slightly yellow. For overhead light, hanging lamps and recessed lights are ideal. An antique chandelier may not be the best option, but you could look for other streamlined and linear designs. For additional lighting, invest in one or two floor lamps that conform to your dining room's color and style.

Formal Dining Room Design Ideas

Design Approach

If you are lucky enough to have space for a formal dining room, embrace the opportunity to create a luxurious atmosphere for your friends, family, and visitors. Believe it or not, you can design a formal dining room without a massive budget. You don't need to be a billionaire to create a room that's elegant and uniquely you.

You may want to consider making a substantial financial investment; however, you can spend what you want - find items on a budget, or buy them in excellent secondhand condition. Even if your room is small, you can still design it in a way that looks elegant. Just do your best not to cram more furniture than the room can handle. Avoid buying something because you think that you should have it. By overdoing it, you can easily transform a design approach from classy to clutter.
In general, a formal dining room is not a space that you use on a daily basis to hang out or eat. It's usually an area that is reserved for special occasions only, where you can host holiday dinners or social gatherings. From an aesthetic perspective, a formal dining room helps to put your home's best face forward. Some people follow a flashy, elegant, and ornate decorating approach, while others incorporate simplistic designs that are equally classy. A formal dining room is one space where you can devote as much attention as you would like to décor.

Stylistic Details & Color

Historically, some formal dining rooms doubled as drawing rooms. These spaces were extremely elegant with ornate wallpaper and Victorian themes.
Imagine: large windows, red velvet draping curtains, a grandfather clock, 18^thcentury portraits, fireplaces, and beautiful Persian rugs. They were large dining spaces that could fit as much elaborate décor as possible.
Of course, if you want an elaborate Victorian theme, you should go for it. If you have the money to spend, invest in décor that will reflect the elegant design themes of the 18^thcentury. Allow your room to reflect the flamboyant style of byzantine era, or tone it down a bit for a room that is as simplistic and classy as it is elegant.

In general, today's formal dining rooms incorporate more modern themes such as bold colors and minimalism. While an over-the-top modern theme may not work well, you can still consider incorporating splashes of bright colors and rectangular shapes. There's no cookie-cutter approach to designing a formal dining room, and you can experiment with different colors, trends, styles, and approaches to achieve your desired effects. Rely on contrasting shades, or blend colors to orient and streamline your formal dining room's look. Choose a color or pattern to direct the dominant focus of your theme.
Neutral shades and pastel colors are great options to consider if you're unsure where to begin or how to choose a unifying decorative theme. Cream, olive green, beige, mango, yellow, pastel pink, and faded burgundy are all options worth considering.
Keep in mind that symmetry is a major stylistic principle of most dining rooms. Think about it: your plates and silverware are arranged symmetrically as are chairs. Keep symmetry in mind when you are selecting décor, lighting, mirrors, and other design elements.

Furniture

Many formal dining rooms use wood as the defining characteristic for elegance. Choose cherry wood tables and chairs in a deep mahogany or brown, or select elegant oak instead - it depends on your preferences. Keep in mind that you should probably choose a high quality and durable wood. Usually, pine is not ideal for formal dining room furniture because of its light color and less than ideal build quality. Use wood that will impress your visitors.

Everything about a formal dining room should be elegant, especially your dinnerware. Put your crystal glasses and hand-painted dishes on display in a large curio cabinet with glass windows. If you have something that's beautiful, make the most of it and keep it on display.

Lighting

The lighting in a formal dining area should create a relaxing ambiance. Overall, the light should be dim with focus directed to the prepared meal. An overhead light over your dining room table is the best way to accomplish this objective. Consider installing a chandelier or hanging overhead light to emphasize the dining room's elegant look and feel.

Also pay attention to the different effects that different types of light create. Compact fluorescent bulbs create a whitish hue while LED lights have a bluish tint. Halogen bulbs produce a warm and golden effect.
Additional options for lighting in formal dining rooms include recessed light, tall floor lamps, and sconces.
A formal dining room that maximizes its natural light looks especially elegant. A skylight may not be ideal for this type of space, but a large bay window may match with the room's architecture. If you feel that your space is too bright, install drapes or curtains to help the room appear dimmer. Translucent curtains will filter light while adding color to it. Curtains with a pattern will add decorative style to your dining area with an artistic look and feel.

Décor

Personalize your formal dining area. If you love art and sculptures, put some on display - just make sure to arrange them so that the room appears symmetric. If you have one painting on one side of the room, hand another panting on that same wall or across the room to create symmetry.

Personalize your dining room's style even further by decorating the space with family portraits and photography. Nothing says elegance like family, so put yours on display. If you have wallpaper, be careful not to over clutter your walls with photographs. Your guests will love your art if you incorporate an element of personality, so have fun expressing yourself with a style that's completely yours.

Walls

Paint and wallpaper are both ideal options for walls in a formal dining room. Choose neutral shades, ornate patterns, or experiment with pastel or bold colors - what you select depends on the aesthetic affect that you'd like to achieve. Some people will also incorporate metallic elements such as a gold or copper color in the form of either wallpaper or paint.
If you're worried about overwhelming your formal dining room with a particular color, choose to incorporate accent trims or accent walls to add a splash of detail, design, and color.
Some formal dining rooms have walls that are made from oak wood panels. See if this is an option that you would enjoy for your room, especially if you want to give your dining area an earthier and natural aesthetic.

Country Dining Room Design Ideas

Design Concept

Country dining rooms combine rich, earthy tones to create a comfortable environment with a strong connection to nature. Relying on a combination of bright and neutral shades, this theme is ideal for both formal and casual spaces. Include your favorite antiques, or combine inexpensive items to create a dining room that is practical, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.

Rely on classic designs that emphasize the rustic appeal of wood and natural light, but also take the opportunity to personalize and reinvent themes so that they make sense in your home. Draw attention to your wooden floors and furniture by experimenting with rich and bright tones, and also feel free to experiment with contrasting tones: balance rich tones with light tones, and balance bright shades with neutrals. Along similar lines, include both linear and organic shapes to add a subtle modern touch through your artwork, flowers, and even your everyday dinnerware.

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No matter your design strategy, remember that a country dining room is all about maximizing comfort. Use light, seat cushions, calming colors, and cushions to create a dining area that is comforting to the eyes, mind, and body. A dining room should be a place for enjoying meals, relaxing, and spending time with friends and family, so make sure that you design a room that is conducive to these objectives. Create a space that reminds you of your favorite cabin or cottage, and enjoy it every day in your own home - no vacation necessary.

Symmetry

The idea of symmetry is inherent to any dining room, regardless of theme or style choices. Think about it: when you arrange your chairs around the table, you arrange them symmetrically - there is always one chair that faces another. When you set up your plates, napkins, and silverware, you arrange them so that they are mirror images of one another.

To some extent, even decorative elements should be symmetrical. If you have artwork such as a painting or sculpture, use two similar pieces to create a sense of balance. Keep them across from or next to each other to streamline your space's design.
Take opportunities to add some nuance to your dining room's symmetrical space. Especially in a country dining room, you should strive for comfort above perfection. Make your space appear more natural by embracing the odds and ends to disrupt perfectly symmetric patterns. Add some flowers in a vase, or buy some freestanding cabinets or items of furniture if you have the space.

Floors

Hardwood floors are ideal for country dining rooms because they overemphasize the natural elements that are characteristic of this theme. You can choose materials for your hardwood floors in materials such as pine, oak, and more.

Choose a color that complements your furniture and walls. If you are remodeling your room, you could even consider installing wood panels for your walls.Use your floors and walls to orient the level of formality in your country kitchen. Make is a casual space, or make it an elegant one. Your design options are flexible.

Wood Types

When selecting furniture, you will need to choose a wood that allows you to create the look and feel that you desire. You may want to paint over your wood in a color such as white, cream, or dull pink, or you may want to leave it as-is. Choose a wood that complements your design objectives.
If you are working within a budget, pine is likely the least expensive option. The color ranges from light to medium brown with visible knots in the texture. If you are planning to paint your furniture, pine might be an ideal option. Keep in mind that pine is relatively less durable compared to other types of wood, so you may end up with scratches or breaks.
Oak is a more expensive option that is significantly more durable. Like pine, this type of wood is available in shades of light and medium brown. Compared to other types of wood, oak has a significant number of knots and may appear more granular, creating an effect that is rustic and natural.
Cherry wood is a rich color in mahogany-red, and it is relatively more expensive than other types of wood. With cherry wood, knots and grainy details are minimal; instead, surfaces appear smooth.
Maple wood has subtle grain patterns that are more prominent than cherry wood yet less visible than oak. You can find maple wood furniture in a range of colors from light to dark brown.

Furniture

Both geometric and organic shapes are ideal for a country dining room. If you choose a long, rectangular table, you can opt for one with rounded edges, or you can select chairs that are rounder in order to overemphasize organic shapes.
Use furniture to make your country dining room appear cozy. Don't clutter your space with more than you can fit, but try to fit just enough so that your dining room is comfortable.

If you have enough space, include a curio cabinet to showcase your rustic-themed dinnerware. Treat your everyday items as artwork, and put them on display for your family and guests to admire. Choose patterns and colors that exemplify your dining room's country theme.

Color

Country dining rooms should embrace natural tones such as brown, green, cream, pastel yellow, pale red, light blue, and pink. Choose a few brighter shades to balance with neutral tones. Choose three or four colors to decorate your space. With too few colors, the dining area may appear bland, but with too many colors, elements in the room may clash or look chaotic.
Let the floors, table, chairs, and other wooden furniture guide your dining room's color scheme. Mix and match light and dark shades, or stick to one or the other. You may be able to get away with using another color besides brown for furniture such as a white or cream color, but in general, you will probably want to use brown shades. Whatever colors you choose, be sure to emphasize natural and earthy tones.
When selecting décor for your country dining room, avoid geometric shapes and strong patterns. Instead, opt for soft colors that create a calming effect. As a general design approach, focus on texture and color as opposed to patterns and shapes.

Lighting

Create a balance between the different types of light in your room. A country dining room should be bright and vibrant for morning and early afternoon meals, but it should also be dim for to create a comfortable environment for supper, dinner, and late night events.

Use natural lighting to enhance the brightness of a country dining room. Large windows and skylights are two ways to add natural light. Candles and fireplaces are additional options that are well-suited for a dining room. If you want to control the light that comes in through the windows or skylights, you can install shudders or curtains. Choose curtains that have a translucent color to allow for effects in the lighting.
Include additional lighting structures such as chandeliers, overhead lamps, sconces, floor lamps, and table lamps. Use different types of light to create a layered look and feel. Try to choose lights such as halogen bulbs that create a warm glow. Experiment with bulbs in different colors to mix your light.

Dining Room Furniture Reupholstering Guide

The dining room sees serious traffic over the years, and is often used for far more than just eating. This can take a toll on chairs and their fabrics, leading to fraying and wear, but savvy do-it-yourselfers can make chairs look like new by reupholstering.

Choosing Fabric

The process of reupholstering begins with choosing the fabric for the seats. If the fabric is replaced on only one seat, then contact the manufacturer or furniture store where the dining room set was purchased to order matching fabric. The store or manufacturer will have exactly the correct size and style needed to match the other furniture.
If all the chair fabrics are being replaced, then the sky is the limit on the style of fabric. Owners can contact the furniture store or manufacturer to see about pre-fit fabrics or visit a fabric store and choose from many a variety of styles, colors and prints.

Fabric Removal

There are two areas of the chair that may require fabric replacement: the seat pad and the back. The process for replacing both is the same, but the shapes will be different. The seat pad is connected to the chair frame by screws, and the fabric is usually both screwed into the seat pad using the frame screws and stapled as well. There is also a plastic or cardboard covering stapled to the fabric to cover the exposed fabric's edges.
Unscrew the seat pad from the chair frame using a screwdriver and then remove the staples from the plastic cover and set it aside. Remove the fabric from the seat pad by removing the staples. The easiest way to remove the staples is with a flathead screwdriver. Also, take note of how the fabric was situated on the pad. It was made to fit a specific way, and the new piece will be cut and placed on the seat pad in the same way.

Fabric Replacement

Take out the bolt of new fabric and place the old worn fabric on top of it to use it as a pattern. Cut out the exact shape of the old fabric to guarantee it will fit correctly on the seat. Place the new fabric on the ground with the seat pad on top of it, so it looks the same as when the old fabric was taken off.
Grab the fabric at the front of the seat pad and pull it up against the back of the pad. Put two staples directly in the center. This keeps it in place, but is also easily removable if adjustment is needed later. Do the same with the rear of the cushion. With both the front and rear placed correctly, and if no adjustment is needed, then staple them to the seat, starting at the center staples and working out to the edge.
Do the same for the sides, making sure the fabric is taut before stapling. The fabric is replaced and secure to the cushion. Place the plastic or cardboard covering back on the bottom and staple it to the seat pad. The seat pad can be screwed back onto the seat frame, and the chair will look as good as new.

Tips

Buy more fabric than needed: There are many possible pitfalls when replacing fabric. The fabric can rip or tear, could be cut wrong or other unforeseen issues can cause it to be unusable, so always buy more than you need. Purchase enough fabric to make two replacements for every chair fabric being replaced. It saves trips back to the fabric store or days waiting, if it's being shipped through the mail.
The right tools for the job: The stapler found in most offices is not strong enough to penetrate the tough fabric and cardboard or plastic cover. An industrial staple gun is needed and can be purchased at most hardware stores, along with a supply of industrial staples. The fabric needs to be tight against the seat and resistant to tugging and pulling.
Don't cover up a worse problem: Reupholstering does wonders for a chair, but sometimes it can also cover up mold and decay. Chairs with liquid spills can develop mold or rot to the point where they can become a health hazard or structurally unstable. If mold or wet, decayed wood is spotted when removing the fabric, then do not just cover it back up. The cushion itself may need replaced, or possibly the entire chair.
In homes with families, dining room chairs can see some major battle action over the years. Children throw everything from spaghetti to peas at them, older children drop food and drinks, and even Mom and Dad cause the occasional damage.
Most of the time, the frame is perfectly intact, but the fabric becomes a little worse for wear. Reupholstering can add years of use to chairs and save money. Who doesn't love that?

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Set the Table

Pumpkins

Flowers

Cats, Crows and Bats

Cape Cod Decorating Colors

Cape Cod Decorating Furniture Styles

Cape Cod Accessories

Choosing a Color Scheme

Achieving Balance

Small Touches

Flow Through the Rest of the House

Tableware

Table Décor

Candles

General Dining Room Decor

Halloween Table Décor

Lighting

Dining Room Décor

Dining Room Design Inspiration

Dining Room Furniture

Dining Room Uses

Selecting The Color

Modern

Tuscany

Asian

Country

Retro

Eclectic

Easy-Clean Seating

Protecting Your Dining Room Table

Keeping Your Dining Room Floors Clean

When All Else Fails: Dealing with Occasional Stains

The Best of Both Worlds

Installing eco lighting

Heating and air conditioning alternatives

Eco friendly dinnerware

Eco friendly meal night

Colors

Furniture

Art

Accessories

Choose the Right Shape for Your Dining Table

Add Personality to Your Tabletop

Pick the Right Paint

Avoid Bulky Furniture

Get the Right Light

Decorate Your Windows

Keep the Tabletop Clear of Erroneous Items

Choose Proper Wall Décor

Design Approach

Symmetry

Furniture

Colors

Wall Surfaces

Floors

Lighting

Design Approach

Stylistic Details & Color

Furniture

Lighting

Décor

Walls

Design Concept

Symmetry

Floors

Wood Types

Furniture

Color

Lighting

Choosing Fabric

Fabric Removal

Fabric Replacement

Tips

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