I’m often asked to create dining areas that are intimate but open, cosy yet cool – oxymorons by all accounts. Believe it or not, it is possible to achieve this balance. So, if your dining room is making its debut this year, pull up a seat and take notes as I serve up some of my top dining room decorating tips!
Let’s talk tables
As the setting for gatherings and celebrations, your dining table will be a mainstay behind countless dinners, toasts, future dreams and reflections of the past.
Generally speaking, your table should echo the room’s overall shape and proportions. Rectangular and oval tables are best-suited to elongated rooms and open-concept areas, square tables work well in square rooms and nooks, and round tables are a good choice in small spaces.
Relative to the room, plan to leave a three- to four-ft.-gap between the table and walls or large furnishings to accommodate the flow of traffic and serving. For seating at the table, reserve a two-ft.-spot for each guest to account for the place setting with a little wiggle room on either side.
Dining tables come in a broad range of materials. Wood is traditional and durable, and is available in styles from rustic and classic to contemporary. Glass tabletops are easy to clean and are great in small spaces, as they don’t carry any visual weight. Metal, marble, concrete and stone – each has its own unique characteristics.
When choosing, do so wisely, as your table will set the tone in the room and at your dinner party.
A chair affair
With the perfect dining table in place, you can now move onto the chairs. Your chairs are an opportunity to express your style and infuse some unique personality into the room. The chairs don’t all have to match the table, or each other for that matter, but they should align in terms of style and the overall esthetic.
The proportions of your dining chairs matter. Most dining tabletops measure about 30 inches high. Thus, the seat of a standard dining chair is typically about 18 to 20 inches up from the floor. If your dining table is of an unconventional height, plan for a gap of about 10 to 12 inches between the seat and the tabletop.
Lighting it up
Lighting is a critical component in the dining area. A chandelier is the classic choice of fixture as an elegant focal point to ‘wow’ your guests and showcase the dining table. Your chandelier should be big enough to make a visual impact in the space. The rule of thumb is the diametre of your chandelier or pendant should measure between one-half to three-quarters of the diametre or the width of the table, and be suspended three feet above the tabletop. This leaves it low enough to create a sense of intimacy and warmth with enough room for guests to stand and lean across the table or a centrepiece.
Sure to impress
Your dining room is begging to host a great party. With these tips, the space will be dressed to impress – and impress it will.
