Where To Begin When Styling Your Dining Room

Even after being the fanciest, most familial place in your home for years, sometimes your dining room needs to be revisited and revived. If you think it needs a little something extra, or even a lot, there are several simple ways to mix things up and give the place an update. Sometimes even the smallest changes can create a bigger and better look. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s where to begin when styling your dining room and where to go from there.

Do a Deep Clean

No matter what you plan to do in your dining room, take the time to spruce things up first. Go above and beyond with cleaning by moving the furniture elsewhere and sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming. Treat the floors with a commercial cleaning solution, such as oil soap for hardwood floors or vinegar or other solutions if the floor is tile. If you have the means and it’s time to do so, have your hardwood floors refinished. Your dining room will truly dazzle with floors that display their original shine and rich luster. Before you clean the floors, wipe down the nooks and crannies between the walls and ceiling. If they have cobwebs or other detritus, clear them away using a rag. Use spray cleaner and a sponge to remove stains and marks. Messy rooms look old and forgotten, so clear away the marks of neglect.

A New Coat of Paint

A new coat of paint is a surefire way to make any room look like new. Consider the color scheme and whether you’re aiming for something bright and cheerful place or something more sophisticated. If you can’t think of a proper color scheme, you can’t go wrong with white, so long as you add pops of color and interesting art to stand out against the white and make the walls look less bare. Don’t feel committed to a single color, either. Consider a mural or abstract pattern on a single wall to set the mood or spark conversations. Stencils and wall decals are another choice as well.

Pick the Proper Table and Chairs

Naturally, it’s not a dining room without a place to dine. Decide how and why the previous set failed or became old hat. Was it a fault in size, style, or color, or something else? Before you start shopping for formal dining room sets at SuperNova Furniture in Houston, TX, or elsewhere, measure the room to see how much space you have available. A too-large dining set can make the room feel cramped, while a too-small set will become overwhelmed and lost in a larger room. Also, account for the comfort of your guests by ensuring they have enough legroom underneath the table and the ability to comfortably pull out their chairs or pass by seated guests from behind. Of course, style and color should also be a consideration. When you look at formal dining room sets, remember they’ll be the centerpiece of the room. They can set the tone for the area and help you select accompanying pieces and decorations that complement and echo one another. Above all, when you select a set, ask yourself, “Is this the statement I want to make in my dining room?”

Rugs Really Tie the Room Together, and More

The surest way to bring color, warmth, texture, and homeyness to any room is with an area rug. Select one that extends a foot or so past where your guests sit, so they can easily pull their chairs in and out. It’s your choice to select a rug that extends to all four walls and corners, but it might look smart to see the dining set sitting atop an elegant abstract or Persian rug. Go for a rug that’s warm and comfortable—but also one that’s flat so the chair legs won’t get caught in it and guests won’t trip over it. Again, a striking color can give your dining room a new infusion of excitement or a more distinguished, relaxed, and mature look. Choose what best suits the “personality” of your home.

Pick an Accompanying Sideboard

When you serve meals in your new dining room, you’ll appreciate having a place to rest extra dishes and serving ware parallel or perpendicular to the table. Sideboards, buffets, or credenzas do double duty as a place to leave dishes and bowls of food while storing china, flatware, silverware, napkins, and other necessary items in their cabinets. Sideboards aren’t necessarily a must-have, but they’ll certainly become something you appreciate more and more after many different dinners and family gatherings.

Light It Up

Lighting can be an easy fix. For example, you could change the bulbs on the sconces or overhead fixtures to brighter LED lights or the like. If you have the time and money, consider installing a chandelier or similar eye-catching lighting element. Keep in mind that lighting sets the mood, so have a dimmer switch installed. You’ll be able to adjust the lighting for brighter and lighter family gatherings or for calmer and more personal dinners that could use a bit of mood lighting. Don’t forget the usefulness of candlelight! Invest in several holders for the table and surroundings. Two small candelabras can cast a pleasant glow on the proceedings without plunging them into darkness.

Switch It Up With Tablecloths and Other Accoutrements

We talked about where to begin when styling your dining room, but here’s where to end! Pick up a selection of tablecloths in different styles and patterns. The beauty of tablecloths is that they’re an affordable way to create any kind of mood. Even when it’s not in use, your dining room can add color and verve to your home throughout the year. Holidays, of course, come with their own special symbology, but take the time to mark the seasons with appropriate color schemes as well. Have a rotating gallery of real and artificial floral centerpieces, salt and pepper shakers, oil and vinegar dispensers, and other dining table items. Your dining room will never leave you bored. Stop by our store in Houston, TX, to see our selection and ask for other ideas!