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Saturday, November 5th, 2016
From FFDM’s Portfolio Collection.
The dining room has always been one of the easiest rooms to design – at least that’s what most homeowners think. But if you really want this room to stand out and be the talk of the town, then you should be ready to create an inspiring space.
From furniture to wallpaper, the dining room is often dressed up just as a cozy space with well-chosen colors. Don’t be afraid to experiment and use bold colors which would look great even in smaller rooms. Make use of statement wallpaper as well as charming window treatments.
Your dining room could be a space of indulgence but carefully consider other options as well. It is also a good idea to use wood flooring and to invest in a lot of storage. The dining room is going to be a very busy place (or it might already be) so be sure to design according to this concept.
Think about your choice of dining table, dining chairs, perhaps a bench, sideboard, and lighting fixtures. Would you be willing to invest in a chandelier?
Then do so.
Creating That Gorgeous Dining Space
There are some basic concepts to know if you want to come up with a charming yet practical dining area. Would you be using the area to welcome the company of good friends? Are you going to enjoy family gatherings there? Or would you want to just hold intimate meals for your immediate family?
Whatever your purpose, you should know some fundamental rules.
The right color palette should be chosen around the fact that the dining room is usually used during the evenings. So, natural lighting is not a major consideration here. Go ahead and use impactful and bold colors. These are just right when you are out to entertain people. Add soft lighting to intensify the rich tones and to create a more interesting ambience.
Correct lighting must be anything that’s flexible. The fixture should be able to provide ample lighting as you and your guests dine. If you have chosen to have a chandelier, then have it hung directly above the dining table. Its brightness must also be adjustable so that you would be able to control the moods during different phases of the dinner.
The dining room can also be a place for a dramatic statement. You can place interesting artworks on the walls. You can also install textured wallpaper to add some dramatic flair. It pays to know your signature style, though. Creating drama or invoking a certain mood in the dining room means you know what you want and you know how to get it.
You could be the type that loves clean lines or classic patterns on the walls. For these, you could use color infusion at its subtlest.
In contrast, there are people who love carvings and all things intricate. For such, it would be wise to use neutral to rustic color palettes and a more subdued backdrop so that what’s left to emphasize are the beauty of the furnishings.
It is also important to consider the layout of the dining space. Take the time to measure the room and then to account for windows, outlets and doors. The table that you bring in must be big enough to accommodate you and your family plus some guests should you decide to invite some people for dinner.
Another beautiful piece from FFDM’s Portfolio Collection.
Dining Room Furniture
The basic dining room furniture pieces include the table and dining chairs. You could choose to add a china cabinet for your silverware and chinaware. The table is the most prominent piece, though, so choose it well. The dining chairs should all fit around the table so that everyone’s going to be comfortably seated.
Finishing touches for your couture dining room are the most beautiful cutlery, glassware, table linen, centerpiece, perhaps a table runner and some candles.
Tags: dining, dining area, dining area guidelines, dining room furniture, furniture for dining room, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Dining Room Design, Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Friday, September 2nd, 2016
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Wakefield Round Leg Dining Table with 1-21-in leaf
Have you ever felt that you’ve finally found the right furniture piece for your dining room only to find out later that it won’t fit the space that you have available? Larger rooms need bigger and longer tables while smaller spaces require small furniture pieces. Corner spaces need to be maximized especially when you want to do a lot of entertaining. Consider having a round table if you have limited space as it is much easier to navigate all around the kitchen. If you think that bar height tables look great inside a dining room, then think twice. These may be uncomfortable for you and the guests unless you would like your dining room to double as a restaurant.
Pay Attention to the Chair Details
Always pay attention to the scale when you are down to choosing your dining chairs. Almost all table heights come at 28 to 30 inches and you should shop for chairs that are a few inches taller than these measurements. The ugly thing about choosing shorter chairs for the dining table is that they end up looking tiny. Seats that are higher, on the other hand, end up making you look tiny.
Shop for Mid-Century furniture as this is small scale and it tends to lay low on the ground. If you have higher ceilings, a large space and an open floor plan, then you should shop for tall-backed chairs that can even help separate the dining area from other parts of the room.
Another way that you can separate functional spaces is to use an area rug. The legs of the chairs and dining table should all sit on the rug when they are all pushed in.
Featured set: Hooker Furniture Dining Room Eastridge Rectangle Dining Table with 2-18in Leaves. Daylight is streaming beautifully inside this smart dining room and a modern chandelier hangs to provide lighting in the evening.
Check the Lights
The overhead lighting must also be considered for its size correlation to the dining room (more so in relation to its ratio when compared to the table).
Generally, the bottom part of the lighting fixture should be approximately 30 inches from the surface of the dining table. Of course, the number could go up as the ceiling goes higher. An eight-seater table naturally works with a wider or longer light fixture. This would also work well with a series (about 2-3) of pendants.
Make sure also that there are enough bulbs in the chandelier or pendant so that the dining room is adequately lighted. If needed, you can always add a lamp or a pair placed on a sideboard.
Remember that lighting is pretty much like scaling; the bigger the room, the more bulbs would be needed. Keep in mind also that there opaque glass shades offer a more diffused kind of light than a transparent one.
Put in Visual Contrast
Visual contrast is the very thing that makes rooms feel more unique, interesting, alive, even beautiful. The chairs can be in contrast with the table either on style, material or both. This means you can mix industrial type chairs with a Mid-Century table. The chairs don’t always have to match. If you embrace a more eclectic style, then consider using Windsor chairs around a simple dining table.
Another wonderful way that you can add contrast to the dining room is by adding a rug. All dining spaces should have one as it can easily make the room more inviting and comfortable.
Always Design with Function
Probably the most important consideration that you can make is to design the dining room around the function that the room would serve. Would you be eating meals there every day or during holidays only? Will you be hosting dinner parties there? Will the room double as a homework section for the kids? Knowing the answers to all these questions is crucial when you are about to choose the materials and the pieces of furniture that would go to your dining space.
Tags: dining area guidelines, dining room essentials, dining room furniture, dressing up the dining room, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, smart dining room
Posted in Dining Room Design, Furniture, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 8th, 2016
1586-75200B-BRN Long Board Rectangle Dining Table with 2-20in leaves: Clutter is never a part of any dining room but the different elements used to create this balanced yet still homey atmosphere are simply laudable.
A lot of the classiest homes featured in interior design magazines show either the traditional or contemporary style. Too much tradition can be out of character in a modern setting and vice versa. This dilemma is quite common in the world of interior design – where styling a home – even a room – can be a difficult task especially when you are groping for elements to infuse. If you’re out to create a unique dining room, one that seems to come out of a picture book, then you should prepare for some styling battles.
No need to fuss, though. Just take your personality into consideration, know what your favorite color is, and arm yourself with some fundamental design tactics and you should be fine. Remember that the dining room has to be relaxed and casual, not too formal that guests tend to become guarded with their actions. This is your home and not a hotel setting so make your guests feel at home.
Color Palette for Your Palate
The adjoining living room has a lot to do with the colors that you will be using inside the dining area. With regard to color psychology, red is the most common color used pertaining to the appetite. This bright, bold color signifies bravery and in the case of dining, it excites people to want to partake more of what you’re offering on the table.
A blue color palette would also be perfect on walls then echoed on an area rug and the seats. Use patterned fabrics for the chairs when the backdrop framing the entire room is in a block color. Don’t worry too much about matching. Remember that perfectly matched chairs and other design elements feel antiseptic and stiff. If you don’t want to be called uptight, then relax and design the room – not on a whim but – according to your personality.
So, yes, the rug and your upholstery can have different patterns though they can still work together should they have a common color to anchor on.
FFDM’s Hyde Park Collection: This wood ensemble is the perfect house for your fine dining silverware.
Experiment, Don’t Make Do
You are not encouraged to make do with what you currently have. You have to explore your options. The former action means you simply have to rearrange and use the same boring stuff that might have made your dining room into the boring place it already is. Play it up if you want to excite things up a little.
‘Got a small dining room? No problem. Then focus on the things that emphasize the coziness of the area. Find furnishings that will highlight the warm feeling. Don’t cover the room with dark, thick draperies, instead, let in a good amount of sunlight.
Comfort Is Absolute
Allowing your dining room to rock does not mean that you will have to let go of comfort. This is a design element that should never be neglected especially inside the living room. Add intimacy by dressing up even a dining nook and make it feel cozy. Hang low-reaching lights but not so low that they would block the conversations.
Consider the chair and table heights, even the shape of the materials that will be used. Pillows add comfort, plants provide hominess. Create a dramatic statement by hanging an oversized piece of art as a backdrop. This piece will also spur conversations with your guests – the very thing that you would want during a relaxing dinner.
It’s Imperfectly Fun
Who says that everything has to match? Dining rooms weren’t meant to be stuffed with a lot of things so lighten the mood by adding humor and fun. Go crazy on the patterns, allow them to catch the attention of your guests.
Your dining room evokes an informal setting now that you weren’t afraid to become imperfect. Let your hair down, feel comfortable. Hang lights at varying heights, mix and match the furnishings.
This dining room is yours but it is also yours to share so celebrate its wonderful imperfection.
Tags: dining area guidelines, dining room essentials, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, setting up the dining room, tips
Posted in Dining Room Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
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