If you are planning to have a new dining room designed for your home, it is wise to have a basic understanding of the design options available to you.
1. Size Small dining rooms feel cluttered when outfitted with heavy furniture, dark walls, and heavy drapes. On the other hand, large rooms feel empty if the dining table is too small, there is little furniture, and the walls are light-colored. Ideas to improve smaller rooms include adding an extra window or wall cutout to add new dimensions to the space. The windows that open into the kitchen are particularly useful. For larger rooms, tall plants, rich draperies, or additional furniture—for example, a wine rack—can be tasteful additions.
2. Formality Opting for an informal or formal dining room will affect your design choices. For formal spaces, you can opt for a heavy wooden table with a special finish and a fine porcelain display case. By comparison, for informal spaces, you can go for a round glass table and a colorful rug to complement your room. How often you intend to use your dining area should also help guide your design choices. You can choose more opulent furniture for a formal area that is used only on special occasions, since wear and tear is not a concern. For your informal bedroom, you may need fabrics and accessories suitable for frequent use.
3. Accessibility If you plan to entertain frequently in your dining room, you should have access to a bathroom and other gathering areas, such as a living room or home theater. Naturally you want it to be very close to the kitchen. Whether you go for a formal or informal arrangement, you’ll also need to plan a dining setting that’s spacious enough for people to move around without someone else vacating their seat.
4. Furniture When planning the ideal dining room, it is essential to have enough space available at the table. It can spoil your well-executed decor if folding chairs have to be added to a crowded table. Anticipate how many people will need to sit at your table, and if this varies a lot, consider purchasing an expandable table. Aside from a table and chairs, a dining room needs very little furniture. This means that additional parts can be a matter of personal taste. Just make sure your choices don’t make the room uncomfortable.
5. Lighting Guests will need enough lighting to eat their food safely, but too bright lighting could cause glare to bounce off white plates. Crystal chandeliers are great options for formal rooms, while generic chandeliers may be a better fit for your casual room. A good tip to keep in mind: avoid west-facing windows if you like to host dinner parties: the setting sun could bother your guests’ eyes.
Now you may be prepared to discuss the features listed above with your Seattle interior design firm to help you create a beautiful and functional dining space.