Stylish dining room ideas for a home

Ready to transform your dining room, but don't want to spend a fortune? Check out these stylish yet inexpensive spaces...

 

ABOVE: Give your dining room a traditional feel with a more up to date modern look. The room above feature some timeless pieces that have been updated to feel at home in a modern home. Linen slipcovers conceal the dated upholstered chairs to match the wingback chair and sideboard. The chandelier and gilded mirror fit perfectly into the setting.

ABOVE: If you get tired of existing furniture, slipcover it to make it look fresh. A traditional and sophisticated dining room gets a new look with a striped paint treatment and chair moulding.

If you can wrap a present, you can reupholster seat cushions. The average chair only requires a metre of fabric. Look in the remnants section of a fabric store to find fabulous finds at a discount. Can’t find enough of one fabric to complete your chairs? Don’t be afraid to mix in another fabric.

ABOVE: Save money by sewing your own linens. In this sunny breakfast room, cost are reduced by making the curtains, pillows and chair covers and framing inexpensive prints found online.

ABOVE: Get creative with salvaged pieces and be on the lookout for unique pieces at antique stores and online auctions to repaint for a romantic, shabby chic look.

 

 

Give your dated dining room a lift by painting the dining chairs a fun contrasting colour to the table. Invest in a large framed mirror to visually open a small dining space. A grouping of candles always creates the perfect ambiance.

ABOVE: The dining room is filled with understated, elegant details that suggest an uptown approach to a casual setting. Dark wood flooring and latte-coloured walls are offset with mahogany and silver details. The long plank table is surrounded with casual ladder-back chairs and upholstered club chairs at either end.

ABOVE: Red is always a great colour for a dining room as it stimulates the appetite. The wall colour provides just the first of the room’s many visual treats, which include the inviting farm-style table and the comfortable seating.

For around R400, paint the room a colour that has sophistication and depth. Also, you can try paint techniques, like a colour wash or a soft suede finish, to give the walls a custom look. Practice your technique on a poster board to achieve the perfect look before moving onto the walls.

ABOVE: So, what is working in today's dining rooms? Mixable, matchable furniture in unusual materials and unexpected finishes, making a style statement by breaking all the rules.

Beautiful fabrics in a dining room are a must have. Custom window treatments can be expensive, but there are many retailers that offer beautiful readymade panels and drapery hardware. To add a touch of romance and elegance, hang your rod at the highest point on the wall and choose a panel length at least 5m longer than needed to add drama.

ABOVE: Freestanding furniture is great for rearranging, but if you're looking for something more permanent, a floating storage buffet can create the perfect statement. According to designer Christopher Grubb, the floating buffet "makes the room appear larger by keeping the floor space clear."

Concentrate on four things: de-clutter, paint, fabric and lighting. The dining room is a place where guests enjoy relaxing meals so free the room from things that do not relate to the room’s purpose. Simply stated, a dining table, chairs and server/buffet create a perfect foundation.

ABOVE: This contemporary dining room offers storage without taking away room space. Designer Andreas Charalambous created this custom dining room cabinetry to maintain the simplicity of the decor. The built-in unit houses a coat closet, AV equipment and dishes and serving equipment for the dining area.

ABOVE: While wooden tables are still the most readily available, tables in more unusual materials are increasingly popular — and can really set the tone for a dramatic dining space. For this dining room, a round marble tabletop is mounted on a base of bleached, rift-cut white oak. The table is surrounded by clear, modern chairs by Philippe Starck for a look that's fresh and sexy. 

The key to this kind of look is to start with a great table and then find the chairs that play off the material or attitude of the table. And once you've spent the time to select a table in an unusual material, be sure to show it off.

Connecting to the outdoors is so important for all of us who need the nurturing that nature can bring, but we often forget about what’s outside, while only focusing on what’s inside.