DINING AREAS
… to feed your face in. Our dining tables are for more than just eating: here’s how to style yours
The dining table is where we monitor homework, do work-work, scoff weekday dinners or sit down for family meals. Whether you favour a separate dining room or a more open-plan affair, our dining space decorating ideas are a veritable feast…
The formal dining room, used for high days and holidays (okay, just Christmas Day), is pretty much dead and buried, and nobody’s in mourning. Most modern homes favour open-plan living, while many older homes have been reconfigured with the same aim. Even if you have a separate dining room boasting the full quota of walls, chances are it also functions as a playroom, home office or place to relax/escape the kids.
However, while the traditional dining room may be deader than Joe Exotic’s career, it doesn’t mean we’re all lolling around eating dinner on the sofa. At least not every single day. Dining at a proper table is still very much alive and kicking. The space we’re doing it in is just much more sociable and relaxing, and definitely not reserved for troughing turkey.
Whether your dining area is part of a bigger living space, tucked into a corner of the kitchen or in its own room, the way it’s decorated can help steer the dining mood. Fast food restaurants may favour appetite-boosting red, but interior designers recommend naturally calming blues and greens. We can’t promise there will be no tantrums about why every meal isn’t chicken nuggets, but at least you can dream of blue skies and fresh air while slowly counting to 10.
Keeping the surfaces in your dining area uncluttered will also promote a sense of calm, so try not to overdo the #shelfie or gallery wall action in the immediate vicinity. Instead, use a slimline sideboard to take the storage strain without stealing too much floor space. The sideboard game is particularly strong this season, with designs in on-trend rattan, cane and industrial steel coming through from the likes of Made, Graham & Green and Swoon. Go for a design with sliding or bi-fold doors if space is really tight, but do ensure sufficient room to exit your chair without dislocating a hip.
Continuing along practical lines, the location of your dining table should ideally be close enough to the kitchen for easy table laying and clearing away, but far enough away to escape cooking odours and noisy appliances. The latter may not be possible in a kitchen-diner, in which case powerful extraction and appliances with lower decibel ratings are your friend. Whatever you do, position the wine fridge within arm’s reach of your dining chair and all will be well.
A good dining room layout has space to navigate around furniture but not so much it feels barren. It can help to establish a focal point, such as a fireplace or bay window, which will act as the centreline for your table, then work outwards to create a symmetrical layout. Think about proportions. Tall ceilings are amazing, but if all the furniture is low level, the room may appear topheavy. In a smaller room, put tall furniture, like dressers or bookshelves, on the same wall as the door, so they’re behind you when entering the room.
Used for relatively short periods, dining rooms are ripe for a bit of adventurous decorating. Creative paint effects, like ombre walls or carrying colour blocking onto the ceiling, will impress guests and, since you’re not in the room 24/7, won’t prove too mad to live with. When thinking colour schemes, try to imagine the mood you’re seeking. Calm greens and nature-inspired neutrals are great for relaxed family meals, while a dark, dramatic scheme will create an intimate atmosphere for grown-up evening entertaining.
Dining room lighting should be layered to provide adjustable light levels rather than one central pendant. Ceiling lights should be centred on the table, which can mean choosing the table before the room is decorated. If the light fitting isn’t where you want it, install a longer cord, add a hook and drape it across. A small, circular table is fine with one pendant, but on a long table, spread the light between three. Allow around 70-80cm between table and pendant light to avoid obstructing sightlines.
When shopping for a new table, start with size. Unless you have a big family or space to spare, extending tables are a smart move. Aim for at least 80cm around all sides for comfortable use, and to prevent the table from overpowering the room. Rectangular tables will usually accommodate the most guests, but round and oval tables are more sociable, as each guest can make eye contact. Look at how the legs affect chair positions, too. A round table with central pedestal style base will never require your mother-in-law to awkwardly straddle a table leg.
Is it better to buy a bench or chairs? Benches win on three counts; they allow more bums on seats, tend to cost less than the equivalent number of chairs, and can also be tucked right under the table, out of the way, when not in use. Chairs are arguably comfier, but you should allow at least 20cm between each chair, and 90cm behind, for easy access. Older and less-abled users generally find chairs more accessible. If you’re still torn, go for a mix of both; bench on one side and chairs on the other, or two benches with a chair at either end.
Adding drop-down dining to an island unit can prove far more space-savvy than trying to squeeze in two separate pieces of furniture, and it’s more comfortable than breakfast bar-style dining. Do make sure there’s enough space to navigate around the unit, including the additional space required for chairs to be pulled out without blocking a thoroughfare. If there’s a hob or sink on the island, try to position it as far from the table as possible to keep diners safe from overzealous stir-frying or washing up action.
Open-plan living has undoubtedly ushered in a more relaxed approach to dining, but it’s nice to retain an air of distinction between cooking, eating and relaxing spaces. Zoning is all about using visual aids, like different flooring, paint colours or lighting, to define each area. A generous rug can be all it takes to establish the dining zone. Aim for one big enough to allow furniture legs to fit comfortably within the rug’s perimeter, including when chairs are pulled out so they don’t snag on the edge.
Built-in banquette style dining fits snugly to the wall and is a great way to squeeze a table in without taking up the entire room. Storage within the seat is ideal for stashing festive tableware and outsized serving dishes. However, access isn’t the easiest, particularly with lift-up cushion-topped seats, so don’t store anything that’s in frequent use. Corner banquettes are good for feeding the masses but require good bum-shuffling skills, and some diners may not like being hemmed in.
A prime target for spills, dining room flooring should, be easy to clean. Hard surfaces are the most practical choice. Engineered flooring and luxury vinyl are both great options, or for something softer underfoot, check out bleach-cleanable carpet. Natural stone tiles need to be properly sealed and will benefit from an annual coat of sealant to keep stains out, but are a good long-term investment.