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Invitation Only: Entertainment-Ready Dining Rooms

These delicious dining rooms will take social gatherings to the next level

Joanna Tovia 31 August 2014

Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails

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Dinner parties are back in vogue, and the best way to turn yours into a celebratory affair is to start with an inviting dining area that sets the scene for a fun night out. What you do with the food is up to you – but don’t discount getting someone else to do the cooking for you. As part of Operation Make Life Easier – my quest of the month – I’ve started getting a gifted friend to take on some of the cooking at my house (and I even fess up to the fact when guests come round for dinner). No matter who does the cooking for your gatherings, the idea should be to connect with people whose company you genuinely enjoy – not to stress yourself out if you’re short on time or culinary expertise. Look to these fabulous dining rooms for inspiration. When you next have a dinner party, you’ll know you’re in for a great get-together … let the good times roll!

D'Cruz Design Group

Talking points. There’s no danger of awkward conversation pauses in this dining room. A wall of framed images – either taken yourself or collected because they’re meaningful to you – is sure to capture the attention of your guests and get them talking.

BONUS TIP: Adding comfort to chairs with the help of sheepskin rugs will encourage guests to settle in and feel at home. Guests who linger late into the night is the sign of a successful dinner party, after all.

Find out more about using sheepskin to cosy up a home

JPR Architects

Grand entrance. Imagine entering this dining room at night when it’s illuminated with candles and the table is set for dinner. Consider the pathway to your dining area – even if your entrance isn’t as grand as this, you could line the pathway to your front door with tea light candles in glass jars to create just as magical an atmosphere.

David Edelman Architects

Mood setter. The light fitting over this custom-made dining table (it seats 16!) can change colour. What a way to set the tone for the evening to come.

Tian Xia by Carlotta de Bevilacqua RGB colour-changing pendant: Artemide

Learn more about this house

Baden Baden Interior

A simple platform to house candles (real or artificially lit) is another way to cast soft light over a gathering – everyone will be looking their best!

Michael K Chen Architecture

Dynamic duo. Entertaining isn’t always about inviting a crowd. The best gatherings can sometimes be just for two. Whether it’s a best friend, your mum, or what you’re hoping will turn into a romantic rendezvous, an intimate setting will make the talking easy. This one-of-a-kind dining area slides out from cabinetry stocked with everything you need to whip up an apéritif or digestif without having to disrupt the flow of conversation.

See more of this expandable dining area

Matt Gibson Architecture + Design

Family-friendly. If many of your friends have children, a dinner party set-up that gives grown-ups and kids their own space usually works a treat. Sitting children outside is often the best option – they can run around in between mouthfuls without interrupting their parents.

Contemporary Dining Room Courtyard House Somers

Take care. Open-plan living means separate dining rooms are rare, but there’s no reason your dinner get-together has to be informal. Give birthdays or celebrations, such as anniversaries or even a promotion, a sense of occasion with attention to detail – fresh flowers should be first on your list.

Meizai

A table setting doesn’t have to be elaborate to add something extra to a gathering – this one uses candles, two glasses for each setting, and linen serviettes to elevate the occasion. Dressing up for this one is essential.

Lewisham Interiors

Base plates are another easy way to add formality to a meal.

Learn more about how to create striking table settings

Sanctum Design

Ship shape. Think about the shape of your room as well as how to best facilitate conversation when you’re choosing a table – some tables make it impossible to talk to anyone but the person seated next to you. A relatively narrow table like this one, however, can open up conversations with many different people, so the risk of a guest getting stuck talking about something they have little interest in is vastly reduced.

Danielle Trippett Interior Design

A round table can make it even easier to talk to everyone invited. If you’ve thought through your guest list ahead of time, everyone should have things in common and get along. Dinner parties are the perfect way for your friends – and you – to get to know each other better.

Apex Landscapes & Pools

Alfresco. If you’re pressed for space inside, and the weather’s fine, an outdoor setting like this one could be just the place to entertain a crowd. What you do with lighting and place settings will determine how big of a deal you want to make it.

SHARE YOUR IDEAS
How do you turn a gathering into a special occasion at your house? Tell us about it in the comments section below. And can we come over?

MORE IDEABOOKS
10 Dinner Party Dos and Don’ts for Guests and Hosts
15 Essentials for the Entertainer’s Kitchen
5 Questions to Answer Before Planning a Dining Room