More Rooms
9 Instant Dining Room Updates Anyone Can Do
Here's how you can give your dining room an instant update with minimal fuss
Choosing a dining suite can take a lot of deliberation, but that’s nothing compared to finishing off the room. Everything from lighting and flooring to decorative touches work in unison to create a high-comfortable and stylish living space you can be proud of. But don’t let that overwhelm you. Sometimes all a tired or bare dining room needs is one high-impact addition or change-up to really enhance the space – and it needn’t take you more than an afternoon either, promise! Here are a few suggestions that are easy, flexible and inexpensive.
2. Hang up personalised artwork
Large, dramatic artworks personalise a dining space, but if you prefer a more hands-on approach, try hanging an inexpensive blackboard in the room. The whole family can add their own thoughts and inspirations, updating and reworking regularly.
Large, dramatic artworks personalise a dining space, but if you prefer a more hands-on approach, try hanging an inexpensive blackboard in the room. The whole family can add their own thoughts and inspirations, updating and reworking regularly.
3. Consider shape and layout
Your dining room table doesn’t have to sit in the middle of the room. Mixing up its placement could have a dramatic effect on the feel of your room. A corner nook, for example, could improve space and provide cosy vibes. If there’s unused space, use the opportunity to be inventive with your furniture, too. Due to its semi-circle shape, a bay window is a tricky element in a house, particularly when utilised as a dining space. Here, the solution was to follow this shape – in both furniture and lighting.
Your dining room table doesn’t have to sit in the middle of the room. Mixing up its placement could have a dramatic effect on the feel of your room. A corner nook, for example, could improve space and provide cosy vibes. If there’s unused space, use the opportunity to be inventive with your furniture, too. Due to its semi-circle shape, a bay window is a tricky element in a house, particularly when utilised as a dining space. Here, the solution was to follow this shape – in both furniture and lighting.
4. Add a colour burst
The dining suite is certainly a focal point in a room, so bring out its best features – colours, materials and style – by mimicking them throughout the rest of the room. Notice here how the artwork and floral arrangement match the pastel shade of the table and chairs? These thoughtful additions provide a casual yet cohesive look.
The dining suite is certainly a focal point in a room, so bring out its best features – colours, materials and style – by mimicking them throughout the rest of the room. Notice here how the artwork and floral arrangement match the pastel shade of the table and chairs? These thoughtful additions provide a casual yet cohesive look.
5. Throw down a rug
No matter what typing of flooring in a dining room, a rug can add warmth, colour and texture to the space. This one here completely lifts the space with just the right amount of contrasting colour. When choosing a rug, remember that a plush low-pile rug is fantastic under your feet. It also softens the sound of clinking glasses and plates.
No matter what typing of flooring in a dining room, a rug can add warmth, colour and texture to the space. This one here completely lifts the space with just the right amount of contrasting colour. When choosing a rug, remember that a plush low-pile rug is fantastic under your feet. It also softens the sound of clinking glasses and plates.
6. Personalise chairs
Some homeowners are attracted to austere, minimalist designs but others have a love of eclecticism and originality. That’s definitely the case here with a long timber table surrounded by one-off chairs. While they’re made of different materials and have different shapes, all these mid-century pieces are comfy and surprisingly sturdy. Mix and match some of your favourite chairs around your dining table – or make a day of it, rummaging local markets and garage sales for quirky styles.
Some homeowners are attracted to austere, minimalist designs but others have a love of eclecticism and originality. That’s definitely the case here with a long timber table surrounded by one-off chairs. While they’re made of different materials and have different shapes, all these mid-century pieces are comfy and surprisingly sturdy. Mix and match some of your favourite chairs around your dining table – or make a day of it, rummaging local markets and garage sales for quirky styles.
7. Light some candles
Candles can add instant elegance or rustic charm to a room. If you prefer the latter, dig out some old mason jars, fill them halfway with some water and float a tea light on top – and there you have it, makeshift ambience in next to no time! Cluster them together on top of your dining table in place of a centrepiece.
Candles can add instant elegance or rustic charm to a room. If you prefer the latter, dig out some old mason jars, fill them halfway with some water and float a tea light on top – and there you have it, makeshift ambience in next to no time! Cluster them together on top of your dining table in place of a centrepiece.
8. Swap your lampshade
You can easily update your lighting scheme with a lampshade, too. Attach a bold and brave pendant lamp shade to your lights like the one used here for dramatic effect.
Read more: 12 Ways Perfect Illumination Can Make a Dining Room Light Up
You can easily update your lighting scheme with a lampshade, too. Attach a bold and brave pendant lamp shade to your lights like the one used here for dramatic effect.
Read more: 12 Ways Perfect Illumination Can Make a Dining Room Light Up
9. Add some greenery
Bringing warmth and colour to a large space is often tricky, so an easy, inexpensive and up-to-the-minute option is introducing a collection of hanging baskets, all full of healthy cascading plants. When choosing plants, simply mix and match – just make sure they enjoy similar growing conditions. Also, scented plants can be used to bring a delicate perfume to the room.
TELL US
How have you instantly updated your living room? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
12 Casual Dining Options for Your Home
How to Make a Formal Dining Room Feel Welcoming
Setting the Scene: Soft Furnishings in the Dining Room
Bringing warmth and colour to a large space is often tricky, so an easy, inexpensive and up-to-the-minute option is introducing a collection of hanging baskets, all full of healthy cascading plants. When choosing plants, simply mix and match – just make sure they enjoy similar growing conditions. Also, scented plants can be used to bring a delicate perfume to the room.
TELL US
How have you instantly updated your living room? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
12 Casual Dining Options for Your Home
How to Make a Formal Dining Room Feel Welcoming
Setting the Scene: Soft Furnishings in the Dining Room
It may be old-fashioned but it’s never out of style – bringing flowers into a dining room provides a burst of colour, as well as a beautiful fragrance. While they can appear in a floral arrangement – which can be changed weekly – the element can be mirrored in other ways, such as in paintings and sculptures, too.