Tips to Make the Most of your Dining Room

TV shows like Come Dine With Me and Masterchef have sparked off a surge of enthusiasm for dinner parties, but with their emphasis on Michelin star quality food and super-stylish surroundings they have also increased the pressure that hosts are under to deliver an unforgettable evening.

The pressure to create
restaurant-quality meals is on

In fact, the Telegraph reports that researchers have found that 57 per cent of people find that inviting friends for a dinner party is more nerve-racking than commuting to work, while a quarter said it was more stressful than a job interview.

The number one fear is that dishes will go wrong, with the number two spot taken by a fear that guests will not enjoy themselves. Fear number three is that their choice of decor will be mocked.

Jim Haynes, host of a supper club, estimates that he has invited up to 130,000 people round for dinner over the last 30 years. He says: 'People shouldn't stress when hosting friends for dinner. The key is to have a nice environment and guests who want to be there.'

That's where this guide comes in - if you can get the decor and furnishings right, then you will be taking a significant stress off your shoulders and will be able to concentrate on creating some delectable dishes with which to wow your guests.

1: Pick a Colour Scheme

There's nothing worse than sitting down to dine in a room that is filled with clashing colours that make you want to keep your head down. That's why it's important to select a palette of complementary colours for the walls, curtains and even tablecloths, napkins and other textiles.

You don't want to end up with a room like this

2: Choose the right furniture

The dining table is the most important piece you will have to choose, so make sure that you find the right one for you. You may want to invest in an extending dining table in order to accommodate more guests, but remember to get extra matching dining chairs, as mismatched chairs can stick out and ruin the carefully designed look of your dining room. Pair the table with a matching sideboard to provide great-looking storage.

3: Get the lighting right

Too much light and your guests will be dazzled, too little and conversation gets tricky as people peer through the murk. Dining room lighting is a real chance to get creative - to make sure that the table is well lit, you can choose a centrepiece chandelier style light for the centre of the room, hanging down over the table to provide a pool of light. Choose some warm-toned lamps to place in strategic corners of the room to pick out the details of your decor for maximum style points.

This room gets everything right, from colour to lighting scheme.

4: Accessorise!

With your dining room decorated, furnished and lit, you'll want to make sure that the details are right - choose a stylish bread bowl for the centre of the table, and pick some stylish wall art. You can also select some attractive plants to help keep the atmosphere fresh and to break up the lines of the room.