How To Create A Traditional Dining Room

Sitting down to a delicious meal in a beautifully designed, refined traditional dining room is one of the real pleasures of life, and with this handy guide, you and your family will soon be eating amidst the rich tones and timeless charm of a traditional dining area.

Of course, no traditional dining room would be complete without a beautiful dining set as a centrepiece. There are many woods that are used to create dining tables, so it's worth thinking about what effect each timber might have. Pine, although mainly used in modern, Scandinavian inspired pieces, is also used for traditional pieces, and looks especially good when it has been stained and lacquered. Oak is the classic choice for an old-style dining table, as its natural colouring and grain are the epitomy of traditional style.

This room uses frame wainscoting to break up the walls

For the full traditional dining experience, you'll need a dining table, dining chairs, a sideboard, and maybe even a console table or display cabinet, depending on how much space you have.

Once you've chosen your furniture, consider the type of decor you would like to go for. Within the traditional style, there are many options, and many possibilities to create something special. For an opulent, time-honoured look, why not consider wainscoting the lower part of the walls? If you're designing your room around a wooden dining set, you can use wainscoting to complement the wood - if your table is oak, oak wainscoting will allow the timber's distinctive grain to be the defining presence in the room. By reducing wall space, the impact of wallpaper is reduced, so that you can choose a bold pattern without it overwhelming the room.

The look of this room is defined by its stylish
stained and lacquered oak furniture

If you're still looking for information, check out this great guide to creating a traditional dining room from hgtv.com

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Top Tips For A Modern Dining Room

A modern family dining room serves many purposes, from cosy family meals to kids doing their homework to dinner parties and more formal entertainments, so the design of the room is more important than ever. We take a look at some simple ideas to help you to create a room that is both efficient and stylish, and which meets all the needs of a modern family.

The key to the contemporary look lies in making sure that the room is clutter-free, so it's important to select some stylish storage so that all your family's belongings can be kept neatly packed away. If your room is small, try a slim sideboard, while if you have the luxury of space, you can bring a bit of personality to the room by arranging ornaments and accessories on bookshelves and display cabinets.

This room has been carefully designed
for practicality and style

One of the most important aspects of a modern dining room is its multifunctionality, so it's a good idea to consider the different uses to which your dining room may be put. Think extra storage for kids' homework stuff, or a 'family' tablecloth that you don't mind them drawing on.

If your dining room links two other rooms, and sees a lot of foot traffic, you could consider an extendable dining table, which can be placed against the wall for normal use and pulled out, extended and dressed for dinner parties sunday roasts. This look also maximises space, helping to keep contemporary furniture looking its best.

If you have a large home, with plenty of space in the garage, why not purchase some extra matching seating, and even an extra dining table so that you can cater for very large gatherings in style.

Remember, it can be easy for clutter to build up as various members of the family deposit their belongings on surfaces. In order to prevent this, consider investing in some extra storage for your hall, so that everybody has a drawer and nothing ends up being left in the dining room.

Once you've taken into account the practical aspects of your dining room, it's time to get down to the business of decorating. The classic contemporary look calls for white walls and window frames, although you can experiment with bold modern colours like olive green, cimarron red, or slate blue. One of the advantages of opting for a plain white look is the opportunity to choose several sets of ornaments and accessories, including curtains, tablecloths, napkins and vases to show off different looks.

Any lighting scheme in a dining room must help to set the scene. Try installing recessed halogen spotlights in the ceiling, angling several onto the table for a pool of light.

Recessed halogen spotlights can
really make a difference

If you're looking for further inspiration, why not check out Channel4.com's guide to contemporary dining rooms, which has some beautiful designs to get your imagination going.

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