Your dining room does not have to be utilitarian. With a style makeover and some eye-catching accessories, it can be both relaxed and luxurious. Here are some tips:
1 Understated elegance
A muted colour scheme consisting of off-white and warm wood hues creates a peaceful ambience, with natural wood textures aiding relaxation. Try assembling an art gallery on the wall to pique your guests’ interest, and perhaps add antique dining chairs from Conjeaud & Chappey.
2 Plate wall
Colourful plates displayed on the wall make an impact in a dining area. Try plates from Toast and match them with a Hague chandelier by Abigail Ahern. Add a bespoke table, perhaps with legs from Wicked Hairpins.
3 Gentle curves
In a large formal room, gentle curves make the atmosphere more homely. If you put Russell Pinch’s Revesby D Ended table for The Conran Shop together with Beetle dining chairs created by GamFratesi for Gubi, the effect is one of relaxed elegance. You could finish with a painting by Hannah Franklin.
4 Eclectic mix
Why not recycle old pieces to match your new look? Consider upholstering your chairs with Romo fabrics on the seat and perhaps a Tissus d’Hélène design on the seat back. Look in antique shops for a suitable wooden table. Your curtains might be made in Hedgehog linen-mix in the colour duck egg brown by Neisha Crosland at Turnell & Gigon.
5 Rustic grandeur
An original stone fireplace makes an impressive feature at the heart of your room. Think about bamboo lights above the table and drape them with gauzy cloth to highlight the room’s height.
For a high back dining chair, choose the J110 by Poul M Volther. This can be teamed with the J104 from Jørgen Bækmark and the J77 by Folke Pålsson – all for Hay. You may like pendants from Marta Castellano.
Lloyd Loom dining chairs never go out of fashion and are available online from sites such as https://lloydlooms.co.uk/product-category/lloyd-loom-dining-chairs/.
If you need even more inspiration, Ideal Home has lots of style suggestions.
6 Mural
For show-stopping grandeur, have an artist create a floor-to-ceiling mural. Tres Tintas in Barcelona is known for this art form. This might go with an 85 Lamps pendant from Droog, a table and bench by Timothy Oulton, and a chair by Tom Dixon covered in Roche Bobois fabric.