The dining room is a vital space in many homes because it serves as the setting for countless meals, creating enduring memories that become part of lasting traditions. Others find the dining room too formal and separate to be used on a daily basis. With all of these different goals and family priorities in mind, there are obvious things that you can do to make your dining room design more fresh and usable.
Elements like outdated colors, an impractical layout, or mismatched styles can detract from your room’s style. The good news is that with a few simple changes, you can breathe new life into your dining room, creating a space that feels both modern and welcoming.
Formal dining rooms in some homes are being discarded altogether, but many still consider them an essential space. Even if you want a formal dining room in your home, this doesn’t mean that the design itself needs to be formal. Rather, your dining room design should suit the needs and preferences of your family in order that it remains a space that you use on a regular basis.
Heavy or Ornate Furniture
Dining rooms from the 1990s are characterized by dark, substantial furniture that is frequently decorated with intricate scollwork or curves. This furniture will dominate the style of any dining room, making it feel cramped and overly formal.
Homeowners today prefer a more relaxed but still stylish aesthetic, so replacing your furniture with something lighter in style and color can instantly transform the dining room. Consider tables and chairs with clean lines and lighter wood tones and upholstery. Incorporating different textures, such as wicker chairs or a leather bench, can add visual interest and style without overwhelming the design.
Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
Carpeting is a problem in all communal living spaces that get a lot of use, but it is especially bad in the dining room, where it can become stained and discolored from the food and drinks consumed. Carpet was once a favorite way to add warmth and comfort, but it now feels out of place because it is not a practical choice that is easy to maintain.
Consider replacing the dining room carpet with hardwood, tile, LVP, or polished concrete, which are easier to maintain and have a more modern appearance. To add comfort, think about placing a flat or low pile rug under the dining table. Make sure the rug is the correct size so that it does not get caught underfoot when people move chairs in and out. Experts recommend that you choose a rug with a clearance of 2.5 to 3 feet between the outside edge of the dining table and the rug’s edge to allow for easy chair movement.
Matching Furniture Sets
Matching furniture sets are a “go-to” for many homeowners because they make coordination easier, and many furniture stores package them in a way that makes the purchase simple and inexpensive. Today, when people want to improve the appearance of their dining rooms, they prefer other options to matching furniture sets because they lack the character and individuality that define modern style.
To bring your dining space up to date, consider mixing pieces instead. Consider pairing a sleek modern tulip table with rustic or traditional wooden or upholstered chairs. Adding a bench on one side is a fun way to create a more eclectic and relaxed dining room vibe. Mixing furniture in a dining room has the added benefit of making it much easier to replace furniture pieces than if everything matches.
Single Lighting Feature
Dining rooms from previous decades often featured a singular lighting source that was equipped with either a flush-mount fixture or a chandelier in an outdated style. When dining rooms lack the dynamic lighting designs that contemporary tastes and styles demand, homeowners are not able to adequately adjust the lighting according to the function or time of day. Dining rooms with a single light fixture also feel less inviting.
Modern dining rooms benefit from layered lighting that combines ambient sources with other accent lighting. Consider updating your central light fixture to a more modern option and then adding wall sconces or a pair of lamps on a buffet to give you more flexibility to control the lighting.
Overly Fussy Window Treatments
Ornate window treatments look fitting in historic or period homes, but they can make dining rooms in standard homes appear outdated rather than sophisticated. Fussy window treatments, such as heavy drapes, valances, and ornate swags, frequently use heavy fabrics and ornate construction that block light and make opening and closing difficult.
To refresh the look of your dining room, consider swapping these fancy window treatments with simple options like straight curtain panels, Roman shades, or woven blinds, which allow light to filter through. These are also simple to operate so that you can open and close them to control the amount of light throughout the day. The result of this change is a dining room that feels bright, open, and effortlessly stylish.
Extra Large Dining Tables
Dining rooms are used for a variety of occasions, both formal and casual, and it can be challenging to accommodate both. An extra-large dining table that you use when you host large gatherings can make your dining room feel outdated, especially if it means that you aren’t able to use it for everyday meals. It may also make your space feel cramped, limiting its daily use.
A more modern approach is to find a table that is appropriate for your daily activities, both in style and size. If you still want to be able to host large gatherings, consider purchasing an extendable table, which you can shorten for everyday use. Round or oval tables are also suitable for accommodating more people during special occasions.
Oversized China Cabinets
China cabinets are a popular feature in many dining rooms, but they often feel overly formal, which dates the look of the space. These pieces were once the only way to display china and other glassware, but there are new approaches that create a less bulky and more streamlined design.
Rather than a large china cabinet, opt for a sleek buffet with a few mounted shelves that display some choice glassware. The shelves would allow you to curate a more modern-looking collection that you can easily change out according to desire or season. A piece of wall art or an eclectic gallery wall is another option that also modernizes the style of a dining room.
Worn and Outdated Upholstery
Chair upholstery is a design element that is often overlooked, but because chairs get so much use, their fabric coverings often become worn out before the frame. Even if the upholstery is not stained or torn, it may be time for a refresh to help update the style of the space.
Consider refreshing your chair upholstery with modern fabric in a color and/or pattern that suits the style you want to create. Opt for durable, easy-to-clean materials that can withstand everyday use.
Lack of Architectural Detail
Many standard-grade dining rooms lack any architectural detailing, making them feel flat and uninviting. These minimally detailed spaces may have been common in the past, but many dining room spaces today are differentiated using molding, paneling, and unique ceiling detailing.
Depending on the level of renovation you want to undertake, these architectural elements are all options you can add to your dining room space. Some, like picture frame molding, are inexpensive and easy to add. Once it is painted, it elevates and adds depth to dining room walls. Other options include built-in shelving or an arched opening, which will enhance the character of your room.
Lack of Zoning
Formal dining rooms are often large spaces with a dining set and hutch or buffet. This static and expected look will date your dining room and make it less functional for daily use.
When you are considering how you want to design the layout of your dining room, think about the way that your family uses or might use the space. You might opt for a smaller dining table so that the room will accommodate a conversational seating area or a desk if you need more space for private concentration. Creating unique zones to expand the functionality of the space will ensure that your dining room is one of the most useful rooms in your house.
