85+ Best Dining Room Ideas to Make Your Entertaining Space More Inviting
Gorgeous inspiration, right this way.
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Whether you use it everyday or you keep it preserved for special occasions, there’s one room of your house that can be slightly tricky to style: your dining room. That’s why we’ve rounded up these best dining room ideas so you can finally figure out what to do with the space. You might want to bear in mind some recent kitchen trends because they could inform how you’d like your dining room to look. Whether you’re going for a minimalist style, or you’d rather implement some cozy farmhouse decor ideas, this huge list of creative dining room decorating ideas are sure to help execute any look you’re hoping to create. There are tips for those who want to have a complete makeover, including fresh dining room paint colors and DIY ideas for your furniture. Or, choose a simpler strategy for a low-maintenance fix by incorporating some antique vases, vintage signs, and elegant table runners. If you’ve already revamped your kitchen with some new kitchen decor ideas, then why not go a step further and use some of these beautiful dining room ideas to build the entertaining space of your dreams?
Patterned Chairs
Get creative with your chairs, like these thrifty ones made out of old quilts and eye-catching fabrics.
Upcycled Table
For a more casual dining table idea, find some pieces you could upcycle into a rustic table, like this one made out of an old industrial barrel.
Oversized Pendant Lamp
This huge shade makes for a striking focal point in this dining area, which fits perfectly over a circular table.
Colorful Chairs
Use a vibrant color to make dining room chairs pop in an otherwise simple room. The bold red chairs around this table look so chic against the dark wood.
Bench Seating
Swap out dining room chairs for a sleek bench. It's perfect for hosting large gatherings since you can comfortably fit more people on it.
Plate Wall Art
Why keep your decorative plates behind glass when you can incorporate them into your room's design in an elegant way?
Create a Dining Nook
No room for a formal dining room? This sweet, minimalist nook looks like the ideal place for a morning coffee.
It’s the small touches that can freshen up a room. Now you can get dozens of easy makeover ideas you can finish in a weekend with Country Living's new digital guide!
Mix Patterns
You might think the two different patterns of this wallpaper and tablecloth would clash, but they actually work beautifully together to create a welcoming space.
Contrasting Tones
The light features of this table, area rug, and walls make the dark chairs really pop in this quaint room.
Bright Upholstery
This dining area has a diner-meets-farmhouse vibe that'll look delightful in a cute, cozy home.
DIY Dining Table
The star of this dining room is of course the impressive 7-foot table, which was constructed with IKEA black metal legs and a reclaimed wood top.
Gingham Arm Chairs
Recover old arm chairs with a cheery checkered fabric to add a pop of color to the head table seats of your dining room set.
Trestle Table
This practical table design dates back to the Middle Ages (it can be spotted on a medieval coat of arms) when it replaced solo dining surfaces with a communal gathering spot for sharing meals.
Blue and White
This color combination dates back to ancient Persia and has showed up in designs from the Netherlands, England, France, China, Mexico, and India. Infuse your dining room with this universal and timeless palette with pottery, china, linens, and more.
DIY Prints
Liven up your space by featuring pretty prints on rugs, window treatments, pillows nad more. Block print dhurrie rugs can command a pretty penny. To get the look for less, use a pretty wall stencil to apply a pattern to a large piece of artist canvas or drop cloth with a foam stencil brush. For an 8' by 10' rug, you'll need about a quart of standard interior paint in a satin finish. Wash stencil every other use to keep paint from clumping and elaving unwanted marks on the rug.
Charcoal Hue
Once a closet, the dining nook now features a custom charcoal hue on the walls and a space-maximizing built-in window seat.
Cozy Atmosphere
This open dining area feels homier, thanks to a large rustic dining table and chairs that will easily seat a family of four as well as visiting loved ones. Bonus points for the easily cleaned rug.
Vintage Vibes
The owners of this 18-century farmhouse in upstate New York painted the once gilt-gold chandelier with a white primer, and added the understated St. Antoine by Farrow & Ball wallpaper, a 19th-century Danish painting, and antique wall sconces.
Textured Touches
In this dining room, casual woven chairs from Palecek, a wooden farmhouse table, and touches of greenery add plenty of eye-catching texture.
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
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