As my family grows, I am amazed at how much time we all spend in the kitchen and dining room. This post offers dining room ideas that I hope will inspire and guide you to create a special room in your home.

As I await my new dining room table, I am brainstorming ways to decorate a dining room to promote gathering, sharing delicious meals, hosting game nights and facilitating serious talks.

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Here are the main elements of a show-stopping dining room to check off your list.

Dining Room Table:

Get a table that is big enough for your family and ideally some guests too. The table I just ordered can seat up to 12 people. This may seem like a lot, but I have seven in my own family and we like to invite others over for dinner and parties. Also, I have children and they have been pretty rough on our current table, so I need something that is durable. My older sister has gone through two really nice tables already. I also know that I wanted a modern look, but I also like a traditional style. Most of my decor is transitional which is a mix of both modern and traditional. I think my table fits these wants. You will need to determine the function and style of your table carefully before buying. How many people will sit at this table? What will you do at this table? What are the ages of the people sitting at this table? Do I like to host others for meals and get-togethers? What style of table do I want or what style of table will look good in my home? These are all questions to ask yourself.

Seating:

I recently broke a dining chair. I know…I am brave to admit that, but to my credit, the chair was very old and one had already broke previous. This experience of landing on my rear end helped me to appreciate a well designed, sturdy chair. Our new chairs will be able to handle me pregnant and any other heavier person. We don’t need anymore embarrassing incidents. Seating can be a fun place to get creative with the design and color. You can also have captain chairs that bring further variation and interest. Another way to add seating is to have banquet seating, which is like built-in booths around the table. Here are a few examples of dining room seating that make a statement.

Dining Room Buffet/sideboard or Hutch:

These are an optional element of a dining room, but since I have a buffet in my dining room and I see the value in having one, I thought I would discuss these. First, they are extra storage for dishes, silverware or anything else. I personally have art and school supplies in mine because I don’t own a fancy set of china and all that I need for the dining room fits in my kitchen. Some media consoles can be used as a sideboard too. Furthermore, a hutch can be a beautiful and charming way to display a collection of dishes and other important pieces as well as add to your enclosed storage. Here are some examples of buffets/sideboards for a dining room. Below are some beautiful options at different price points.

Lighting:

The guideline is “…that the dimensions of the fixture should be approximately one-third of the width of the dining table.” Check out this very comprehensive guide on choosing the right light fixture for your dining room.

This image from Studio McGee can help you visualize how to hang your lights, along with measurements to guide you.

Wall Decorations:

There are so many ways to decorate the walls of a dining room. The patterns in dining rooms I’ve observed is large art and mirrors or large collections of either plates, baskets or pictures. Here are some examples to help you as you decorate the walls in your dining room.

Soul: Fill the Room with Joy

Lastly, you need to fill the dining room with good FOOD and GAMES, so I am sharing a favorite recipe and a favorite game with you! I hope you can use these dining room ideas and enjoy your dining room with your loved ones for years to come!

Favorite Recipe

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies

Family Favorite Game: Taboo

Best,

Lucy Jo