The dining room can so often become a neglected area of the house, only used for the occasional dinner party and annual Christmas lunch. There’s no need to save your dining room for special occasions though. In fact, you should be making the most of your space and using it as often as you can. One way of doing this is by investing in some carefully considered pieces of furniture to turn it into a more functional area that you enjoy spending time in.
Making dinner time a bit more special
For starters, why not look into making your dining room the place that you eat all of your family meals? Eating together is special, so treat it that way by creating a lovely space that meets all your needs. Dress up the windows with high quality curtains in a heavy, lustrous velvet to banish draughts and keep things cosy, and bring some of your favourite pieces of art in to decorate the walls.
To extend or not to extend?
Next, choose an extendable table – either with drop leaves or an additional segment that helps it to extend. This means that you can have intimate meals for your immediate family but have a more sizeable eating area when you are entertaining you can open the table up and seat eight to ten. Choose a core set of four or six comfortable chairs that you’ll be happy to sit on every day, and when it comes to storing all the extra seating you’ll need for guests, be innovative. Go for a set of brightly coloured plastic folding chairs that can slot into the cupboard under the stairs or hang from pegs on the back of the door when they’re not in use. That way, everyone gets a comfortable seat with a back and no one ends up sitting on the dreaded piano stool for the whole of Christmas dinner.
The beauty of storage furniture
Don’t forget to line your dining room with storage, like this retro G Plan teak sideboard on sale at Vinterior. Mid century sideboards make great additions to any home because they are deceptively roomy inside and can hold an enormous collection of crockery, cutlery and glassware, so you may want to have a look into those vintage sideboards for sale at a reputable antique store. Most come with a combination of cupboard space and drawers, so you can choose to keep plates, bowls and cups stacked at one end and your table linen at the other. What’s more, they have extensive tabletop space, too, perfect for mixing cocktails on after a dinner party, or keeping condiments close by.
If you’ve got a bit more space, why not invest in a Welsh dresser? Available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, dressers also make a fantastic storage solution in homes that are low on kitchen cupboard space. Though they take up more room than a sideboard, dressers are also classic items of interior design that never go out of style which means that when you buy one, you’re investing in a future heirloom. Keep an eye out in charity shops and antique shops, but also browse online for vintage and upcycled dressers – there’s a huge range to choose from at the click of a button, and far less legwork involved than going out shopping.
If you love picking up wine on your travels, be sure to seek out a wine rack for your dining area that elegantly displays your finds. This is a sophisticated way of turning a hobby into a point of interest in the home. Wine lovers can also try crafting a pin board out of corks, or placing battery operated fairy lights into the empty bottles of their favourite varieties of wine. Place these on high shelves alongside mirrors, candles and plants to add depth and character to your dining room.
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