Welcome to Paradise
It’s the room that brings family together. Hosts celebrations. Treats guests like royalty! Yet dining room sets too often get short shrift after homeowners lavish bedrooms with sensuous trappings, focus on elegant living rooms they rarely use and we don’t have to tell you the extent to which some people go to turn their kitchens into Rachael Ray-worthy culinary centers and their bathrooms into Roman spas. Time to focus on the room that reflects the essence of family togetherness: the gathering place for dreams, hopes, plans and yes, laughs. Time to focus on dining room decor.
50 Designs Guaranteed to Make Your Dining Area the Star of Your Home
Of course, your idea of the perfect dining room design is unique and reflects your sensibilities. What style best suits you when it comes to home design? Will you emulate a slice of your childhood by recreating that ambience within the walls of your current abode? Perhaps you crave the sleek elegance of Scandinavian design or a French Provincial room design that takes elegance to new heights while offering an atmosphere of refined comfort.
You can have what you want when choosing your dining room decor. But sometimes, what you want is like an elusive butterfly. Allow us to take you on a magical tour of dining room furniture styles that will charm and excite you. Winnow down the list to a few you adore and then settle upon the one that captures your heart. The dining room furniture that’s just right for you will make itself known, just make sure it’s the look you’ve never stopped dreaming about when your imagination lingers on the topic of home decor.
Room #1: A Touch of BoHo
The chairs don’t match. How cool! And the white wainscoting surrounding the room is a throwback to Colonial days while the buffet pairs South Sea island-inspired drawer fronts that make hopsack curtains look right at home. An easy-clean wood floor invites diners to relax and enjoy surrounded by a bit of lively art installed on spring-green walls. But the star of the show is the purposely mis-matched dining room furniture that might have left your parents aghast. Today, it’s a fun, trendy way to show your decorating personality, so don’t be shy about deferring to your inner Bohemian when you choose between dining room sets. Viva la difference!
Room #2: For Sophisticates Only
Taking a page from the Art Deco movement, this elegant room is more than a place to eat dinner. It’s a statement of your good taste and ability to select furnishings that not only fit your space perfectly, but have no equal among dining room sets. You can have it all: an artful pairing of high-end luxury and intimacy that connects everyone at your table–in this case, a clear circle of glass atop a skirted base surrounded by body-hugging chairs that promise unparalleled comfort, no matter how long the meal lasts. Change the table skirt for a different decorating scheme and everything about the room becomes brand new.
Room #3: The Exotic East
If you long for mystery but don’t want your dining experience to be any more mysterious than an answer to the question “Who decorated this gorgeous room?”, East easily meets West in a rush of soothing teal and rich brown woods reminiscent of turn-of-the-Century India. That sensitive Bodhisattva face keeps watch over your dining empire. The circular table fabricated of thick wood and surprising pedestal details makes a gorgeous centerpiece for graceful chairs worthy of a maharajah. Who knows what secrets hide in those giant orange ginger jars perched before brocade wallpaper in this remarkable room as you set about recreating this dining room decor theme?
Room #4: Your Intimate Corner
It’s perfectly acceptable to have home decor ambitions that are bigger than the space you have to fill them, but when it comes to crafting a multi-use corner that’s as compact and utilitarian as it is charming, you couldn’t choose a more useful, all-purpose dining room set. Four lithe white chairs in two different styles move effortlessly from dinner for four to a home office conference. Add storage to your home design with a unit that’s a circle of cubby holes ready to store any number of things. Fill it with crockery. Load it with photos. Collect unusual jars from trips around the world. Who needs a banquet hall to stage a good-sized gathering when dining room sets like this exist? Not you.
Room #5: The Emperor is in
It’s a table fit for Mandarin royalty surrounded by lush tributes to Beijing’s Walled city: patterned silk wallpaper, tangerine chairs and an ornate pedestal table in ebony black with bronze trim that steals the show in subtle ways. Understated Berber carpet serves as a blank canvas on which this festive table is set. Must you wait for Chinese New Year’s for an excuse to entertain when your home design efforts are so remarkable? Of course not. But your company is going to be so enchanted by the ambiance you’ve created, they may swear they hear nightingales singing somewhere between your delicious entrée and lavish dessert courtesy of your home decor expertise.
Room #6: A Taste of Scandinavia
The Vikings knew a thing or two about roughly-hewed woods and they may come to mind the moment you glimpse the thick plank of hardwood that plays host to abstract slabs of art and matching pottery glazed so thickly, even a small lamp reflects its shine. This home décor idea begs for that moody blue wall separating the white ceiling and floor, but the solitary white pedestal table and minimalist chairs are the elements that hold this simple room together. Notice the single, blue upholstered chair seat? We like to think it’s reserved for the legendary Viking, Ragnar. Invite him for dinner. Conversation is bound to be edgy when you choose this style of dining room decor.
Room #7: Is it Paris or Havana?
Did the creation of this fascinating room begin or end with that wallpaper? It’s a textural backdrop for a room that’s an homage to style and luxury, overseen by an eye-popping wall graphic that interrupts a busy wallpaper pattern. This simple dining room table perched on ornately carved legs is no match for the roughly-hewn accent table against the wall that adds a touch of symmetry. But what gives this home decor its character? The peppery green color reminiscent of a cool Mojito on a summer day. A perfect pairing of curtain and chairs makes a refreshing statement—-one guests won’t fail to notice when they dine with you.
Room #8: A Symphony in Beige
Savvy decorators know better than to write off a color that’s been gracing homes for too many centuries to count. Does beige add to the tranquility that pervades this home décor color theme? Of course it does. Overhead, a fascinating bas relief ceiling overlooks a gathering of items that range from the quirky rope-clad chandelier to the nostalgic pharmacy-chest buffet that sits quietly along the wall showcasing an intriguing collection of artifacts. But it’s the surprisingly bold table surrounded by plush chairs lavished with brass fittings that steals the scene and portends lavish dinner parties to come. What’s on the menu? It may not matter within a room that’s a feast for the eyes.
Room #9: Paris at Midnight
Can black lacquered wallpaper take a backseat to a sunburst of a mirror that throws off so many prisms, it bashfully recedes into the background? That’s a question only the host of this unique dining parlor can confirm, yet it’s easy to imagine intimates sharing secrets beneath the glow of that jet black chandelier. The plank style table appears to have been freshly cut from a local forest; it flows across this narrow space, bringing guests closer together as they relax on button-embellished black chairs. Is Edith Piaf singing in the background? You be the judge.
Room #10: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Admit it: The touch of Tiffany blue that pops up in this room’s curtains and centerpiece surely confirm that Audrey Hepburn and her ebony cigarette holder have supped at this table. No peeking into this romantic residential bistro where black shutter doors invite only guests with RSVPs to indulge in freshly-baked brioche and assorted cheeses. Chevron stripes give this dining area an energy that’s palpable, though rays of sun symbolized on bamboo-shaped chairs fairly shout, “Come join us!” There’s lots of leg room thanks to that silver pedestal that rises up to greet the thick slab of glass. Anyone invited into this room is sure to be charmed once they take in your dining room decor.
Room #11: Revisit the 1950s
The subtlety of that pink table base won’t go unnoticed, despite the fact that it’s doing a yeoman job of supporting a gracious, thick slab of a tabletop stationed beneath a chandelier that rivals the Milky Way. Simple chairs with cushy seats invite hours of lingering over tasty meals served in an atmosphere of lively fun. If the chandelier doesn’t launch a discussion about the origins of the universe, what will? As an homage to the 1950s, this nostalgic flooring and that era’s decorative touches offer a perfect tribute to dining room sets that are both imaginative and inviting.
Room #12: Extraterrestrial Holiday
Will the planet hanging from the ceiling of this extraordinary room continue to shine down on guests once they’ve taken seats at this magnificent spaceship of a room? Of course it will—but guests may be too distracted by the cool coordination of kitchen and dining arena that’s awash in rich woods, a sky of mahogany planks and the dining room table that commands the room. Warm, rich taupe seats are a bit on the mauve side, but the best seat in the house goes to the evening’s host who commands attention from a single striped, high-back chair. What better environment could a gourmet meal hope to enjoy? When it comes to unique dining room sets, this one is a prize winner!
Room #13: Wild about Color
Admit it: You crave a room that stops people in their tracks—-a room that says more about your personality than any statement you’ve made in life thus far. Start with ambience borne of blue-tinged black walls, a single focal point amid an eclectic collage of teal and all shades of the red spectrum, then place your hot yellow table and pink chairs smack in the middle of your dining domain. Each lacquered piece in your dining ensemble will remind guests of summer picnics and ice cream cones—-even during the dreariest winter months, so never forget to serve dessert when you’ve used this delightful home décor idea to re-imagine this area of your home.
Room #14: Versailles Redux
Every guest deserves to be treated like royalty, so selecting a library of high-top chairs styled with rolled tops and over-stuffed seats is a great way to keep them at table from salad to dessert. The secret to this room? It’s the subtle play of grey, brown and steel blue—a salute to Versailles that’s contradicted by the delicate wrought iron on which this neutral tabletop is placed. Nobody will miss the connection between the table and the vertical buffet leaning casually against the wall. Were Louis XVI still around, we like to think he would feel right at home here.
Room #15: A Treetop Perch
If you never had a chance to climb a tree and hang your legs over a branch during a lazy summer, you can still enjoy a taste of the past by selecting these adorable treetop chairs, the most attention-getting furnishings in this airy room. Surrounding a retro-table fashioned of chunky, light, wood sections, Scandinavia comes to mind when browsing this room’s environs, and the custom-made, hardware-free buffet/cabinetry points in that direction, too. If the Beatles’ classic Norwegian Wood happens to run ‘round your head as you scan this serene dining area, you won’t be alone. Love unusual dining room sets? This one’s for you.
Room #16: Afternoon on the Lake
Take one look at this dainty dining room and charming home design idea and the urge to serve tea and cakes may prove irresistible. Note the cream hutch filled with pottery featuring blue-patterned splashes and dainty starfish overlooking a nautically-inspired dining room set that appears to have been kissed by sun and sea. Intricately carved post table legs paired with azure chairs with woven seats and porthole-like cutouts on chair backs offer a sweet mix of tradition and trendy styling. No sailor hats required to dine here–but they would certainly fit right in.
Room #17: Afternoon of a Faun
Forgive these comfy banana-colored chairs for standing in the way of a pedestal table that’s so ornate, its rival might be found in the Taj Mahal. The hefty, round, double-tiered tabletop sits proudly atop a pedestal crowded with scrollwork and bevels amid a sensuous stack of globes that suggests the furniture maker must have felt elated when he produced so majestic a table. As dappled light is cast across a furniture suite that’s as ideal for a casual luncheon as a formal dinner, one wonders how the room would appear in the moonlight with Debussy’s classic music playing in the background.
Room #18: After the Theater
Perhaps the best part of attending theater with friends comes after the fact—even if performances have been remarkable. Treat your party to a post-curtain supper in your dining room: a study in contrast. Despite the dark color pallet, striking touches of white give this room depth and showcase a tasteful dining room set that’s as comfortable as it is dramatic. The conversation-starting square table and tasteful chair fabric are sure to win praise from your company, so even if the play wasn’t Tony-award winning, reviews about your dining room design are sure to earn bravos from diners.
Room #19: Architectural Nirvana
Channel your inner architect when you take your seat at this imaginative workshop-style dining set that’s as ready for your kids’ art project creation as it is for the PTA. Casual and utilitarian, the drafting table-inspired expanse accommodates a gaggle of guests beneath stunning glass spheres that light up the table with colorful abandon. Swivel seats stacked upon spidery legs are deceivingly sturdy and it’s anybody’s guess who was imaginative enough to choose the wall art complimenting this eclectic room. Take a lesson from those hanging lights: Make a mess. Have fun. This star of dining room sets was designed for good times and memory making!
Room #20: Snow White’s Favorite Room
Never be afraid to exercise your prerogative for an overabundance of white. It makes the room look larger. Cleaner. More sophisticated. Which is why those dining room chairs strike a whimsical note with their mirror-shaped seat backs and ornately carved arms. That geometric background suggests the influence of a few unsavory characters, but it’s all in fun—particularly since the natural wood of the farm table is an ideal place to welcome a prince who’s come to awaken you with a kiss. Don’t let those green lamps fool you; it’s okay to pretend that they’re frogs just waiting for kisses that turn them into princes!
Room #21: Our First Home
When newlyweds invest in their first homes, there isn’t much money left in the piggy bank for lavish furniture statements, which is why a clever couple doesn’t even try to show off a bit in the decorating department. Start with a solid dining room idea, Spartan slab of wood that appears to have just been cut in the forest and add a small grouping of contoured dining room chairs—at least one of which is fabricated of see-through plastic. That exciting expanse of colorful rug won’t reveal the occasional cookie crumb, but it sure cozies up this snug corner.
Room #22: My Blue Heaven
Ocean breezes are missing from this Caribbean-inspired dining room lavished with so much blue, even Nemo would approve. Wainscoting adds a jaunty note to lower walls beneath dark Cerulean blue reminiscent of a night sky. White chair legs beneath azure seats featuring perky panels of chevrons in a blast of blue that seem to point to matching curtains. Set sail for smooth seas when entertaining guests at a tabletop on which not one but two ornate pedestals rest. Nautical ephemera and knickknacks spice things up nicely. Serve seafood is you like, but your guests could be too dazzled by your décor acumen to pay attention to their plates.
Room #23: New World Cozy
The buffet with bas relief edging might easily have been hand-crafted by a master carpenter, but those dining room chairs were definitely brought to the new world by ship as they bear the hallmark of a meticulous upholsterer. Notice the dining room table edges: slight cuts of wood at all four corners make for interesting detail, but what lies beneath is even more magical: two pedestal legs resembling abstract tree trunks. It’s a shame they stay hidden! Pure white wood trim, lampshades and patterned carpet pop against cool grey/taupe, but it’s the table and chairs that will be remembered long after this wall color is changed.
Room #24: A Provincial State of Mind
If distressed wood makes you swoon, this garret-like dining corner, featuring a rustic hutch that’s so charming, even the light that hits the interior turns the world violet, look no further for your design idea. Set an eclectic table pairing three white-on-white chairs with three seats upholstered in soft grass green and you’ll inspire compliments from those who haven’t your sense of adventure. The centerpiece dining room table—a juxtaposition of farm house chic and aged legs and frame that hint at the past—is guaranteed to prompt lively talk beneath a crystal chandelier that’s just quirky enough to belong overhead.
Room #25: Once Upon a Voyage
Galileo might feel at home in this lovely dining room thanks to the intricate chandelier reminiscent of a daVinci drawing, subtle geometric puzzle shapes and high mirrors stretching toward infinity. But you’re more interested in dining than research, so focus instead on cool, neutral walls, the elongated formal buffet, carpet that looks to have been delivered by a tramp steamer and that compelling dining room set that ties everything together. Does the wood come from Morocco? Perhaps. This table’s distressed charm hints at being moved around the world but complementary chairs interject a formal, recent touch. This dining room can take you places you’ve only dreamed about.
Room #26: Starry, Starry Night
Will your guests notice your culinary skills when they enter your eating area to discover a night sky made entirely of glass globes hanging at so many diverse lengths, they really could be celestial bodies? of course they will. But the illumination from this magnificent bank of lights is at the heart of your dining room idea: that carefully cut, sanded, finished and polished table slab that’s richly imbedded with the wood’s magical colors so as to put those dark plumb dining chairs to shame. But this gathering of chairs doesn’t disappoint when guests settle into their places awaiting your menu of delights.
Room #27: We Gather Together
Looking to furnish an office break room so it looks more like a home and less like business? Start with a grand dining room table fashioned as a gathering place for a circle of employees eager to share downtime. Even heated conversations won’t ruin the camaraderie when disparate opinions are expressed ‘round a gathering table designed to promote conversation. What’s the table’s crowning glory? The intriguing gathering of posts that meet at the pedestal’s nexus. Sturdy aqua dining room chairs fabricated for easy cleaning surround the table situated on a plank floor that’s as easily cleanable. Wall art? The stuff of brainstorming—exactly what you expect from employees—even when they’re on break.
Room #28: Shades of Silver
Mine a sliver of floor space for all its worth by coordinating knot-embellished flooring with cool pewter walls interspersed by fingers of enamel-white chair railing repeated around the tray ceiling and at the floorboards. Is this sleek environment a proper setting for the warm glow of a room intended to take center stage? That’s the point; the juxtaposition of subtleties and drama best reflected in the silver sunburst art dominating one wall. What’s below? Perhaps the most unique sideboard on earth, suggesting a giant silver nugget recently pulled from the earth. Dining room chairs echo rich wood splashed across the table yet offer discreet sections of upholstery happy to take a back seat to the electric charge that pervades the most theatrical of modern dining room sets.
Room #29: Color Yourself Hungry
The dining room chairs situated around this distressed, turquoise table don’t match—but you already knew that. They’re not supposed to, silly. This dining area is all about unexpected surprises and spontaneity. A hand-died rug sprawls beneath table legs, inviting you to match up colors on the chairs. Beyond the eating area, a riot of colorful pillows hide a white couch that knows perfectly well it can’t compete with those pillows. A little framed art. A cluster of plates. Darling mis-matched lighting fixtures shining a light over this one-of-a-kind room. If the urge to grab crayons and color strikes your fancy once you see this dining room design, we get it.
Room #30: The Amazing Changeable Room
Don’t let the rich lime walls convince you that this room is for relaxing because nothing could be further from the truth. Work here. Play here. Eat here—but frankly, the elegant table looks more like a museum piece that’s been brought directly to this room from a South American forest. Convert that sliver of countertop directly behind the table to a buffet for relaxed entertaining as guests settle into citrus fruit-colored chairs set upon legs that may remind you of umbrella spokes. Those dome lights may be white, but we’re pretty sure they bring to mind juicy halves of lemons and limes.
Room #31: One Heavenly Place to Dine
It’s no accident that creative decorators paired this subtle brown-on-brown botanical wallpaper with geometric designs on the curtains and rug because that’s the secret to unique room arrangement in the 21st century. But there are hints of nostalgia tucked into the design of this room. An unexpected expanse of blue sky filling the tray ceiling’s center. Thick slabs of white panels subtly placed along lower walls and more heavily around that blue sky overhead. Decorative accessories offer a delightful mix of bold and fragile; but what else could you expect from a dining room design that’s crowned with a bit of heaven?
Room #32: Welcome to the Country
If the floor of this room doesn’t remind you of barn walls, you’re missing the point. Adding scatter rugs would only compromise the rustic environment, but it’s an abundance of white touches that reflect this dining room’s character. Notice how the tabletop is an homage to the floor and the way giant blue and white checks on shades and chair cushions add a lively touch of country charm. Just in case you don’t notice the curves and lines that set this dining room furniture apart from the rest, take note of the way those front chair legs emulate the table legs. Chair backs features square cut-outs that suggest peeking out from high barn windows.
Room #33: Afternoon in Marrakesh
An X marks the spot on a treasure map that takes you to unexpected surprises, so why shouldn’t the legs on this table offer you an equal thrill? Rainbows could take a lesson from a room so saturated in blues, a sultan’s palace may come to mind. Do those red baubles hanging from the chandelier intentionally mimic lamp bases on the buffet inset into the wall? That designer touch gives this room its character, which is why the chairs don’t try to compete, making them ideal upholstered seats for this room. Even a sultan would take note of that unexpected green drape. After all, what happens in the harem, stays in the harem!
Room #34: Southwest Sunset
Easy living just got easier courtesy of a room that’s so laid back and casual, guests will feel they’ve never left home. Cream walls showcase rugged wood flooring, a feature that would be the star of this room if that huge barn door didn’t dominate that wall. The oval dining room table sprawls across an understated rug that’s big enough to accommodate four chairs with a western flair and two extras for unexpected guests. There’s something romantic about pendulum lights shining down on a thick, striped table runner reminiscent of a Mexican serape. If you have a feeling that steak’s on the menu here, you’re probably right.
Room #35: A Taste of Provence
If you have no trouble imagining yourself living in Southern France, this petite dining area is going to capture your heart immediately. The warm wood tabletop appears to have been glazed with honey and it’s perfectly suited to the cream-colored base atop finely turned legs. You won’t have to persuade guests to linger over coffee and croissants once seated on ladder-back chairs, atop cushioned seats patterned with ornate script. All it takes is a touch of green to suggest lush gardens outside. Is the dark period buffet out of place? Hardly. This room’s harmony depends upon an eclectic mix of woods to make the room feel timeless.
Room #36: Art for the Heart
Is this the board room at a cutting-edge tech company or a place to share lunch that’s decorated by someone who knows her way around a color palette? That’s for you to decide. What a clever way to make vibrant chair seats in a wild array of hues stand out: paint everything else white and the canvas of this room is primed. What does this Danish-inspired setting say about the mood of a room that relies upon the energy of mixing colors like orange, grape, lemon, lime, blueberry and apples together to emulate a fruit salad-bright ensemble of pieces? Probably this: the formal chandelier adds a witty touch to a room that begs to be enjoyed 24/7.
Room #37: Close-Knit Gathering
Anyone fascinated with tiny details that produce big décor statements will likely notice black numbers on backs of these molded chairs first, but the creative surprise it at the center of this mix of dining room furniture: an unusual hexagon top that gives every diner defined space at the table. Charm doesn’t stop at the seats; check out chair legs reminiscent of knitting needles artfully braced with metal “yarn” that makes this no ordinary dining room arrangement. The glass-front cabinet filled with crockery and serving pieces overlooks a rug that appears to have been crafted using those knitting needles. There’s plenty of light to set the mood and a mysterious #1 perched between the lamps that knits everything together beautifully. What’s your favorite number?
Room #38: Touches of Glamour
When a dining room idea requires a designer to deal with kitchen proximity, only the cleverest would think to use glamorous furnishings, yet that’s exactly what this fearless innovator did when preparing this collection of furnishings for installation. Parsons chairs, upholstered in tawny camel suede-like textiles, add comfortable touches leading to long meals and great conversation, but it’s the settee-style bench that sets this room’s tone. There’s a harmonious blending of tabletop and upholstery that contrasts nicely with white chair and table legs. A chandelier, bedazzled with reflective crystals, is so attention-getting, diners forget the kitchen’s only steps away and that’s the key to this room. With or without decorative sheepskins, this area is seductive!
Room #39: Midnight Mystery
Ask yourself this question: would this dining room idea, reminiscent of a Poirot mystery story, be quite so attention-grabbing if the red tile-patterned floor cloth was eliminated? It would—but that’s where this design’s ingenuity lies: Replace the cloth with teal, yellow or white and give the room an entirely new look. No need to buy new furnishings; this dining room set works with too many decorating schemes that easily mix ebony wood on chair frames, the lacquered black buffet and the gorgeous square table that’s ideal for solving mysteries over a long leisurely supper. Even Agatha Christie would approve of the lavish chandelier that’s bold enough to shine a light on this mystery’s solution.
Room #40: A Study in Simplicity
There’s a special place in heaven for those who appreciate the wonder of wood and that is clearly reflected in this dining room idea. What genius paired a table that appears to have been lifted from old farmhouse walls and set upon sturdy, imposing, post-style legs with chairs so intricately fabricated, they could easily be studies in architectural design? Thanks to a chandelier fit for a Swedish palace, appreciating every inch of detail in those intricately crafted chairs–plus the two upholstered ones at either end—comes easy to the discerning eye. Who says simplicity can’t be strikingly beautiful? This room proves it.
Room #41: Dine in the Clouds
The cluster of clouds hanging over this dining room furniture may shine a light on the setting below, but the real treasure found in this room is the thick wood table that seems to float in mid-air, giving diners’ legs obstacle-free seating. In fact, a crafty panel allows this mirage of a floating table to levitate effortlessly forward, while cradle-worthy chairs with lacquered white backs and earth-colored seats anchor the room. Take a peek at the floor and ceiling to appreciate optical illusions that pervades this room; especially those tall, skinny doors at the back of the room. Who knows what’s behind them?
Room #42: Other-Worldly Dreams
This out-of-this world eating enclave literally takes diners beyond the stars—just as long as savory fragrances emanating from the kitchen don’t pull them back to earth. This “dining planet” is guaranteed to leave guests breathless. Unique copper-clad walls hide exposed wall and ceiling fixtures, but your eyes may already be fixed by copper spheres that suggest five neighboring planets floating overhead. It’s an illusion, of course—as is the sun shining down upon this industrial-style table. Anyone settling into those puffy blue chairs might think they’ve arrived in outer space. In fact, this space is other-worldly, in so many ways.
Room #43: A Hidden Garden
It could be snowing outside for all you know—nor do you care. You’ve got a steaming cup of coffee to enjoy in a garden room ablaze with color that promises spring isn’t far away. Despite charcoal walls that could suggest winter in any other setting, this dazzling sapphire table with ornate legs demands closer inspection to appreciate the intricate details—rivaled only by carved red chairs that are perfectly at home within this vivid décor mix. Red drapes and splashes of color on the floor cloth suggest walking a garden path, were the crystal chandelier and mirrored cabinet not nearby to anchor this lively dining conservatory.
Room #44: When in Rome
Caesar Augustus would feel right at home in this regal setting thanks to an ornate Roman column that could have been excavated from any of Rome’s ancient sites. Artisans rubbed the pedestal with dark dies to reveal gracious curves beneath the solid glass circle that never steals the pedestal’s thunder. No togas required to occupy cream-colored, high-back chairs studded with accent nails and covered buttons. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was the ornate, distressed sideboard with marble top perched below a mirror fit for an emperor. What’s beguiling about this room? Its’ sense of history.
Room #45: Tribute to Picasso
Art buffs familiar with Guernica, the traffic-stopping mural painted by Picasso in 1937, may immediately detect the resemblance of this one-of-a-kind dining room design to the 25-foot-long masterpiece. There’s no mystery here: angular lines and sharply-drawn contrasts suggest the resemblance, though this room is the essence of tranquility. What draws the eyes first? Those unique gun-metal gray chairs that resemble statues in museums rather than seating. Find diversions in the neutral wood and light walls that leave room for an ingenious latticework screen and pendulum lights that come together with masterful ease.
Room #46: Manhattan Modern
You don’t have to own a penthouse in New York City to emulate this home décor scheme because everything about this dining room decor shouts 5th Avenue and the Empire State Building. A roomy eight-drawer buffet offers limitless storage options for linens, silver, candles and candlesticks, and the serene slab of a table comfortably seats eight sophisticates. A surprise awaits behind each chair back: an urbane game of tic-tac-toe borne of those Xs and Os perhaps? Hold an intimate dinner party beneath a tinsel-like chandelier of falling crystals and even the conversation will take a decidedly elegant turn. An end to your modern dining room sets search could be at hand!
Room #47: Passport to Diplomacy
Even new diplomats understand that meaningful conversations are best held “in the round,” so why should intimate talks between friends and family be any less important? Despite imposing ceilings hung with diaphanous curtains, this dining area suggests a seclusion that invites the passing of plates laden with comfort foods, all of which is illuminated by a chandelier that suggests Tahitian bead art. Four spokes carved into the top of this hefty table add character, whether one is seated on a white banquet chair or the primitive side chairs that appear to have just been constructed from raw wood. This quiet setting easily defines the word pleasure.
Room #48: On the Clock
Focus your eyes on that grandiose wood wall statement dominating this break room wall. It’s crafted from six slabs of rich wood, and if you look closely, you’ll spot two clock hands sweeping minutes along—a subtle statement from management that work breaks have finite time limits. Don’t let this industrial design fool you. It’s the company’s way of saying “we want your surroundings to equal your dedication.” The medley of chairs is intentional—as is the immense slab of a table that appears to be the collaboration of foundry and carpentry professionals. Want to work here? It’s easy to see why.
Room #49: An Octopuses Garden
Does this room suggest a submarine or tramp steamer roaming high seas? All signs point to a nautical voyage: porthole-like clocks, a dining table topped with planks that could just as easily be a dock, industrial chairs and stools awaiting sailors hungry for a hearty meal. The easy-to-clean gray floor is paired with walls painted a soft violet to further suggest a serene marine décor. Ring the dinner bell and all crew members will be on deck at six bells—particularly if those pewter bowls are filled with tasty treats from the sea like shrimp, lobster and calamari.
50 Home Décor Options Sure to be the Envy of Your Friends
Being presented with this many gorgeous home décor ideas can be a bit overwhelming—-kind of like finding too many packages under a Christmas tree—-but isn’t that a glorious feeling? Your room design is borne of your imagination, your budget, your color scheme and your at-home social calendar, so use our formula to make your selection: Size up your space. Assess your short list of top picks from this eclectic collection. Your inner decorator will choose the look you can’t live without!
Will your new furnishings change your life? In some ways, they can! A fresh, fashion-forward room re-do may be all the encouragement you need to entertain more. Further, scientific studies show that families who dine together raise children who are less likely to get into trouble because dinnertime conversation is one of the healthiest ways to communicate. Bet you never thought dining room design could have this much impact.
Finally, your beautifully-set table makes every holiday celebration special—the stuff of memories—-and isn’t that what a room designed for shared meals is supposed to do?