Once in a great while you have company over, and even then, it’s fair bet that you may not ever set foot in your formal dining room.
That’s because even the name alone is intimidating. Formal dining rooms have a habit of being, you know, formal.
There’s no occasion short of Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner that rises to the occasion, and quite frankly, grandpa doesn’t care if you use the mismatched silver gravy boat he got you as a wedding gift. He doesn’t remember where he got it either.
Our dining rooms have a habit of being forms of habit; a room in our homes dedicated to tables that have seen more scratches than dinner, and sideboard cupboards that gather more dust than more use.
So how’s about we bring that room into use than for more than just holidays? Let’s breathe life into a formal room that could use it.
We enlisted the help of interior designer Jessica Stark to give us some ideas on how to better breathe life into a room that’s stodgy and under-used.
Complementary,
not completely different
Your dining room is an extension of your home, she says. It shouldn’t be an island, Stark says.
That same advice would have been helpful when you first started down the silver, gravy-boat river of decorating your dining room, considering that most dining rooms are far too formal for every day use.
“We’ve gotten into a habit of creating dining rooms that are too special, even for special occasions,” she says.
“The reason why most people entertain in their kitchen, or even around a family table, is because those are truly comfortable spaces. Why can’t we inject more comfort into a dining room?”
Good question.
Your dining room should be an extension of spaces that you already have. If the room is closer to the kitchen, bring elements in from the kitchen that seem appropriate. A color scheme can serve as inspiration for a centerpiece or a starting point for dishes and flatware. Interesting dining rooms don’t have to be expensive, Stark says.
“You don’t have to pay a lot to get a lot,” she says.
If your dining room is closer to your family room or another space in your house, draw from there instead. Visual continuity helps bring down barriers — real or perceived — to making a room more functional.
Clean it up
Clearing clutter is a superb first step in anyone’s redecorating process. In addition to opening space for other object, a good cleaning and organization can go a long way in making what you have work.
“Just by simply removing things — or getting rid of stuff you don’t use — can create strong lines that actually look good. You’d be surprised how good a clean place can look,” Stark says.
Do this: If you regularly use an item (say more than once a month) keep it where it is, if you don’t consider storing it. Cupboards and side storage can be helpful here, but if you find yourself reaching way back into those cabinets and pulling out a David Cassiday place setting, consider cleaning that out too.
“Dining rooms tend to have a lot of sentimental objects — I know from experience. But we hold onto things for too long, and there are better places for it than on a table. Right there where every one can see it is not a good place,” she said.
Get tall
Now it’s time for the fun stuff.
Stark says elevation is big this year. What does that mean?
“We don’t use a lot of vertical space, and that’s a great way to add color and design without taking up a lot of table space,” she says.
Don’t erect the Eiffel Tower on your table, but tasteful tall flowers can add a splash of welcome color that’ll impress plenty of people.
“It doesn’t even need to be something as temporary as flowers,” she says. “Even just a vase with some color can help.”
Or, if you have the budget, consider lighting that helps accentuate the ceiling and doesn’t drop down too far on the table, which can close off more space.
“It doesn’t matter what you do, dining rooms can be better spaces,” Stark
says.