The formal dining room seems to fall in and out of favour – once upon a time it was a special place in the house; rarely used except for dinner parties or celebration. The fall of the dining room came about at the advent of open-plan living whereby the kitchen flowed into the dining area and then into the living room. Some would argue that the formal dining room became redundant when families stopped eating an evening meal together.

However, for many people, a formal dining room is still seen as a special place to gather and enjoy the company of others over dinner so why not make it a stylish and comfortable place to be by redecorating and adding a few designer touches.

How to decorate a formal dining room

Consider how your dining room is used. If it’s a formal room used purely for dining then you should reflect that in your choice of d√©cor and fixtures. Many dining rooms are used for so much more than just eating so an informal dining room should be practical and functional. For the purposes of this article we’ll give tips on decorating a formal dining room.

At the heart of a dining room is the table and chairs. The style of furniture you own may well dictate the colours and theme of your room. If you own traditional and ornate wooden dining furniture then go for a classic look. If your furniture is more contemporary, a modern clean look would be preferable.

In a larger space, many people like to define the dining area by placing a rug under the table and chairs. This looks great if you’ve got wooden flooring but make sure the rug is big enough so when the chairs are pulled back they remain on the rug. You don’t want the back legs of the chair resting on rug and wooden surface.

Dining room lighting and wallpaper

The next feature to consider is lighting. For a real impact in the room go for an elaborate chandelier suspended above the centre of the table.

Chrome and glass 5 light ceiling chandelier	Chrome chandelier trimmed with Preciosa Strass crystals	Hand painted gold finish 3 light chandelier

For a more subtle look, or if your room has a contemporary feel, go for pendant lights above the dining table.

3 light rise and fall ceiling pendant	Modern nickel matt 3 light ceiling pendant	Rise and fall pendant light in nickel-matt and glass

Next, create an accent wall in the room. Wallpaper has the biggest impact when it comes to creating accent walls. Choose a wall without windows alongside the dining table and go for a bold pattern, stripe or floral print. The remaining walls in the room can be covered using a plain pale coloured paper for a brighter look or darker coloured paper if you prefer a warmer feel to the room.

Mode Palace 57183	Basso&Brooke Pathway 18293	Mode Elinor 57192

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