There is more to a dining room than just dining furniture; it is more than a mere arrangement of dining room table and dining room chairs. Ideally you should consider the color palette, the lighting, layout, table linen etc. to create a warm and inviting ambiance for your dining room. The accent should not be so much on creating a unique dining room as on creating one that has the elements of a convivial entertaining and family space. With a little bit of forethought your dining area can be versatile enough to be a place where the family gets together for meals everyday and also effortlessly converts to a more formal setting for when you are entertaining. You should be able to relax as well as interact in an ideal dining set up.
Color Palette: Do not assume that because a color is your favorite, it will also look good on the walls of the dining room or create a harmonious whole with the dining room furniture. Also, when choosing a color palette, understand that what looks good in the day in natural light may not necessarily look as good or even look the same in artificial light. In general, colors such as reds, oranges and yellows work to create a more formal atmosphere while colors such as golden or creamy yellow, terracotta, wine, burgundy or dusty rose are considered ideal for a dining room. These colors are said to stimulate the appetite and also have been shown to promote enjoyable conversation.
Now if a more informal and casual setting is required for the dining room, neutral colors may be a better option, because they won't dominate the area or create too much of an impact. Neutrals are calming colors and also create a pleasant ambiance.
Linen and Accessories: When you coordinate the table linen to the colors that you have chosen for the dining area, remember that matching is far more difficult than contrasting. In any case, too much matching of colors among all the elements of a dining room may not even look that attractive; a contrasting palette may look more interesting and attractive on the whole. So if you have beige on the walls, consider wine colored table cloth and beige colored table napkins. Or contrast the color of the china and serving dishes to the color of the table cloth to get a dramatic and attractive look.
Lighting: It is a good idea to use dimmers for the dining area. Differences in lighting can dramatically alter the ambiance of the dining area from warm and intimate to bright and friendly. Dimming the lights gives you the option of adding candles to the table setting so that you can create a wonderfully romantic setting for special occasions.
Also adding a chandelier or suspended lamp above the dining table can be the addition of an excellent decorative element which will enhance the entire area. Incandescent track lights are another option; they can be a striking addition when used to highlight a table centerpiece or to light artwork, hutches or serving tables along the walls.
So you can create a great dining atmosphere by mixing and matching to create a reflection of your personality rather than following structure rigidly.
