Dining By Design
Story: Rebecca Hay | Photography: Stephani Buchman
5 STEPS TO CREATING A FABULOUS DINING SPACE
Cooler temperatures bring warmer gatherings as we all move indoors to entertain. That also means it’s time to show off your home. No more backyard barbecues here. It’s finally time to highlight your culinary skills or cocktail-making and impress your guests with a dining room design that feels both elegant and comfortable. Here are my five non-negotiable design elements for creating a fabulous dining space.
1. Colour & Mood
Think about the mood you wish to evoke. A bright room with fresh white walls and lots of natural light will make you feel awake and alive. This is great for brunches and luncheons. For a more intimate vibe, choose richer colours and warm lighting. I love to use wallpaper and grasscloth in dining rooms. It adds a luxurious touch and can even act as a great conversation starter among guests while you slip away to prepare the meal.
2. Furniture Layout
Function is foremost to dining room design. If your table is too big, the chairs may bump up against the wall, or if there are too many large furniture items, guests may knock over a lamp (or each other). A general rule of thumb is to keep a minimum of 36 inches between the edge of the table and the wall for chairs. This gives chairs just enough space to pull out so that your guest can slide in. More than 36 inches is even better.
3. Seating Selection
You’ll want to consider what type of seating suits your needs. Some families prefer a bench or banquette seating. This works great for children but not as well for adult dinner parties. No one wants to be the guest stuck in the centre of the bench. It’s like having a middle seat on an airplane and the lady at the window continually has to squeeze by you to use the washroom. Banquettes do, however, work really well when you are tight for space. The 36-inch rule no longer applies when you have bench seating. Just make sure that your table has a pedestal base instead of four legs so people can get in and out easily.
4. Size Matters
The size of your table is important. It’s not just about what fits in the room (although this is important too). Select a table that accommodates how you like to serve and dine with guests. You want it to have enough space for plates and décor or family-style platters in the middle, but one that still encourages great conversation across the table. Never go smaller than 36 inches wide. In general, tables 42 to 48 inches wide are most common. Anything bigger is difficult for conversation. The shape of the table can also affect your dining experience. You’ve seen this at restaurants. A round table is great for including everyone, but if it fits more than eight people (think of a wedding), it’s too big and you get stuck talking solely to your neighbour all night. Round tables are great for smaller spaces. They lend themselves well to a space that also acts as a thoroughfare since there are no sharp corners to impede the flow of traffic.
5. Light it up
Lighting is the last main factor and perhaps the most important one if you’re looking to create a space that keeps everyone wanting to get invited back. Use layers of light. Always add a dimmer to this room and use pot lights for great general lighting while you set the table, but turn them off when guests arrive and use a beautiful chandelier coupled with a pair of lamps on a sideboard or wall sconces for ambience. Chandeliers should hang approximately 29 inches above the table but this, of course, depends on your ceiling height. You can hang a light higher if your ceilings are extra tall.
Bonus design element: If you have a little more space, consider a sideboard or a bar cart. Bar carts are fun to look at and you can set them up as an extra area for guests to serve themselves. The vintage bar cart in my own home sees a lot of action and sparks many conversations.
By considering mood, layout, table size, seating and lighting, you’ll have covered all the bases to designing a beautiful and functional dining room. When you’ve found the perfect dining design, don’t forget to add in some additional table decorations, candles and glassware. OH