Whether you use your dining table on a daily basis or reserve it for special occasions, the table is the central focus of the room. The dining table decor ideas you choose set the room’s primary style.
A traditional dining room conveys an air of formality, but today’s more open spaces generally call for a more casual touch.
Scroll through our collection of dining room decor ideas to find inspiration that fits your style, from cottage casual to modern chic and everything in between. Whether you are looking for full dining table makeover ideas, or just a few new embellishments to spruce things up, this creative gallery is bound to inspire you.
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1. Ideas for Styling Your Breakfast Table
A breakfast table is often a good bit smaller than a standard table and located in the kitchen instead of in a formal dining room. Many older homes were built with a classic breakfast nook tucked into a kitchen corner with banquette or bench seating instead of separate chairs. A small apartment or condo may only have room for a smaller breakfast table and chairs.
Keep table decoration elements simple on a breakfast table. A small glass vase of fresh flowers or a potted plant are cheerful, uncomplicated touches. To make breakfast time easier, place a turntable or lazy Susan in the center so that each family member can effortlessly reach the milk, sugar, and napkin holder.
2. Enhancing Ambience
Nothing adds more warmth or ambiance to your dining room decor than candles. Tuck candles and decorative candle holders wherever you can–on the table, on shelves, on the sideboard or china cabinet. A candle arrangement that has each candle a different height makes a gorgeously glowing table centerpiece perfect for any special occasion.
Tall silver or glass candlestick holders are a traditional dining room decorating idea that can fit into any decorating style. Modernize them by tucking them into boughs of greenery laid atop a linen table runner.
Be sure to use unscented or lightly-scented candles, as heavily perfumed candles can make it difficult to taste whatever you’re eating. Battery-powered electric candles look almost as good as the real thing and eliminate both the fragrance issue and any risk of fire.
3. Centerpiece Inspirations
A dining table centerpiece is usually the focal point on a dining table, but it doesn’t have to be confined within one central location. In fact, a longer tablescape or collection of centerpiece ideas works better on an oblong or rectangular table. A fabric table runner can anchor your table centerpiece and its length can be varied to suit the table’s shape and your sense of style.
Table centerpiece ideas aren’t limited to flowers or candles. Display a gorgeous glass platter or bowl, empty or filled with fruit. A small sculpture is a suitable centerpiece, as is a tray holding a line of small potted succulents. Whatever centerpiece you choose, make sure it doesn’t obstruct your guests’ line of vision across the table.
4. Creative Decorations
Holidays, parties, and special occasions call for festive dining table decorations. Many people like to update their dining room decoration ideas seasonally. For example, they display bunnies and Easter eggs in the spring, flowers in summer, colorful leaves in the fall, and evergreen boughs with pinecones for winter.
The Thanksgiving table is a perfect place to experiment with pumpkins and gourds as centerpiece accents. In December, a tiny Christmas tree decorated with battery-powered lights makes an excellent focal point in your dining area. Complete your Christmas table with pine cone candle holders, holiday table linen selections and other favorite Christmas decor.
5. DIY Decor Ideas
A dining table makeover doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, dining table decor and centerpieces are among some of the easiest things to DIY–even if you have little to no crafting experience. Look around your home for items to repurpose.
Glass pitchers transform into lovely vases, seashells can be piled into an antique wooden bowl, and greenery clipped from your own shrubs make fast and free dining room decor.
Napkin rings are an easy DIY dining room decor essential. Make each napkin ring a different color for a shabby chic effect. Watch this video below to learn how to make inexpensive napkin rings from supplies from the dollar store.
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6. Embracing Rustic Charm
A farmhouse dining room takes you back to simpler times, as it combines the best of elements from the present and long ago. Farmhouse decor can lean toward a casual feeling or one that is more formal, depending on the types of materials you use.
A farmhouse dining table should never feel stuffy, however. Mix antique and repurposed items to create a centerpiece that’s farmhouse fabulous.
A distressed white table is just as lovely as a polished wood tabletop when it comes to farmhouse style. Mix and match chairs of different shapes and materials–it will all feel comfortable and welcoming. Hang a beaded chandelier to soften the space but finish metal with brushed bronze paint or another weathered patina.
7. Elegant and Chic
Glass dining table tops go in and out of style but have remained a fairly standard dining room idea through the years. Fans of glass tables generally trend toward a more modern dining room style.
Glass table tops are great as kitchen tables in small dwellings because their invisibility helps the room feel more spacious. Although some glass table tops are perfectly clear, others are made of smoky glass or glass that has a blue, rose, or greenish hue.
If you have gorgeous chairs, a glass dining table is a good idea because it allows each dining chair to be more visible. A chandelier can be gorgeous over a reflective glass table, especially if the chandelier has glass or crystal elements of its own.
8. Revamp Your Kitchen
A kitchen table is almost always smaller than a dining room table unless you have a large country-style kitchen. Therefore, kitchen table decor should be a little simpler than dining table decorations. Keep centerpieces scaled to the table’s size, but don’t be afraid to use beautiful placemats, runners, and other decorative textiles.
In a particularly small space, a kitchen table may be a small island with stools or a bar built against a wall. Don’t feel compelled to add a centerpiece if your kitchen table is truly tiny. However, even a small table can benefit from colorful placemats or a tablecloth that picks up the kitchen’s color scheme.
9. Contemporary Flair
Minimalism is the hallmark of modern dining room design. Look for furniture with clean, crisp lines and no extraneous details. Sleek and simple are keywords when seeking a modern dining table and chair combination, but mixing textures and materials are acceptable. An overall neutral color scheme enhances modern decor.
Midcentury modern is one era that is always at home in a modern dwelling. A tulip-style pedestal table and Eames-inspired dining chairs convey this style perfectly, even in a small kitchen or tucked in one end of an open-concept living room. Be bold and use a color not often seen in a kitchen or dining room centerpiece, such as bright purple or chartreuse.
10. Captivating Rustic Touch
Rustic decor generally includes more masculine elements, and the dining room is no exception. Furniture tends to include rougher textures and delicate linens are replaced with durable materials such as burlap and sisal. Earth tones prevail, with a heavy focus on warm wood finishes and an overall darker color scheme.
Candles, whether alone or in metal lanterns, help make a rustic dining table feel warm and inviting. An impressive, industrial-style light fixture is an eye-catching feature in a rustic dining area. A distressed wooden dining table top anchored to metal legs continues the rustic-industrial vibe, especially when surrounded by dark metal chairs.
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