Dining rooms: A hit-and-mess affair

It’s one place that’s closest to our hearts – or should we say our stomachs! In-deed, the dining room is the hub of the house – and of course, traffic is heaviest at this major thoroughfare at mealtime, what with family members opting to linger long after the dessert. Fact is, the dining table is the focal point for many family activities aside from eating. It can double as an office (for those who like to combine business with gustatory pleasures), a playroom (for kids and adults alike), a place to show off your treasures (or treasured collections) or even a greenhouse, so Julie London suggests in the book Dining Areas – A Practical Guide to Design and Decor (available at Goodwill Bookstore) that dishes out an ample serving of belly-good ideas on designing your own dining room.

For some homes, the dining room is an extension of the living room; for others, it’s part of the kitchen. Creating your own dining room is really a hit-and-mess affair. First off, when planning your dining area, keep in mind how many people will sit down for meals in this room regularly at any one time. Also, how often you plan to entertain (especially if you want to be the hostess with the mostest), and what other purposes you want to use the room for. Some small homes have multi-purpose dining rooms.

Theme And Scheme

For the color scheme and theme, you can take some inspiration from your china or curtains. Or you can opt for a neutral backdrop and jazz it up with bolder accent colors and nice furniture. But whatever seizes your fancy, remember to stick to your theme or color combination as too many styles and colors can create a cluttered look.

Seating And Setting

Be it ever so small and humble, your home can have a dining room it can call its own. After all, there is such a thing as adaptable (read: extendable) furniture – folding tables, folding chairs, sideboards and shelves – that let you explore the wonders of (small) space to the max. Choose a round table that will seat people more comfortably and that you can fold down and sit against a wall when not in use. If space is no problem, go ahead and get a humongous table – it can even double as a work area for you.

When shopping for chairs, consider the height of your table. Chairs with arms should fit under the table to save space and provide comfort. Certainly, chairs should be comfy enough to invite people to stay for dessert and friendly chitchat. Seats should give good support. The book prescribes upholstered seats and backs for utmost comfort. Wipeable chairs are okay, too, but your guests (and members of the family, too) would probably appreciate the added comfort that washable seat cushions offer.

Garden furniture may also double as dining furniture (yes, you can bring the outdoors inside the house). Garden chairs are an inexpensive way of providing extra seats for extra guests.

Whether your dining room is part of the living room or the kitchen, your dining furniture must fit in with the other furniture.

What And Wares

Of course, it’s convenient to keep your china as close to the dining area as possible. Organize your china and make it as visually appealing as the food on the dining table. An arrangement of plates can be as pleasing to the hungry eye as a painting, so the book notes. Bone up on your (bone) china: They last a lifetime. You’ll never go wrong with basic white dinner plates (white is truly right) as you can use them for any occasion. Or you may want to adopt a color theme, like blue and white, for your plates. You can also jazz up your basic white china with bright earthenware. Don’t rush – build your collection at your own pace.

Centerpieces, Conversation Pieces

Making your dining table not just a centerpiece but a conversation piece as well is no big chore, says the book, which is replete with instructions, for instance, on how to make nightlights from tin cans or napkins from leftover fabrics, pleated tablecloths, slip covers, painted glasses to match your china, stencilled table cloths with borders, muslin curtains with eyelet heading and, yes, even a Swedish-style plate rack (see photo on Page E-1).

Take a few more tips from your home buddy Julie London:

• When decorating a table, keep to a theme and follow it through to the china, cutlery, napkins and candles.

• Be creative: Put a fresh flower on each plate; tie up cutlery with ribbon, write out place cards on handmade paper, etc.

• Use cotton sheet instead of table cloth and dye it (in colors to die for)!

• Match your centerpiece to the occasion. Here are some fresh ideas: Floating candles and flower heads in a decorative bowl of water, a small bunch of flowers displayed in tin cans, an arrangement of candles of different heights, a pile of presents, or a bowl of fruit (sounds delicious!). But remember to keep it low so guests don’t end up with stiff necks trying to talk over the top of it.

• Unless you want it floor length, tablecloths should have an all-around drop of 25-30 cm. (10-12 in.) so that it falls a little below lap level and people don’t get tangled up in it.

• Protect your table with felt pad (especially for warm plates).

• Using fabric (instead of paper) napkin allows you to create a theme on a plate. Tie it up with a ribbon, parcel tag, dried flower heads, raffia, beads, or handwritten card. You can personalize each napkin.

When The Dining Room Is Part Of Another Room

When decorating a dining room that’s part of another room, you can highlight the dining room by creating different moods through the use of lighting and furniture. The book goes on to suggest, "Free-standing open shelves can separate a dining area from a sitting area without blocking any light while providing useful storage for both rooms."

Throwing two large rugs on the floor can also define the dining and sitting space. If that doesn’t work, you can always use a movable barrier (such as a suspended screen or a curtain). A free-standing screen separating the table also gives the dining area a more intimate feel. Plus you can always fold it back against the wall when not in use.

Walls And Halls

Even that often unused or underused space under the stairs can be put to good use. This alcove can make a cozy dining area in a small house, says the book. It can also provide valuable storage space for glassware and kitchenware.

Another neglected area is the hall. In some big old houses, the hallways are big enough to accommodate a large dining table and chairs.

The Right Light

If your dining area is part of the kitchen, you’d need more light to prepare the food. Install separate switches (preferably dimmers) for the dining area and the kitchen. This way, you can turn off or at least dim the kitchen lights when you’re in the dining room or vice versa. And since the table is the focal point of the dining area, you’d need intimate lighting here. Using candles would be a bright idea, but do keep them below eye level.

Down-To-Earth Floors

The floors in your dining area should stand scrutiny in any, uh, floor show. They should be practical, hardworking and comfortable. The book recommends, "Go for something that’s easy to keep clean (like laminated wood or wood-effect vinyl) ... When living and dining areas are shared, go for something comfortable and smart that will not show the dirt too much. A wooden floor is smart and practical, and a couple of large rugs will help define each area. Fitted carperts are also popular ... Pick a carpet with an inbuilt stain protector."

These are but a few ways you can make your dining room a most enticing part of your home. So enticing you’d forego a dinner date in a fancy restaurant and settle for Chinese food delivery on a weekend. Enjoy your dinner!