If you plan to have a new dining room designed for your home, it is wise to have a basic understanding of the design options available to you.

1. Size Small dining rooms feel cluttered if they are dressed with heavy furniture, dark walls, and heavy curtains. In contrast, large rooms feel empty if the dining room table is too small, there is little furniture, and the walls are light colored. Ideas for improving smaller rooms include adding an additional window or wall cutout to add new dimensions to the space. Windows that open to the kitchen are particularly useful. For larger rooms, tall plants, rich curtains, or additional furniture, for example, a wine rack, can be tasteful additions.

2. Formality The choice of an informal or formal dining room will affect your design choices. For formal spaces, you can choose a heavy wooden table with a special finish and a fine porcelain cabinet. In comparison, for informal spaces, you can go for a round glass table and a colorful rug to complement your room. How often you intend to use your dining area should also help guide your design choices. You can choose more opulent furniture for a formal area that is used only on special occasions, as wear and tear is not a concern. For your casual bedroom, you may need fabrics and accessories that are suitable for frequent use.

3. Accessibility If you plan to entertain often in your dining room, it should be accessible to a bathroom and other gathering areas, such as a living room or a home theater system. Naturally you want it to be very close to the kitchen. Whether you opt for a formal or informal arrangement, you will also need to plan a dining environment that is spacious enough for people to move around without someone else vacating their seat.

4. Furniture When planning the ideal dining room, it is essential to have enough space at the table. You can spoil your well-executed décor if folding chairs need to be added to a cluttered table. Anticipate how many people will need to sit at your table and if this varies a lot, consider purchasing an expandable table. Apart from a table and chairs, a dining room needs very little furniture. This means that additional pieces can be a matter of personal taste. Just make sure your choices don’t make the room uncomfortably cluttered.

5. Lighting Guests will need enough lighting to eat safely, but too strong lighting could cause glare to bounce off white plates. Crystal chandeliers are great options for formal rooms, while generic chandeliers may be better suited to your casual room. A good tip to keep in mind: avoid windows facing west if you like to have dinner parties, as the setting sun can disturb the eyes of your guests.

Now you can be ready to discuss the above-mentioned features with your Seattle interior design firm to help you create a beautiful and functional dining space.