These stunning Restoration Hardware dining rooms are great for entertaining.
Hosting season is just around the corner and that means those dining rooms – otherwise known as the household catchall – need to be in tip-top shape before guests arrive. These rooms can be rectangular or circular, with or without pendants and statement chandeliers, as they can also include a buffet or bar cart, wallpaper, or both.
Restoration Hardware dining room ideas
We asked some top interior designers for their top tips for creating the perfect dining room.
1. Lighten up in dim dining room
(Image credit: Aspen & Ivy)
When it comes to Restoration Hardware dining rooms – lighting a dining room well is a priority. An Ontario-based design firm’s senior designer is the one who gets things started Aspen & Ivy(Opens in a new window)Ria DaCosta explains how a great dining space design should include a variety lighting sources, such as a statement ceiling, wall sconces or table lamps. This will create a welcoming dining environment.
Toronto-based interior designer and fellow Canadian Anne Hepfer(Opens in new tab)She agrees, saying, “A statement light fixture above a table is a necessary central point, and the jewel of any dining room.” She says that a statement fixture can be a great way to show creativity and personality. Lighting is more important than furniture when creating flow. Houston-based designer Nina Magon(opens in new tab)The point is made: ‘Nothing says wow quite like an eye-catching chandelier over a dining room table. Lighting can add drama and drama to a space.
2. Create a conversation starter
(Image credit: Katie Davis/Melissa Fitzgerald West)
To wallpaper or to art? Hepfer likes both. She said that she uses both. This designer is a huge committer.
‘When I install wallpaper, I install a lot of it – for example, I might wallpaper an entire dining room (ceiling included), and, of course, art can stand on its own, but it’s also dynamic when layered atop a wallpaper foil.’
Houston-based designer Katie Davis(opens in new tab)She will wallpaper whatever room she can. The designer said, “If I could put wallpaper into every room, I would.” ‘Dining room wallpaper adds texture, pattern, interest – sometimes it It is the art in the room and sometimes it’s a background, but wallpaper brings a big serving of wow-factor in the dining room.’
3. Think about form and function
(Image credit: Future)
Flow and functionality are crucial elements for every room’s success. DaCosta says that dining rooms should be functional. DaCosta explains that a space should have the right size of a dining room table to meet its needs. This is important for guests who might be seated in the space. You can store your items in the dining room by using sideboards or cabinets. They can also double up as showcases.
South Florida-based designer Laetitia Lauren, of Laure Nell Interiors(opens in new tab)This is her must-have for entertaining. ‘I’ve been adding bar carts in the dining room and our clients have been loving the addition,’ states the design. ‘It really comes in handy when you are having large gatherings and is the perfect beauty-meets-function piece.’
4. Find the right place for everything
(Image credit: Nina Magon
Lisa DeMasio is an interior designer based in New York. She believes that accurate measurement is the most important thing. Cara Woodhouse(Opens in a new window). ‘You don’t want to crowd your table with too many chairs around and you want to be sure to give your guests the most comfortable experience possible when seated – you want a minimum of 36” behind your chair to pull out comfortably and 8-12” in between chairs – this is the first step in designing your dining room.’
DaCosta adds, ‘Every dining room should have a sideboard – it just doesn’t feel quite complete without one.’ Not only are these storage pieces practical, but they’re also the perfect opportunity to make a big style statement. Sideboards are a great way of dividing a space like a living area and dining area.
5. Size is crucial when it comes to the dining table.
(Image credit: Katie Davis/Kerry Kirk)
Let’s talk tables – round, rectangle, square or oval, options may be endless but what’s best for your space?
Hepfer says, “I tend to start with the round dining table.” They’re so conducive to conversation and eye contact with everyone seated, but overall, the function should drive the details.’ Another important consideration is whether the dining area is used for family meals every day or for occasional holidays and formal events. This will impact the space’s flow and feel.
DaCosta cautions against ‘over-proportioning furniture to the space. This will encourage flow. I like to have occasional seating in dining rooms so people can relax and enjoy a casual place for dinner. Davis often puts a modern twist on a classic style. ‘We love RH’s classic farmhouse style tables – the Cayden table or something from its French Contemporary collection –they feel warm and inviting.’
6. Connect through comfort
(Image credit: Nina Magon
‘A comfortable dining chair is what it’s all about,’ declares Woodhouse. There are many uncomfortably uncomfortable chairs available, so make sure that you find the right one. It’s no secret that options are plenty. DaCosta prefers a traditional approach. She says, “I love an upholstered dining chair or slipcovered one, which allows me to customize the fabric choices,”
7. Style inspiration for you
(Image credit: Nina Magon
With lighting, chairs and tables taking their positions, it’s time to consider the important details that make a dining room that much more tantalizing – dining table decor, of course. Woodhouse says beautiful servingware are essential. Woodhouse loves adding metal and natural stone to her tabletop displays. “I love beautiful dishes and flatware, accompanied with interesting serving plates or platters, and I also love linen napkins with stone napkin rings for formal dinner parties.
DaCosta agrees, adding, ‘table linens and centerpieces are the necessary finishing touches to complete any great dining room – for the ultimate optimizing, put together a deliberate palette or materials and colors for your table linens, like napkins, placemats, and table runners, along with a direction for your centerpiece which should be sculptural, a group of decorative vase, or the soft glow of candles.’
8. Design is an opportunity to take risks
(Image credit: Nina Magon
The dining room is the perfect space to try out bold design ideas. Hepfer suggests that you can use complementary fabrics on the seat backs and chairs. Hepfer also loves chair upholstery as it allows her to add a bold color to a subtle scheme. ‘I’ve introduced dining room color schemes in cobalt blue, Kelly green, and lemon yellow, and they’re always a client favorite,’ shares the designer.
DaCosta is a big fan of mixing and matching designs. ‘Consider putting a fabric on the chair seat that differs from the fabric on the chair back – mix and match your chairs so that the host chairs – those at the heads of the table – are a different style than the others.
DaCosta’s playful mismatched approach even extends to the table itself. ‘I often mix and match materials like pairing a metal base dining table with stone top with upholstered chairs that have wood legs – this is how you achieve a truly customized and unique looking dining room.’
Laurent shares her secret formula for keeping things interesting, cohesive, and fun. ‘I like mixing styles of chairs and tables but I make sure that all the pieces are going at the same party. So customization is my way of creating commonality. I might restore an antique chair to match my table.
9. Turn to nature
New York-based designer Laurence Carr(opens in new tab)For all her entertaining needs, the designer turns to nature. The designer is well-known for creating beautiful spaces filled with flora and fauna.
‘The balance between maximising natural light and providing flexible lighting solutions, as well as thoughtfully integrating plant life into interior design, are timeless ways to promote wellbeing through the healing powers of nature, cleaner water, and the meditative love of plants.
Carr stresses the importance to include natural elements such flowers, plants, or cooking herbs in your dining room. These elements are often overlooked when entertaining guests.
10. The material should be the focus
RH Contemporary Collection
(Image credit: RH)
Philadelphia designer Maria Viola-Kuttruff(Opens in a new window)The designer looks at the science and art of mixing materials when creating a statement in a dining room. According to the designer, “We almost always use mixed materials.” A room can quickly become uninteresting if it only uses one type of material for the occasional piece. Mixing woods, glass, metal and other materials will make a space feel more thoughtfully curated, especially in a dining area.
DaCosta states that curation is key in a dining room. ‘I’m drawn to the curated look of RH,’ states the designer. ‘I love that each piece looks intentionally collected, carrying a uniqueness only recognized as RH – it’s like acquiring antiques or custom designed pieces without having to rummage through endless antique shops.’
