LIFE

Say goodbye to the formal dining room

Kristie Barnett

So many people have dining rooms that are only used for the holidays and then sit empty for the majority of the year. If you’re one of those people, it may be time to say goodbye to the precious surfaces and formal stiffness of the traditional dining room.

I remember my grandmother polishing her cherry dining room suite on a regular basis. She wouldn’t dare set anything on the tabletop without first putting on the big felt pad and a tablecloth. When she entertained guests, her beautiful table had to be completely obscured with a tablecloth in order to protect it from damage.

Perhaps it’s time the wasted space of a room that sits sad and empty until holidays or parties is put to better use. So where do you start? Think beyond the matchy-matchy dining room sets in their dark wood tones.

Functional, friendly

If you are looking to change your dining room furniture, my advice is to look for a tabletop that is user-friendly. Fortunately, more and more companies are producing family-friendly tables in large sizes (not just breakfast-room sized). You should be able to find some good options if you look around a bit.

Don’t fall into the rut of buying a complete set of matching dining chairs. They don’t need to “match” the table, but they do need to complement it. Mix it up by using contrasting chairs on the ends of the table, such as Parsons or wingback chairs.

If you don’t need or have room for several other dining room furniture pieces, don’t pack a hutch, sideboard and other storage pieces in your small dining room. Choose just one and make it an interesting one.

Rather than purchasing a brand new sideboard, I suggested to a client that we use a Pottery Barn dresser from her seldom-used guest room. After a custom paint job by Nashville artist Heather S. Thompson, the formerly black dresser was transformed into a colorful dining room sideboard with plenty of storage for the dining room.

One puzzle piece at a time

A large rug beneath the dining table is a wonderful addition to a dining room. It adds color, pattern and serves as a sound absorber during a rowdy gathering. Please don’t use a rug in your dining room that is very expensive or a precious heirloom. Food will inevitably end up on the rug, and you shouldn’t have to worry about it if it does.

Choose an inexpensive rug with an updated pattern to complement your room. A light and colorful rug will brighten wood tones and feel less formal than a dark Oriental one. The look and feel of indoor/outdoor rugs have improved greatly over the last couple of years, and they are less expensive than their wool counterparts.

The most difficult thing about designing a mismatched dining room is the process of putting it together. It’s best to have an overall vision for the room, of course, or you may give up mid-stream. Unlike the matching dining room suite of furniture, you must make decisions carefully so that you don’t end up with a jumble.

Start with the dining table, then choose the chairs and other furniture. Next, choose your rug and curtains. Finally, add accessories and art for the walls. One decision helps determine the next one. If you trust and wait for the full bloom of the mismatched but well-coordinated dining room, you will be thrilled with a gathering space you’ll want to share with your family and friends every day of the year.

ABOUT

Kristie Barnett is The Decorologist. She is an expert in residential color, staging and decoration and writes about all of those things and more on her blog at www.thedecorologist.com.