Dining Room Decor Ideas
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Time to read 7 min
Our guide to updating and styling your dining furniture and decor
The dining room is often overlooked as a room, especially when a lot of us live in open-plan spaces. The dining area ends up being part of the kitchen and living area. If you happen to have a separate dining room, it can be a challenge to choose a style. Certainly, if it's not a room that is used as much as others in the home. Whether you have a dining room, a table in a kitchen or an open plan living space we have some dining room decor ideas and inspiration for you to help update your home.
Image: The home of Helene Morris as featured in 'Extraordinary Interiors' by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George. Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography by Debi Treloar.
The Dining Table
The dining table is the hero of the dining room, serving as the centrepiece where meals are shared, conversations unfold, and memories are made, making it crucial to choose one you'll cherish for years to come. Given the investment, it's important to select a table that suits both your space and style. A rectangular dining table is ideal for larger gatherings, offering ample space and a classic, versatile design. Meanwhile, a round dining table promotes a more intimate dining experience, allowing for easy conversation and fitting beautifully into smaller spaces. Both options have their unique benefits, making your choice a reflection of how you wish to enjoy your dining area.
When refreshing our dining room decor, we often focus on updating everything around the table while holding on to this central piece of furniture. However, it’s worth considering how the table is used when it's not serving as a place to eat. All too often, the dining table becomes a convenient dumping ground for paperwork, books, and other odds and ends that don't have a designated home. To keep this from happening, a simple yet effective tip is to keep the table set at all times. Lay out placemats, chargers, and create a focal point with a beautiful centrepiece, whether it’s a collection of vases, candlesticks, or a stylish bowl. Not only does this discourage clutter from accumulating, but it also enhances the overall look of your dining room, turning it into a showcase of your dining room decor ideas.
Colourful Inspiration
A gorgeous pop of colour as you enter this dining room - Image: Featured in 'Extraordinary Interiors in Colour' by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George. Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography by Catherine Gratwicke.
When it comes to colour in the dining room, we believe everyone should make a statement! Whether you opt for bold paint or striking wallpaper, the dining room is a space that deserves to shine. But before you dive headfirst into transforming your walls, take some time to explore different dining room decor ideas and find what truly speaks to you.
Consider the styles you love and how the room handles light—whether it can embrace rich, dark tones or thrives with lighter shades. Instagram is a fantastic place to gather inspiration, and a great starting point is following our co-founder, Jane Rockett, whose feed is brimming with creative ideas and vibrant colour schemes. Check it out at @rockettstgeorge and let the inspiration flow!
Small dining room? No problem, mirrors have got you covered.
A great example of using a mirror above your dining table in the previous home of Lucy St George - Image: The home of Lucy St George as featured in 'Extraordinary Interiors' by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George. Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography by Debi Treloar.
Mirrors are an exceptional addition to any dining room, offering both style and functionality by instantly making the space feel more expansive and inviting. When positioned to reflect the dining table, a well-placed mirror can create the illusion of a larger room, amplifying light and enhancing the overall atmosphere. In our view, the bigger the mirror, the better the impact! For those looking to add a unique touch, consider a convex mirror like our Black & Gold Framed Convex Mirror. This distinctive style not only provides an intriguing, alternative reflection but also continues to bounce light around the room, enhancing that all-important sense of space and openness.
Mirrors are particularly beneficial in smaller rooms where they can work wonders in expanding the perceived size, but we believe they’re an essential element in any dining room decor. Beyond their practical benefits, mirrors add a touch of elegance and sophistication, making them a must-have in your dining room decor ideas.
Image: The home of Helene Morris as featured in 'Extraordinary Interiors' by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George. Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography by Debi Treloar.
Sideboards & Dressers
Storage is a crucial aspect of any dining room, but it certainly doesn’t have to be dull. A statement dresser can serve as both a functional storage solution and a striking focal point for you and your guests. The beauty of a well-chosen dresser or sideboard lies in its versatility—it provides the perfect surface to showcase your favourite ornaments, vases, and cherished photos, adding a personal touch to your dining room decor.
For those who love to display their collections, a glass-fronted dresser is an excellent choice, allowing you to show off your beautiful glassware while keeping it easily accessible. Pairing this with a large mirror or an eye-catching piece of art above the dresser will effortlessly complete the look, creating a balanced and visually appealing space.
At Rockett St George, we believe that when it comes to dining room decor ideas, it’s all about trusting your instincts and styling your space with items that reflect your personality. Whether you lean towards a bold, eclectic style or prefer a more understated elegance, your choice of dresser can help set the tone. Accessorise with pieces that make you happy and resonate with your individual style—after all, your home should be as unique as you are!
Statement Lighting
Gorgeous lighting solutions in the previous home of Jane Rockett - Image: as featured in 'Extraordinary Interiors' by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George. Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography by Debi Treloar.
Lighting is one of the most crucial aspects to consider when it comes to dining room decor ideas. The way a room is lit can completely transform its atmosphere, making it vital to think about how the lighting will work at different times of the day and for various occasions. Natural light during the day can create a bright, airy feel, but as the evening sets in, the importance of well-planned artificial lighting becomes apparent.
Every dining table deserves an overhead chandelier or ceiling light that not only provides adequate illumination but also adds a touch of elegance and style. This light fixture serves as the defining feature of the dining area, anchoring the table to the room and creating a warm, inviting space where people are drawn to gather and enjoy meals together. The right lighting can highlight the beauty of your dining table, enhance the colours in the room, and set the perfect mood, whether you’re hosting a lively dinner party or enjoying a quiet family meal.
Table lamps are great dotted around the room, maybe on a small side table, on top of a dresser or on a cabinet. Having these small pockets of lights will create an atmosphere and also light up your favourite parts of the room. The best additional light at a dinner party has to be candlelight, so make sure your table has dinner candles at the ready and something fun to put them in. Check out our selection of quirky candle holders on the website, including our hugely popular Serene Leopard Candle Holder and our new Antique Gold Peacock Trio Candle Holder
Gallery Walls aka Picture Wall Art
A super fun monochrome gallery wall - Image: The home of Lucy St George as featured in 'Extraordinary Interiors' by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George. Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Photography by Debi Treloar.
When updating your dining room decor think about what you want to do with your walls. We love a gallery wall, perfect for creating your own art installation. Before you start putting any pictures up, make sure all your images are in the correct frames. You may want them all to be the same colour, or go for a more eclectic look with different finishes. Once you have all your prints ready lay them out on the floor in the formation you want.
RSG Top Tip: make sure you measure your wall first. You don't want to do it by eye and then find your pictures don't fit.
Take a picture od the layout and then you can start putting them up. For an easy and quick way to hang pictures, we use command strips or similar sticky hooks. Over time if you want to change them around, it will make it so much easier.
Don't just stick to pictures, combine wall lights to your gallery wall or hanging ornaments, like our bestselling Set Of 3 Black Metal Stars. This will bring depth and interest to your wall.
Dining room decor idea must have: drinks trolleys!
In our opinion, a drinks trolley or drinks cabinet is a must-have for any home. Whether you enjoy a tipple of an evening or you're not much of a drinker, you can personalise the display in your dining space to suit you. So, if it's all of your favourite spirits, champagne for special occasions, or simply just a place to store glassware, a drinks trolley is an opportunity to curate your own style spot.
On top of this, a drinks trolley is the perfect place to showcase all of your favourite adornments. From candles and candlestick holders to ornaments and fairy lights, the decor options are endless! So, don't be afraid to go all out with your styling.
