How To Get Your Dining Room Ready for Gatherings

There are few things more exciting than spending some quality time with friends and family. And it’s certainly a lot more fun to hang out in a space that’s stylish and festive! Today, we want to help you get the most overlooked part of your home ready for gatherings around the holidays and beyond. The one place that will form lasting impressions and beautiful memories to cherish for years to come.

Ready? Set? Let’s take your dining room from good to great in no time!

Invest In The Right Dining Table

The dining room is the perfect place to show off your style. Your table is where people will meet and eat together, so you want it to look beautiful while also providing a space for easy conversation. 

Tables come in all shapes, sizes and materials. The main thing you want to consider before making a purchase is how many people you plan to fit around your dining table. If you're expecting to have a lot of guests, then you should invest in a large rectangular table rather than a small round one.  If you are unsure of the number of guests, you should consider investing in something that offers an extendable surface. This is not only practical but also space-friendly, as you can shrink the top back to its default size whenever you want.

You might also want to consider the colour scheme of the room when picking out the perfect dining table. If you've got a lot of neutral colours throughout your home, then it's best to stick with a neutral-coloured table as well. However, if there are bold colours in your room or you have accessorized in shades such as yellow or green, then you can really make an impact with a wood or metal table that complements those colours.

Declutter The Space

Tidy up your dining room so that you can use it for more than just holiday gatherings. 

Here are some useful tips:

• Do a quick clean-up of the entire area. Be sure that it is clear of all clutter and excess items that do not need to be in the dining room. This includes mail, mail baskets and newspapers. 
• Wipe down the table and chairs. Use disinfecting wipes or a spray cleaner to wipe down the table, chairs and floor. If the tablecloth is old or dingy, replace it before your guests arrive.
• Seek out the things that you do not need to keep in the dining room but are taking up space. These include seldom-used decorations, such as china or glassware. If you have hidden storage in your dining room, make sure these items are put away neatly and properly. 
• Go through your china cabinet and remove unused tablecloths, placemats, napkins and other accessories that may no longer be useful to you. Save them for another time but store them in a box or cabinet elsewhere so as not to take up space in your dining room.
• Keep a few extra dishes handy for last-minute guests. Have an extra glass, plate and bowl out in case you unexpectedly have one more guest than expected. It's better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them!

Ensure Ample Lighting

Lighting is another way to get the most out of your dining room. While overhead lights are fine, they don't really contribute to a sense of drama or elegance in the way that wall lights and chandeliers can do. In fact, wall lighting and chandeliers can be especially useful when you're trying to set an elegant mood for dinner parties and special gatherings. They'll be versatile enough to work with many different styles of furniture, even if you end up changing some of those pieces over time.

For a more modern look, however, consider using pendant lights instead of chandeliers. The latter can can be more formal, while pendants are more casual and fun. Pendants also provide more light because they're not centred over the table but suspended from the ceiling. If you want to light up a big space and don't mind spending a little money, chandeliers are definitely worth considering.

Decorate The Walls

The colours and finishes of the walls can instil a sense of warmth and cosiness that will help you and your guests feel at home. If your decorating style is contemporary, then you can create a sleek, clean look by painting the walls white or a light colour. You could invest in panelling or wainscoting to cover up any imperfections on the walls. 

If you prefer a more traditional style, then you might want to consider using dark colours for your walls. However, you don't want to completely cover up your beautiful wood floors with dark carpeting or furniture. Instead, you might want to use rugs as an alternative to carpeting. 

You could also choose lighter colours for your wall treatments so that they blend in with the rest of the room better. A neutral colour palette is typically best since it gives you more design options should you ever decide to change your style.

Conclusion

Gatherings are more fun and relaxing when you have prepared everything in advance. Don't overspend and go with what's comfortable to you. This will make it easier to decide what to buy and how much to spend. Achieving a chic and festive look in your dining room doesn’t have to be difficult! There are lots of ways you can dress up your space for the holidays and special occasions, so you never have to compromise style for comfort.