Ask A Designer™
January 3, 2022
Ask A Designer: Lighten Up A Tired Dining Room
In this Ask A Designer column, Candace Thompson shares her advice for breathing new life into a tired dining room.
Question: My dining room is very dark and uninviting. I want to keep my table, as it’s a family heirloom, but would like to update the rest of the space so it feels more welcoming and bright. I love color — where do I start? — K.S., Toronto
Do you have a design dilemma? Send your questions to [email protected].
Answer: I agree that your dining room feels dark, cluttered and lacks focus. Start by replacing your rug with one that’s lighter. Then, clear out some of the furniture like the small dresser and folding screen.
Keep your existing bookshelf — this can be styled to become a focal point, similar to the one in this dining room by Sam Sacks.
Style the bookshelf with small pieces of art.
Layer in color through a collection of vases, sculptures, and books.
Consider moving your vintage table to another room and using it as a work table — your dining room needs a light and a leggy modern table!
Add new chairs with black frames and a bench.
Mixing and matching your seating will make for more flexibility and visual interest.
Then, mount a white linen drapery panel on a brass rod roughly halfway between the window casing and ceiling to draw the eye upward and make the ceiling feel higher.
For added contrast, paint your window frames black in a shade like Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty.
Finally, change out your existing ceiling fixture for a statement pendant over the table. Enjoy your new dining room!
House & Home December 2021