| If you're lucky enough to have a dining room, | | | | stunning arrangement with a visually interesting |
| versus a dining nook in the kitchen, make the | | | | collage of smaller pieces: tie them together by |
| most of that space and deck it out in style. While | | | | color, theme, or material. |
| you will definitely host special occasions with | | | | Wrought iron wall décor is an excellent |
| friends and family in this room, if you make the | | | | choice for a focal point wall or for use as |
| decor stylish and inviting, you'll want to use your | | | | supporting accent pieces. Because it comes in a |
| dining room everyday. And, why not? A home is | | | | vast array of styles and finishes you will find |
| for living, after all. | | | | pieces that work with your chosen style of |
| Start with Color | | | | decorating. Matte black, brown or gray wrought |
| Take a dining room from drab to dramatic with | | | | iron is a perfect accent in a traditional or |
| beautiful color. Deep hues like burgundy red or | | | | contemporary dining room. Painted distressed |
| sumptuous royal blue have an energizing effect | | | | finishes in white or cream work equally well in |
| conducive to lively dinner conversation and they | | | | country, cottage or casual settings. |
| lend an air of opulence and abundance. When | | | | Combine Style and Function |
| searching for color inspiration, think about other | | | | Choose dining room furnishings that will serve a |
| furnishings that you have in the room as well as | | | | dual function: Choose pieces that add style while |
| colors and patterns that are visible from adjoining | | | | providing storage space for dinnerware, silverware |
| rooms. While your dining room can be more | | | | and glassware, or stylish pieces that also present |
| dramatic in color, you want the overall effect to | | | | surface space for serving and entertaining.o A |
| be harmonious. If a piece of pottery, your dinner | | | | free-standing hutch or cabinet with solid doors |
| plates, a pink Depression glass water pitcher or a | | | | below and glass doors above let you store bulky |
| wall painting inspire you, then use that as your | | | | and less attractive items below while displaying |
| starting point when thinking about color. | | | | your glassware, plates, collectibles and pretty |
| Create a Focal Point | | | | serving pieces in glass fronted style.o A marble |
| Blank wall space doesn't do much to enhance the | | | | topped server with drawers and lower shelves |
| décor of any room, and in a dining room it | | | | and doors gives you a convenient place to store |
| can make the room seem cold and unwelcoming. | | | | silverware and linen while giving you a flat surface |
| To create a focal point, you can use one large | | | | that you can use for decorative purposes or for |
| item and accent it with smaller items or you can | | | | serving during a party.o A wall wine rack brings |
| create a wall grouping with several smaller items. | | | | Old World Tuscan style to a dining room while |
| For example, you could start with a large painting, | | | | providing a place to store wine. Swirled grapevines |
| a wrought iron or an architectural wall hanging, a | | | | hold and display your favorite vintage so that it is |
| tapestry or mirror and accent it with smaller | | | | available at a moment's notice. Wine racks that |
| coordinating items, such as candle wall sconces, | | | | include space for stemware offer even more |
| vintage plates or cast iron accents. Or creating a | | | | storage space. |