Try coziness: atmospheric light is the be-all and end-all in the dining room. Image: Muuto

Guide

Learn from the pros: furnishing the dining room

5.5.2019

Translation: machine translated

Whether you're having dinner with family or friends, you and your guests spend a lot of time in the dining room. So it's all the more important that everyone feels comfortable there.

The dining area has different requirements than the study or bedroom. There are a few things you can do to ensure that your furnishings meet these requirements.

1. How do I arrange the dining area optimally?

If you have a separate room for your dining area, you can place the dining table in the centre. The more square the room is, the more suitable a round model is. An oval table is suitable for a rectangular floor plan. In any case, make sure that there is enough space between the table and the wall so that you can move freely around the room. It's best to allow around 125 centimetres or more for this distance.

If the dining area is part of the living room or an open-plan room, a round table is more space-saving than a rectangular model and ensures a good flow of movement in the room because there are no corners in the way. You can also sit together with your guests more comfortably at a round table.

2 How do I utilise the living room for storage space without it looking cluttered?

A sideboard or serving trolley along a wall is the ideal storage space for crockery and other items, saving you a trip to the kitchen when something is missing. The sideboard shelf can also be used as a bar. Arrange glasses and bottles nicely on a tray.

High furniture visually reduces the space, making you feel cramped at the table. Therefore, opt for low sideboards and chests of drawers. If you opt for tall furniture, it should be glass cabinets or open wall shelves. Make sure there is enough space so that the shelving doesn't look too cluttered and overwhelming.

Image: House Doctor — Image: Ferm Living

3. How do I create atmospheric lighting?

For an undisturbed table conversation, you should pay attention to the correct height of the pendant lights. The rule of thumb is 65-75 cm of free space between the tabletop and the lower edge of the light. The light source should also emit a warm white light. Go for lamps with a built-in diffuser or use mirror head lamps to ensure that nobody is dazzled.

It is also important to illuminate the table surface evenly. For an elongated table, either install a long light or several lights next to each other. A central lamp is sufficient for round and square tables. A combination of several lights can be a real eye-catcher here. To prevent the shadows in the dining room from becoming too harsh, you should use a second light source. A table lamp on the sideboard or a floor lamp with indirect light create a cosy atmosphere.

4. Which accessories look particularly good in the dining room?

Flowers go well in the dining room and candles add to the cosy atmosphere. The dining room is the ideal place to showcase beautiful teapots, bowls and dishes. These are far too good to disappear into the kitchen cupboard. Just be careful: to leave room for crockery on the dining table, you should only place selected pieces in the centre. For long tables, you can alternatively place the centre of gravity to the side.

Do you have any interior design tips for the dining room or any other questions? Then share them with us in the comments column below. For more updates on the topic of living, you can follow us by pressing the black button on our profile.

Header image: Try coziness: atmospheric light is the be-all and end-all in the dining room. Image: Muuto

6 people like this article

Moomii Interior Design Studio

info@moomii.ch

Our shared passion for architecture and interior design inspired us to set up our Interior Design Studio MOOMII. Curious and open-minded, we develop and implement tailor-made architecture and interior design concepts in Switzerland and abroad. We’re fascinated by the challenge of giving a room a soul while creating functional and practical homes. We love creating worlds that evoke and inspire emotions.

Interior

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

Guide

Practical solutions for everyday problems with technology, household hacks and much more.

Search

Learn from the pros: furnishing the dining room

1. How do I arrange the dining area optimally?

2 How do I utilise the living room for storage space without it looking cluttered?

3. How do I create atmospheric lighting?

4. Which accessories look particularly good in the dining room?

These articles might also interest you

Quick guide on finding your perfect dining table

How to handle a neutral colour palette

My top ten expandable dining tables

4 comments

Top 10 categories

Go to

4 comments

Galaxus Deal of the day