Entertaining Décor

Simple color tips to help you create a comfortable dining area

Whether this room is formal or informal, a separate room or part of the kitchen or living areas, the dining room should always be planned around a table and chairs. Your dining room should be inviting and comfortable—a place where people wish to linger, even after the last plate is cleared away.

What's your kind of dining room?

Dining rooms can range from stately and formal to very relaxed and casual in their décor.
Most often, formal dining areas are in a separate room, while informal dining areas are more commonly out in the open—frequently attached to the living room, family room, or kitchen.
Before decorating the dining area, you should first determine the level of formality you'd like to achieve. This decision will have an enormous impact on the colors you'll choose, and the overall look of the décor.
Be honest with yourself! Most people who have very formal dining rooms use them only occasionally. If you want to use this room on a daily basis, consider decorating it more informally than you would if it were used only on special occasions.

Tip: When not being used for dining, a formal dining space can also double as an elegant library or study. Preparing this room for dual functions is an excellent way to expand your living area.



Formal dining areas

A formal dining room is an excellent place for entertaining. Elegant and refined, these rooms can make even the most casual get-togethers seem impressive.
Warm colors such as reds, oranges, and yellows, work especially well in more formal spaces. Psychologically, these colors help to stimulate the appetite, making them an excellent choice for rooms where the primary purpose is food and entertaining.

For the best dining experience, use warm hues that are muted or shaded such as golden or creamy yellows, spiced oranges and terracottas, wines, burgundies, and dusty roses. These colors help stimulate appetite, while encouraging diners to linger at the table for pleasant conversation.

Tip: Next time you visit a favorite restaurant, take note of the colors and décor being used—often, these spaces are professionally designed to maximize the dining experience.

Tip: Be careful when using brighter versions of these warm hues—especially vibrant yellows and oranges—as these colors tend to make people eat faster. (That's why these colors are typically used in fast-food restaurants!) Ideally, you should use bright, warm colors only as accents in dining rooms, with the more muted colors on the walls.