How to Create an Inviting Dining Room to Welcome Guests

A well-planned dining room encourages guests to gather, break bread and share laughs. Creating an inviting, welcoming space is the key. Use these tips to properly arrange your dining room furniture and create a space that makes guests feel right at home.

Make Sure Everyone Has Enough Space

To create an inviting and comfortable space, make sure that everyone has enough room. As a general rule of thumb, everyone should have 24 inches of space around their chairs. Ideally, the table should be at least 36 inches from the wall to ensure that everyone can sit comfortably.

The last thing you want is for everyone to feel like they’re on top of each other. Each guest should have enough elbow room to eat comfortably.

Soften the Space with a Cozy Area Rug

A soft area rug can instantly make your dining room feel warmer and more inviting. The rug is also a great opportunity to add some personality to the room.

Avoid choosing overly busy or bright patterns. The dining room should make everyone feel relaxed. Bright and bold colors and patterns can be overstimulating. The goal is to make the space feel softer and cozier – not distract from the conversation.

Choose the Right Placement for Your Dining Room Furniture

Use the size and shape of your dining furniture to guide the layout of your space. Alternatively, if you have a focal point, such as a cozy fireplace or bright windows, arrange your furniture around it.

Add Accents and Finishing Touches

To bring your dining room together, add finishing touches and accents to the space. Metallic accents and mirrors work well in modern spaces. Adding an eye-catching centerpiece to the table can also make the space feel more welcoming and inviting. A bowl of fruit or a pitcher of flowers can make the table more beautiful.

If you have open corners, adding greenery can help breathe life into the space while making it feel warmer. 

Be Smart About Colors

If you want your dining room to encourage guests to gather ‘round and share a meal, choose warm and comforting colors.

• Browns and warm grays are great options. If you’ve always wanted to paint a room a rich dark brown or scarlet red, the dining room is the perfect space for it.
• Light tones can also help brighten up the space and make it feel more open and spacious.

Avoid colors and layouts that make the space feel cramped. You don’t want your guests to get claustrophobic.

Ditch the Clutter

If you only use your dining room for entertaining once in a while, you may quickly find it becoming cluttered with things that don’t have a place elsewhere in your home.

Piles of clutter will make your space feel unwelcoming and uncomfortable. Go through the room and get rid of things you no longer need or use. Find homes for the items you do want to keep so that your space stays organized and tidy.

A clutter-free dining room automatically feels more welcoming.

Creating an inviting dining room will take some time and planning, but it’s worth the effort to ensure your guests feel comfortable and have an enjoyable time at your home.