Styling Dining Spaces For The Everyday
Throughout history, as ideas about the purpose of a home shift, interiors evolve.
Lately, we’ve been thinking about how the function of living spaces, in particular, shared living spaces, take form in modern day design, and how that inspires our process.
Open-concept floor plans may seem like they’ve been around forever, but it wasn’t too long ago that many large, new homes were built with closed, sectioned off spaces to create as many rooms as possible. And now, although we’ve knocked down the walls and connected these spaces, it seems like there is still a question of how to style them.
From our Modern Lake House
The dining room is one of the most apparent areas of change in this space. Once created for formal, every-so-often events, they are now becoming places of gathering for the everyday.
Whether or not your dining room is connected to your living and kitchen space, chances are you’ve had questions about how to style it when you’re not eating there.
We’ve been experimenting with and finding inspiration for simple, laid-back ways to do this that feel live-able but done.
Here are some of our favorites:
Look #1: The pot, the vase and the serving tray
This fool-proof combo is ready for anything. Divide and conquer with simple stems, an empty, low-maintenance statement plater, and a beautiful vintage tray with everything you need for serving cookies or snacks. Move it to the side for game night, and re-style the pieces on the kitchen counter top, any dining space can pull this one off.
From our Beckham Project
Look #2: The arranged marriage
Simple and beautiful. We love pairing bowls with vases that can be dressed up with an arrangement or left alone.
"We try to use planters that are pretty without anything in them when we work with clients, so they don't feel like they always have to have flowers, the easier, the better."
From The McGee Home
Look #3: The half empty & half full
Using two similar vases at different heights creates an eclectic styled look in minutes. For this look, we love using tall natural-looking stems to bring the outdoors in and create a curated yet effortless feeling to a more formal dining space.
From our SM Ranch House
Look #4: The gathering place
Knotted napkins, a wild arrangement and a batter bowl for fruit make for easy gatherings and a lived-in look. Cascading grapes not required but strongly recommended.
From our Pine Brook Home
How do you style your dining space for the everyday?
All looks are very lovely. For me, I find that a nice vase filled with beautiful fresh flowers always work. As a plus, you can enjoy the smell!
Have a lovely day,
Renaud
http://blogbyrenaud.wordpress.com
Thanks Renaud! Agreed, you can never go wrong with fresh flowers!
All beautiful but I struggle with my everyday kitchen table that’s round. I keep chargers (because we use them) and a bowl of moss in the middle. I’m so ready for a fresh idea though.
That sounds beautiful Kellye! Most of these looks would work on a round dining table too. 🙂
Beautiful!!!
Thank you Kim! 🙂
Gorgeous!! I love all the looks and am so excited to try out look three in my home!
Thanks, Michelle! That one is so much fun, let us know how it goes!
Of course my fav is the look from the Ranch House ? it’s the house of my dreams!
Thank you, Leslie! That’s a personal favorite as well. 🙂
I love the dining table by Jean Stoffer Design , where can I purchase ?
Not sure, check with Jean Stoffer Design! Xoxo
About how many olive stems would I need to create a look that full?
Everything is absolutely gorgeous!!! I was scrolling through because I wanted to see what was the studio’s take on rugs in the dining area and which colors to use. I was surprised to see some dining areas with a rug and some without, now I’m not sure if I should use one or not..