Room Guide
Dining Room
Gather around — how to set the scene for every meal, from everyday to special.
The dining room is one of the few spaces in a home that's designed specifically for being together. It deserves more thought than it usually gets. The right table, the right light, and a few considered details can turn an ordinary meal into something that feels like an occasion — even on a Tuesday night.
Four principles for a dining room worth gathering in
Size the Table Correctly
The most common dining room mistake is a table that's too small for the room — or too large for the number of people who actually eat at it. Allow at least 36 inches between the table edge and any wall or furniture so chairs can be pulled out comfortably. For everyday dining, a table that seats your household plus two is usually the sweet spot. Extendable tables are one of the smartest investments in a dining room.
Get the Pendant Light Right
The pendant light above a dining table is one of the most impactful design decisions in the room. It should hang 28–34 inches above the table surface — low enough to feel intimate, high enough not to obstruct sightlines. The shade diameter should be roughly half the table width. A single large pendant reads as more considered than a cluster of small ones, and a warm-toned bulb (2700K) makes food and faces look their best.
Mix Your Chairs
Matching dining chairs are safe but rarely interesting. Mixing chair styles — a bench on one side, upholstered chairs at the heads, wooden chairs along the sides — creates a collected, lived-in quality that feels far more personal. The key is to keep one element consistent: the same wood tone, the same leg style, or the same colour. That shared thread ties the mix together without making it look accidental.
Style the Table Between Meals
A dining table that only looks good when it's set for dinner is a missed opportunity. Between meals, a simple centrepiece — a low ceramic vase with a single stem, a wooden bowl of fruit, a cluster of candles at different heights — keeps the table looking intentional. Keep it low enough to talk over and leave enough clear space that the table doesn't feel cluttered.
"The dining room is the one room in the house that's designed specifically for being together. It deserves to feel like it."