Casual dining room decor found in many forms

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/05/2016 (3719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This unique dining room goes to show that one doesn’t have to have a matching dining set to be stylish. The mid-century modern chairs paired with the shabby chic table are a wonderful mix of colours, lines and texture. The vibrant yellow Dulux wall colour (Newborn-35YY 78/269) is current and trendy, which helps keep this eclectic decor from seeming thrown together. I love the red blooms on the table, which provide a pop of contrasting colour to the space. The collection of Mason jars lends a casual country air.

I love this dining space because it’s not too fussy or overdone. We have a similar casual dining table and chairs in our home, which is my favourite part of the condo.

We found a white, vintage enamel/tin-topped baking table at a used furniture store and paired it with four wooden dining chairs, which I painted in a turquoise fossil paint. It’s absolutely lovely, affordable and very unique. I love the fact that no one else has this particular set, unlike the massed-produced furniture on the market.

If you have an older wooden set that can use a revamp, consider jazzing it up with paint and new fabric for the seats.

You’d be surprised at what a difference a new colour can make.

For inspiration, do an Internet search on painted dining room furniture.

Mix and match dining chairs where possible. Paint each chair a different colour for a really fun look. Consider using different material on each chair seat for a truly unique finish.

The idea here is not to be too “matchy.”

Throw a bench into the mix in lieu of having all chairs at the dining table. If you have a pub-styled table and stools you can give them the same paint treatment as you would a regular dining table.

Go for unique paint finishes such as silver or gold mixed in with black and a vibrant colour such as red or purple.

There are no hard and fast rules.

Use more than one colour on a single piece of furniture.

For example, paint the chair backs and legs in one colour and a wooden seat in another. Top this with a colourful seat cushion. Paint the chairs all one colour and the table in a second coordinating colour. Keep the wooden top of the table as is and paint the base and the chairs in warm white. There are a lot of great combinations to choose from.

Take your colour cues from nature.

A purple pansy, for instance, has black, purple and yellow colour palette. A Tiger Lily boasts dark brown and orange with a touch of yellow. You may even find a fabric design that houses the colours you desire.

The options are unlimited when it comes to colour.

Don’t forget about the rest of the room while you’re planning your colour scheme for the dining table and chairs. Choose a wall colour that will compliment your updated dining set.

Keep the floor colour in mind when choosing paint colours so that everything will blend beautifully. Add in accessories that work with the colour palette. You might, for instance, paint wooden picture frames or a wooden shelf in one of the table colours so that it will co-ordinate within the space.

A retro 1950s dining set might be what you’re after and can be paired with vintage tin signs, bold fabrics and black-and-white tiled flooring. Those chrome sets were made to last, so if you can find one you’re in luck as it will be a sturdy set for your casual dining room or eat-in kitchen.

We have a set at our cottage with curved-back chairs and chrome trim and legs. It’s a very comfortable and durable set.

These sets often come with chairs in lovely colours of vinyl such as cherry red, turquoise, yellow and blue. If the chairs need recovering try to find a vintage colour of vinyl with which to update them and have them professionally recovered. The investment will be worth it.

Casual dining comes in many forms.

Whether your tastes lead to a bygone era or a trendy colourful set, you can mix and match your pieces to create a truly one-of-a-kind dining experience.

connieoliver2016@gmail.com