Irrespective of the scale of the event, there are some dining room design mistakes to avoid before hosting your next party. More often than not, private dinner parties with friends or family may occur in your dining room.
However, there are some things you should check off your list and address long before guests start arriving for that private party. The common dining room mistakes in question may dampen the euphoria that comes with the social leavening of a party.
So, we have put together seven expert tips to help you identify dining room design mistakes to avoid before hosting a party. Next, we offer the best fixes to transform the dining room into the most welcoming space in your home.
1. Poor Light Fittings
The quality of lighting in a dining room goes beyond the brightness or intensity of the fittings. The chandelier or other light source must also be at an appropriate height to deliver adequate visibility.
Indeed, suitable and centered light fittings can eliminate the lack of a focal point in the dining room. According to Malka Helft, founder of Think Chic Interiors and expert in interior design, dining room chandeliers should be just a few inches higher than the table. Good dining lights illuminate the food, not the entire room.
ALSO READ: Dining Out? Tips for Nutritious Restaurant and Takeout Meals
2. A Dining Room With Too Much Clutter
A dining room with neglected maintenance will likely have a lot of clutter. Another potential cause of clutter in a dining area is the lack of focal points. The lack of focal points can be addressed by limiting the number of center points to a maximum of two. So, depending on the size of the dining room, add just one or two more centers of attraction.
Also, to eliminate overcrowded spaces and prevent guests from toppling items at every turn, you should remove artifacts that do not function in the dining room.
3. Tables That Are Too Narrow
Besides poor lighting and overcrowded spaces, your dining room may exude an uninviting atmosphere if the wrong table size is installed. The wrong table size may result in cluttered decor and an insufficient serving area.
A narrow table setup makes the dining area uninviting. Any narrower than 40 inches would be inconvenient, except you want guests to sit on only one side of a long dining table. So, make the rectangular table as wide and long as possible. Alternatively, use a round dining table where appropriate to foster physical connections among guests.
4. Chairs of Different Dimensions From the Dining Table
Inadequate seating facilities are another one of those dining room design mistakes to avoid before hosting your next party. Most people buy their dining furniture in piecemeal and not as a full set. While you may manage the inadequate seating, small number of chairs, and inappropriate sizes, it would give your dining area an inviting atmosphere for that party.
So, check that you have enough seats for your party, or if not, rent some more. However, make sure all such chairs are of the appropriate size. You don’t want your guests struggling to eat from the dining table because their chairs are too high or too low. According to Helft, choosing a pedestal table is another potential fix for the chair dilemma.
5. Uncomfortable Chairs
You want the chairs in your dining room to be as comfortable as possible. The party is not all food. Instead, the guests will likely socialize and catch up on old times as each meal course progresses. So, the chairs should be the right size and comfortable for prolonged seating.
If you have gotten used to dining with a hardwood chair, consider swapping them for an upholstered or cushion variant. If that seems too expensive, consider buying some inexpensive seat cushions. With those, your guest will enjoy long chats at the dining table without shifting in their seats.
6. Table Setup that Does Not Fit the Guest Size
By all means, avoid having an insufficient serving area for your party. So, besides clearing out cluttered decor, you should take a second look at the dimensions of your dining table itself. For most private parties, it is easy to predict the upper limit of attendees and use that to sidestep choosing the wrong table size.
If you have a round dining table, ensure it’s not too large; anything more than 72 inches across is a no. “Why,” you ask. Well, you want dishes at the center of the dining table at arm’s length of each guest.
ALSO READ: The Top 8 Fine Dining Serving Tips You Need to Know
7. Rugs That are Too Small
You can use an area rug to eliminate the lack of a focal point for that much-anticipated dinner party. You can also make an improper color scheme in the dining less obvious with a colorful but cozy and stylish area rug.
The average interior designer knows that creating intentional chaos can help eliminate unintended chaos. Instead of an area rug, you could use cotton drapes to cover the walls and block out the improper color scheme.
Avoid these obvious dining room design mistakes before hosting your next party. Remember, make sure your guests don’t have to contend with an insufficient serving area, improper color scheme, or lighting. Finally, neglected maintenance can be a big turnoff for guests at dinner parties. So, endeavor to check your boxes and prepare accordingly. Happy dining.
