If your dining room decor is looking as drab as a January day— we feel you. If you live in an open-concept home, the dining room can easily become a dumping ground for bags, bills, and other odds and ends. And if you have a separate dining room, you know that designing it can take lower priority than some of the higher-traffic areas in the house.
Which is why we’ve deemed it the perfect time to offer up five playful dining room decor trends we recently spotted on Instagram. The following inspiration photos don’t shy away from colors and patterns, and they epitomize joyful charm in the eating area.
So, if you’re ready to rethink your dining room—read on. We’re confident these captivating flourishes will lighten up even the dullest of dining spaces.
1. Mix-and-match crystal chandeliers
Installing a pair of crystal chandeliers in your dining room, like the ones seen here from @charleygreyantiques, will really stir up some happy glam.
“Vintage chandeliers have the power to bring personality to a room, and these crystal chandeliers prove that point,” says designer Robin DeCapua, of Madison Modern Home. “Crystal chandeliers bring elegance and a lot of sparkle to a room. In this barn-like setting, it feels like a fun and exciting dinner party is about to begin.”
Get the look: If your dining area is large, pair this tiered chandelier with this dimmable chandelier to recreate the inspiration photo. Otherwise, choose one, and hang it above the center of your dining table.
2. Pastels everywhere
Another great way to bring childlike whimsy into a stiff space is to crank up the colors. And nothing accomplishes this quite as well as an effortlessly fresh, pastel palette—like this one from @_colorfulhome_.
“Pastels light up a room with soft radiance, and this room is a prime example of how pastels can create a complete vibe,” says DeCapua. “Pink and mustard, olive and aqua all complement each other to great effect here. The return to postmodernism of the 1980s is bringing us around to the muted pastels that reigned in that decade. The world had a love affair with pastels during those years.”
If you can’t get excited about an entire room painted with pastels, select one dominant hue—like blush or olive—and balance it with complementary colors.
Get the look: Shop this collection of pastel pillows and pillow covers that can adorn your dining chairs.
3. Black-and-white geometrics
Balance colorful decor with sophisticated black-and-white geometric accents and accessories. We agree with the decision by @houseonthecorner_16 to hang the black-and-white artwork among the mustard-yellow chairs and green-painted walls.
“Black and white geometrics provide a bold contrast to any room and add an element of surprise, while still maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic,” says designer Sage Stone, of Ever Wallpaper.
Get the look: Incorporate a playful-yet-modern design by framing one of these black and white geometric prints.
4. A chair in every color
Nothing says fun and play quite like incorporating a whole rainbow of color into one small space. These chairs in every color, seen in a post by @suzybroome, harken back to childhood days filled with bright spaces and endless possibilities.
“There’s a wonderfully eclectic feel to this trend,” says DeCapua. “But there’s order in this chaos: Every chair is exactly the same, with the exception of color. If you’re ready for a change but scared to take a leap, incorporating a design like this may be just the ticket—especially if your home has modern architecture, as modern homes particularly lend well to this trend.”
Get the look: Go rogue with your seating arrangements by buying these dining chairs and choosing one in every color.
5. Over-the-table garden
A room without plants can feel unnecessarily cold. But when space is at a premium, an over-the-table garden answers the call perfectly. We especially like the one seen in a post from @interioreccentric.
“An over-the-table garden is another great way to bring a whimsical, playful touch to any room,” says Stone.
To make sure you’re not having to tend to your garden every day, choose houseplants that look lush but require little watering and maintenance—like a spider plant or pothos.
Get the look: Grab a set of these hanging planters, and fill them with fresh greenery from Lively Root.
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