A formal dining room does not have to be stuffy or cold. On the contrary, it can be warm and welcoming. Country style decorating is an excellent way to achieve down home style and a comfortable appearance. It can include a new or vintage farm-style table and buffet, tabletop decor and much, much more. Whether the space is separate from the rest of the home or opens up to a kitchen or living room, you can add comfort and down home style to an otherwise formal space. Unlike dining areas that are formal and exquisite, friends and family members will want to spend time in the room.
Select a Farm Style Dining Table and Chair Set
One of my friends had a formal dining room with beautiful wood floors, and she wanted to start over and decorate it with quaint country style. She graciously donated her formal dining table to a worthy cause and purchased a farm style table and chair set. It was far heavier and more rustic than the formal dining set, and it was the inspiration for decorating the rest of the space.
If your current dining table and chair set does not coordinate well with a country style dining room, consider buying a farm style dining table or something similar. A mission style table and chair set is also an excellent choice. If furnishing the space with something new is not in the budget, cover the existing table with a country style table cloth, and embellish the chairs with coordinating pads. The most elegant chairs will take on a casual country appearance.
Add Open Shelving to Display Country Style Decor
My friend wanted new wall decor to match her country dining room, and I suggested something that could hold several collectible items that fit the theme. I recommended buying an open shelf unit to hang above her new farm-style buffet. Her dining room walls were powder blue, and I recommended painting the shelf creamy white for contrast. She added vintage ceramic ducks and roosters. She also added a few antique glass pieces. If nothing more had been added or changed, the dining room would have still looked completely different and much more inviting than before.
We finished furnishing and decorating her country dining room with the addition of a faux floral display and two woven baskets, at least for the moment. I placed them on her new buffet along with a quilted runner. She was thrilled with her new and improved dining room, and she planned to add more decor as she found country style items that caught her eye.
I always recommend taking the time to find the perfect decor instead of buying items to simply fill empty spaces. When decorating and furnishing homes I owned, I spent months waiting for the right items to come along. In any case, take your time when seeking furnishings and decor for your country dining room. Creativity, imagination and patience are the keys to achieving satisfactory results.
Source: Personal and Professional Home Design and Decorating Experience