Hi friends! The weather is a bit gloomy and cold here, so I am spending the day inside just looking online for traditional dining room inspiration. We have a traditional style dining room which is a separate room off from the kitchen, characteristic of 1920’s homes. While I love having a traditional dining room, a lot of the historic charm has been lost over the years, so I am searching for ways to add some classic character and updated style at the same time. For today’s post I am sharing some photos of beautiful traditional dining rooms and design elements that I find inspiring. I am also identifying some essentials for designing a beautiful, traditional dining room space. Enjoy! *This post contains affiliate links.

 

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This gorgeous dining room has all the traditional design elements: beautiful furnishings, a classic tablescape with coordinating dishes and crystal stemware, candles, fresh flower bouquets, a mirror as artwork on the wall, and a gorgeous area rug. And just look at that chandelier! For each of the pictures in this post I have chosen beautiful chandeliers and light fixtures for inspiration, as well as examples of the other design elements pointed out here.

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In this swoonworthy photo we get a peek into a dreamy dining room filled with beautiful treasures. I love the simple potted fern as a centerpiece, which doesn’t distract from the yummy cabinet filled with ironstone dishes on the far wall. The interesting light above the dining room table is stunning.

Furnishings

Probably the first thing people think about when designing a dining room is the type of furniture they have, or would like to have. Of course the table takes center stage! Today there are a wide variety of dining table designs built out of materials as diverse as steel and concrete. However, if you want to keep things traditional, nothing beats a handcrafted wooden table. 

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There are plenty of furniture stores that still sell traditional style dining room tables and chairs. If you have a large dining room, go over the top and use a big and dramatic table that will wow your guests and provide ample space for large family dinners.

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Then again, even a small dining room can be a show stopper with the right furnishings.

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As my readers are well aware, I am a huge advocate for using vintage or antique pieces since they have the type of charm and patina that just can’t be reproduced these days, and they are a greener option too. Our nightly dinners are shared across a 100 year-old, authentic farm table that we purchased at a yard sale for $10! 

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You can often find vintage, traditional dining room furnishings such as sideboards, china cabinets and buffets rather  inexpensively while you are out junkin’ at flea markets and yard sales. Most just need a little TLC. 

 

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I love the mix of warm wood with the French chairs in this dining room. Never be afraid to mix and match if you find pieces you really love.

Define The Space With An Area Rug

To really anchor the room and provide warmth and beauty consider placing an area rug beneath the table. This should be big enough to overlap all the edges of the table. Finding a rug suited to your exact dimensions can sometimes be difficult. You can always order a custom bespoke rug rug, but it will be more expensive.

 

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If you have a family of messy eaters, never fear!  These days there are many natural and easy to clean rugs such as jute, sisal and even wood!

 

Dine in style with Crystal 

Whether a traditional dining room is decorated formally or informally, some special occasions call for crystal stemware. If crystal is a little too “fancy” for your every day tastes, crystal items can be reserved for dinner parties to treat guests and add a sparkle to your dining table.

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Even a rustic table gets a dose of glam with crystal stemware. Of course a crystal chandelier will take a traditional dining room over the top!  Crystalware is often expensive new, but beautiful pieces can be found inexpensively at thrift shops. A crystal wine glass set is a good starting point. Extras like decanters, bowls and candlesticks are perfect for extra holiday pizzazz.

 

Dine by candlelight

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Whether you’re planning a romantic meal or having a dinner party, candles can help to add a relaxing ambient glow. Place these evenly around the table or simply use a single stylish candle holder in the middle of the table. Candles can be color coordinated to suit the theme of the room or party, but you can never go wrong with white!

 

 

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Accessorize With Art And Found Objects

If your dining room walls look slightly bare, consider bringing them to life with some art or interesting found objects. Hanging a classic painting on the wall will immediately bring a sense of sophistication to the room, while architectural salvage pieces add cottage charm. A beautiful mirror can open up a space by reflecting light and will work well in most traditional dining rooms.

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A display of collected transferware dishes, ironstone platters, or silverplate trays are perfect “works of art” in a traditional dining room.

 

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Never underestimate flower power!

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Floral displays can bring a dining room to life! You can opt for something colorful and cheery or monochromatic and classic. Whether a simple bouquet of hydrangeas in a glass vase or a more ornate mix of foliage and petals artfully arranged in an heirloom vessel, flowers (fresh or faux) are always a good idea!

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Antique Farmhouse

Antique Farmhouse Peonies Foliage Spray Stem Set of 24

Well, just as I am getting inspired by all of these beautiful dining rooms, and especially these last few photos with beautiful flowers, the sun has come out! I could go on and on all day sharing amazing dining room photos, but I am going to take this sunny opportunity to wrap up this post and go get some grocery shopping out of the way. I might even pick up some fresh flowers for the dining room!

I hope you have enjoyed the traditional dining room inspiration shared here today. Be sure to check back soon as our dining room makeover process begins and I start sharing all about it on the blog. I hope you will join me for the makeover!

Amber

Linking up with:

Tuesdays At Our Home

Savvy Southern Style

Wonderful Wednesday

Thursday Favorite Things

Farmhouse Friday Link Up

The Charm Of Home

Feathered Nest Friday