dining room, interior design, my home
Three Things I Do When I’m Stuck On A Room Design
Let's face it: some rooms are just HARD to design. I'm pretty sure we all have those areas in our homes that we get stuck on. It could be an awkward corner, or an entire space. For me, right now, it's my dining room.
To be honest, this has always been a tough room for me. The flow is a bit strange, the size a smidge too small for the furniture that I'd like to have, and the wall color has changed more times than any other space in the house. Also - the dining table has been a constant source of annoyance because it was my husband's before I moved in. As he likes to remind me, I've change everything else in the home, can't I just let him have this one piece? The answer? No, not really. But I've been working with it.
I had finally gotten things to a 'good' spot with this room a while back. It wasn't perfect, but it was good. Then... one thing changed. The art.
The piece I had in here was awesome. It was modern and I liked the color it brought to the room! But it bothered me a little bit. Maybe a bit too mid-century? And it turned out my husband wasn't a huge fan either. So, when I scored this oversized piece of vintage art online, and my husband actually liked it too, I knew it would be perfect for this space!
Except one thing: The walls.
You guys, I love this wall color. It feels unique, happy, and like blue skies on a cloudy day (which we have a lot of around here). But putting this art on that blue? I just don't know...
And this is when I started to feel stuck. Because, frankly, I'm tired of fussing with this room. I don't want to change the wall color just for a piece of art to work in here unless it's finally the last time I paint this room. While I'm definitely a gal who loves to change things up, it's getting to the point in the house where I'm really ready to have things feel slightly more permanent and finished. At least when it comes to the big stuff. Which means it's time for me to tackle this space once and for all!
First: Get the room back to basics.
If you're struggling with a space, it can be hard to see what it is that's really not working if you've got a lot of clutter. The first thing I do if I'm really stuck is to remove all the knick knacks and keep only the large pieces (furniture) and pieces I'm 100% sure of.
This room got stripped back to the dining table, dining chairs, rug (I was too lazy to move it - I'm not totally attached to it, but I do like it), the larger artwork, and the mirror. Sidenote: I love having a mirror in here because it's a dark room and the mirror sits directly across from the windows, reflecting more light in and expanding the space. Again, don't necessarily love this mirror, but I do love having one here, so it stayed.
Second: Fill in the gaps and play with what you've got.
After getting things pared back in here, I took a look around the house for items that might make sense to add. It's always best to 'shop' your own home for solutions before spending more money, right!? Try some weird stuff - you never know, it might work better than you thought! Or it might confirm that that would be a horrible decision. Either way, at least you know, right?
I started with this corner of the dining room that has always been a little awkward to me. The blank space to the right of the windows usually has some rotating art, and I've considered putting floating shelves in here in the past, but it felt like it needed something a little more grounding. So, I pulled this console (it used to be in the entryway but has since been floating around the house), and tried it out.
Here's the deal: even if it's not the perfect piece, getting a placeholder in there that's similar to what you think you might want can be helpful. If the scale of this console hadn't worked, at least I would know that yes, I want something in this spot, and now I can hunt for a console in the right size and feel confident that it will work. In this case, however, I actually do think the scale is perfect, so it's staying put for now! Yay!
Once that console was there though, I thought... well, maybe I don't really want a similar console on the other side too. (If you don't remember what it looked like before, check out this post here.) So, I tried the bench! Things I like about it: it could be used as extra seating when we have people over. It keeps that wall really visually quiet. Things I don't like about it: The mirror feels weird with it, and also maybe too high? It's longer than the console was, so in a way it takes up more room, even though it also creates more of a 'hallway' feel. Also, maybe it's just boring? The jury is still out on this move, and that's ok.
Third: Assess what's working and what's not.
Yes, you've probably already been doing this or we wouldn't be here in the first place, but after playing a bit with the room (sometimes that means moving big things around, or sometimes it's just swapping out pillows), you can usually start to tell where the real problems lie. I've got a whole host of them here. On top of just not being happy with the dining room table or the tone of it, to me it's a bit too large for the space. I'd rather get a smaller one that extends out when we have guests over! I also don't like how the chairs (which I do love) blend too much with the table tone.
So, before I go fussing with paint color or consoles, my real question should be: change the table, or change the chairs? (I'm pretty sure you all know what I think the answer should be.) That means, in the meantime I'm going to hold off on making any final decisions about the bench, the paint color, or anything else in here.
Yes, it's ideal to have an overall plan for the room from the get-go, but I also think that if you've got big problems, then you should probably fix those first. You may find that the other small stuff doesn't feel so annoying - or that those smaller decisions become much easier - once you've tackled larger issues.
Now, I'm gonna suggest a fourth step IF you have the right outlet for it. Getting a second opinion from the right people.
Designing your own home is the hardest! You stare at your space every day. You see all the tiny things that drive you crazy. Which makes it even more important to take a step back and hear some feedback - both good and bad - from people who know you and your home best. Sometimes it takes another perspective to appreciate the items you have (so many of you have told me that you actually love our dining table, even though I don't!!) or to bring some ideas to the table that maybe you haven't thought of! And while crowdsourcing ideas on instagram can be helpful, I highly recommend asking your design-minded friends over for some in-person feedback. Being in a space is so different than just seeing images online.
Lastly, as you make small changes, live with them for at least a few days. When my husband first got home he wasn't so sure about the bench there, but now it's growing on him. That doesn't mean that it's right for the space, but any change can feel a little awkward at first. Just remember that these things take time, and the process is far from flawless!
As for my dining room, well we've got a lot of work to do, so stay tuned!!
I think your chairs are beautiful. I would love to see the table painted in a high gloss creamy white to compliment your trim and chandelier shades. Your chairs will stand out, and it will change the feel of the room, and you can keep the blue color that you love. And perhaps I would consider adding two chairs that are different in design from the ones you already have at the ends of the table because I think you have room for six chairs around that table. Looking forward to seeing what you decide.
I also adore those chairs. What if you stained, not painted the table black. When stained, some of the wood grain would show through but ground the spot with a darker color. That would make the chairs pop!
I love the look of stained black!! I may have to see if our table can even take that type of stain well… or just look for a black table! Thanks for the idea!!
On the one hand, my vote would be to change the rug. I think the room would benefit from more contrast. The wall color is very pretty, and while the table might not be perfect, I think changing the rug would make a big impact. I love almost any rug McGee+Co. sells!
On the other hand, the table is the biggest piece of furniture in the room and the main element that’s causing things to feel off. Something with a white top would look great in that space. Keep the chairs!
Love this kind of post–instructive, fresh, and mirrors exactly where some of your readers who continue to tweek their homes are. Right in the middle of ‘let’s make this feel right.’ Your chairs are keepers, interesting design and texture. Maybe something round with all those rectangular shapes, something centering, so the eye knows what’s important and can rest right there.
I say keep the table!! and the new wall art!! problem here is all furniture has too many legs..even the rug pattern indicates “legs” with all its lines.. embrace that table by moving it to the center make it the focal point and remove all pieces including chairs, mirror, bench and chandelier., I see upholster high back chairs with skirts and a beautiful accent cabinet
Thanks Marlene! I’ve been wondering if I can get the table to the middle of the room or not… it’s SO hard with the entry to the kitchen being that one smaller doorway. I totally agree on the legs!! I’ve been eyeing tables that have more of that slab-leg look (for lack of a better term), but good point on the rug!!
I love it when designers share their “problem rooms” – it’s so interesting to read about them. I would paint the walls white and get a black dining table – keep everything else except for the console… and replace that with an antique wood cabinet or small sideboard.
Change the chairs…something with color. Change the rug…nice but too beach-y. Obviously, style the table.
cricket2147@verizon.net.
Recently we sold a china cabinet because the only place to position it would not allow the dining table to be centered under the light. I couldn’t help but notice that is the case with yours. Maybe I was a bit hasty in selling because your space looks great. I love that it’s not matchy matchy but a very interesting collection of pieces.
I thought it would bother me much more than it actually does to have the table off-center from the lighting! I think it may also depend a bit on the light and scale too.
This is the perfect room for your earthly pink paint color!
I’ve been thinking about it!! I”m also considering it for my bedroom or upstairs in the dressing room!
If you don’t love the dining room table, why not re-purpose it as a desk elsewhere in your home? That way, your husband can still keep “his” table. Also, I am a big believer in upholstered dining room chairs with arms for ALL–hosts and guests. It makes it so much more comfortable for everyone to stay at the table.
Additional thoughts: this room is all hard angles. Consider an oval dining room table and/or chairs with some curves to make the room feel more warm and welcoming. For what it’s worth, I think the bench belongs in a foyer or at the end of a bed. A credenza with storage space would be a better choice for a dining room.
Oh, I wish we could. It’s entirely too large for a desk! But I am trying to figure out how we can save it and use it elsewhere! I would love to find a dining table with curves, but I can’t seem to find one I like in the right size (or in my budget!). But I definitely think getting some softness in here would help!
Loved this article! In any endeavor I’m a big proponent of knowing what’s serving you and what’s not, and cutting out the latter. This ties perfectly into your third piece of advice, and I find that it’s something that we often forget to do when we’re in the thick of a big project. Also love the colors you’re working with in this room, the white curtains in particular are a great touch. Looking forward to seeing more!
Thank you Shimi!!
I’ve been practicing NOT giving unsolicited advice for years now so I absolutely cannot resist this opportunity! Advice being solicited… yay! I looked at the first photo and instantly had thoughts… as I always do when it comes to interior design. Overall you need more sophistication. How about this? Keep the dining table (think of it as a classic Parsons style) and the four chairs. Add two end chairs with less texture for balance. Slipcovered to the floor with a rustic linen in a similar tone as the existing chairs would be nice. Compatible but less visual clutter.
Center the table under a beautiful new light and airy modern fixture. You know, the kind with multiple clear glass globes on the ends of brass arms. I would stay away from black, too heavy.
And how about this carpet? http://www.westelm.ca/caspian-rug-blue-overdye-t2855?quantity=1&attribute_1=9%27×12%27
Once the table’s centered, embrace the “hallway” aspect of that side of the room and remove the bench altogether (it is fabulous… somewhere else?). Fill the wall space with a large, more ornate mirror for some fun. Could even sit on the floor! Now you’ll have more room on the opposite side where I really think a cabinet with character would work great. I know… this is all adding up but perhaps vintage/second-hand/used? In stages? Have fun!
Linda, I love all your suggestions!! Funny enough, I was originally thinking that if we kept the table, we’d do slipcovered chairs at each end to soften up all that wood, so we’re on the same page! And definitely a new light fixture. Thank you for chiming in! Such great feedback!