Master Class: Small Dining Rooms

There is something very special about the family meal. It's such a great opportunity to sit and discuss your day. So it's very important that you create a space that really encourages that connection, and I think that smaller spaces do that better than larger ones. As an Interior Designer in Los Angeles, most of the homes we work on tend to be quite large, but it is always rewarding to create Dining Rooms that although smaller in scale are really successful designs that bring families together.

Using a banquette gives you a lot of seating flexibility.

As many of you know, I do love a good banquette, it’s a simple way to provide you with lots of options from intimate dining for two all the way to a bunch of kids crammed in after soccer practice.

A large table no more than 60" across will allow lots of people, but still enable lots of conversation, from side to side.

The dynamics of a Dining Room really depends on an ability to encourage interactions with everyone at the table, without feeling cramped, so try to use a table that is not so big it leaves people stranded across from each other.

Simple color scheme is good, since there will be a lot of visual chaos.

There is usually a lot going on at our dinner table, so keeping the backgrounds and the design simple with less visual clutter can help to create a space that has a more calm and quiet feel.

Good lighting is essential, a blend of surface mounted fixtures and downlights is ideal.

Now pay attention to this one, flattering lighting is important not just for you and your guests but also to make the food look good. Make sure the table is washed in warm, consistent light. This is often best achieved with downlighting.

Adding live plants as well is a great way to bring a space alive.

A living plant in a room can be a challenge to maintain for sure, but having one in your dining room is a smart way your space feel more welcoming and attended to.