Mahogany Dining Room Table Informal Decorating Ideas

Large round dining room table

Credit: Mark Burstyn; Designer: Sabrina Linn

Whether you're hosting a holiday dinner party or gathering around the table for a weeknight meal, the dining room is where people come together. It's the spot in the home that encourages you to celebrate your signature style. From modern to traditional, get inspired by these stylish ideas.

Pop of Pattern

White room with patterned curtains

Credit: Simon Bevan/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

A small touch of pattern on the windows can brighten up a space. Roman shades in a modern floral fabric keep a wood table and wicker chairs from feeling too outdated. Oversized candelabras become a simple, sculptural centerpiece.

Bright Spot

Grey and yellow dining room

Credit: Tom Leighton/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

Like the sun breaking through gray skies, this color combination is a happy surprise. Let the yellow accents shine by choosing clean, modern lines on the walls, windows, and floor.

Moody Mix

Painted exposed brick wall in breakfast nook

Credit: Adrian Briscoe/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

Exposed brick can add architectural charm to a breakfast nook. If you desire a more polished look, consider a fresh coat of paint. These mauve-colored walls are funky rather than girly, thanks to black accents and unexpected patterns.

Naturally Beautiful

Mismatched chairs at dining room table

Credit: Simon Whitmore/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication

Mismatched chairs in neutral shades add character to this open, inviting space. A floral wallpaper in a muted tone will feel modern, not frilly, which can balance a space that is filled with accessories like hanging wreaths, bamboo cutting boards, and more.

French Accents

French accented dining room

Credit: Brent Darby/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+ Syndication

Traditional and antique pieces, like these Louis-style chairs, can feel intimidating when grouped together. But this room maintains a fresh face with various neutrals (whites, creams, and sage green) sprinkled throughout the space and accented with a single bit of hanging bling.

Double Duty

Formal dining room

Credit: Robert Sanderson/25 Beautiful Homes/IPC+Syndication

Who needs a formal dining room 365 days a year? This one is traditional enough for Thanksgiving dinner and cozy enough—with extra seating off to the side—for sitting on a Sunday afternoon. If you're short on square footage, a small, round table is a smart use of space.

Emerald Beauty

Green and toile dining room

Credit: Adrian Briscoe/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

If you love one bold color, go for it, but keep the competition in check—or, in this case, in toile. By sticking with a single two-toned fabric on the curtains and chairs, the whole patterned effect is easy on the eyes.

Bright on White

Light, open, airy dining room with a whitewashed farm table

Credit: Brent Darby/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+Syndication

Clean walls, airy window treatments, and a whitewashed farmhouse-style table are perfect for a light-filled room with a view. Keep the whole look grounded with the right amount of texture, which is introduced with a set of rustic, woven chairs.

Family Dining

Rustic elegance dining room

Credit: Christian Garibaldi; Designer: M L Interior Design

Too much wood (table, chairs, flooring, cabinetry) can be a bit overwhelming. Think creatively about the pieces you bring into the room, like this painted cabinet, which keeps things light (add adds tons of storage). Focus on details: Nailhead trim on seat cushions can be a fun contrast to the farmhouse style.

Interior design by M L Interior Design

Clean Slate

Sleek and simple white dining room

Credit: Mark Bolton Photography/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

For those with a modern aesthetic, white is a popular choice for walls, floors, and even furniture. Lean on accents and textured pieces to soften up the space. Here, the set of cushioned chairs in a sophisticated pattern keep the white lacquer Parsons-style table from feeling too stark.

Fit for a Crowd

Large dining room with striped slip covers

Credit: Brent Darby/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+Syndication

When you're decorating a large, wide-open space, focus on capturing light and calling attention to architectural details. Display treasured mementos in open bookshelves to personalize a space and to give it a cozy vibe. Slipcovered chairs add texture and offer flexibility to a palette because they can easily be changed—and washed.

Nautical Nook

L-shaped breakfast bench

Credit: Simon Whitmore/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication

The cozy L-shaped corner bench, navy stripes, and oversized map make this spot feel like it's built into a boat—a brilliant use of space for a breakfast area.

Drama Class

Floor to ceiling wallpaper and floor length curtains

Credit: Tom Leighton/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

A floor-to-ceiling, graphic wallpaper steals the show, while lush curtains and a rosy chandelier add feminine (but not too precious) touches. Well-worn wood furniture gives a bit of a rough edge to this pretty pink room.

Starring Stripes

Blue tiles and red striped curtains

Credit: James Merrell/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

If you're looking for a casual style for a just-off-the-kitchen dining area, then choose understated design elements like blue tile flooring, red-striped linens, industrial lighting. If you need a low-maintenance seasonal change, rotate the seat covers for a fresh look throughout the year.

Spring Quartet

Dining room decorated with floral fabric

Credit: Trevor Richards/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+Syndication

Stick to a strong neutral palette but play with pattern to keep your space from feeling tired. Soft florals can be feminine and pretty but overdosing can be a nightmare. Work in a handsome stripe to keep the room well-balanced.

The New Blue

White kitchen with blue trimmed windows

Credit: Jon Day/Country Homes and Interiors/IPC+Syndication

Mix-and-match seating works well when each chair—or bench, in this case—is a similar style and shape. White walls with turquoise trim is a fun switch for an informal room.

Get in Line

Metallic striped wall

Credit: Jamie Mason/Style At Home/IPC+ Syndication

With some painter's tape and a steady hand, you can master a striped pattern on one wall. Add a metallic paint for a little shine—especially in a dark room—and then keep the furniture minimal.

Subtle Pattern

Traditional damask wallpaper

Credit: Nigel Rigden/Style at Home/IPC+ Syndication

A traditional damask wallpaper looks edgy in a tone-on-tone color. The gray-green looks fresh, not muddy, when paired with white and blonde wood furniture.

High Contrast

Black and white dining room

Credit: Paul Reaside/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

This is a color combination that can be viewed as bold, even daring. In order to keep the room from feeling closed in, paint only the upper half of the walls black and choose linens in light fabrics.

Matching Set

Traditional dining room table and chairs

Credit: Robert Sanderson/25 Beautiful Homes/IPC+ Syndication

A traditional table and chairs feels less formal when the room is filled with oversized extra seating, bookcases, and relaxed lighting. The overall effect is warm, homey, and practical.

Rustic Charm

Long wooden farm table

Credit: Robert Sanderson/25 Beautiful Homes/IPC+ Syndication

Nothing is more inviting than a long farmhouse-style table for the setting of a large family dinner. Keep the space from getting weighed down by choosing slender, not-too-clunky chairs and linen table settings.

Gallery Style

Grey photo ledge in a grey dining room

Credit: David Brittain/Ideal Home/IPC+ Syndication

A photo ledge lets you periodically switch the artwork, and comfortable molded chairs encourage guests to linger. Hanging a pendant light extra low is an unexpected design choice, which also allows you to use a smaller fixture.

Black Magic

Zebra striped chairs and fringed curtains in a dining room

Credit: Polly Wreford/Homes & Gardens/IPC+ Syndication

Zebra stripes and fringed curtains are playful but still sophisticated. To add warmth and prevent the space from feeling over-the-top, choose wallpaper in a creamy or gold-toned palette.

Accent Piece

White dining room with black decor

Credit: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Livingetc/IPC+ Syndication

If you're on a tight budget, there are still DIY decorating touches that will make a room feel fresh. Give an old piece of furniture a new look with a simple coat of black paint. When it comes to the accessories, hang a classic, oversized drum shade and add a striped rug underfoot.

Mocha Swirl

Monochromatic dining room with swirl patterned chairs

Credit: Oliver Gordon/Woman & Home/IPC+ Syndication

A monochromatic room is anything but boring with a soft texture and pattern on the chairs and a little sparkle in the chandelier. Leave it to the food and flowers to add the color this space needs.

Going Coastal

Coastal inspired dining room

Credit: Ben Gebo; Designer: Annsley Interiors

A shell chandelier and sea-green cushions give a hint of beachy style without going overboard. A bamboo Roman shade is a great way to get coverage without blocking natural light.

Interior design by Annsley Interiors

Full Skirted

Linen and glass covered dining room table

Credit: Stephen Guitierrez; Designer: Ashley Goforth Design

You can dress up any round table with a double layer of linens—chocolate brown and white is classic and warm—and a glass top. Chairs should stay partially naked (so to speak) to give the table some leggy contrast.

Interior design by Ashley Goforth Design

Livable Luxury Dining Room

Bold patterned dining room

Credit: Peter Dressel; Designer: Frances Herrera

Pretty, curved details on the chairs and sideboard make this room cohesive without feeling stiff. The elegant patterns on the rug and window treatments complement—not compete with—one another.

Interior design by Frances Herrera

Table for One

Small dining table, window seat and horizontal stripe curtains

Credit: Christian Garibaldi; Designer: M L Interior Design

Or two...or maybe even four, if necessary. A window seat is a brilliant way to make additional seating in a small space, and horizontal stripes work perfectly on curtains that don't extend to the floor.

Interior design by M L Interior Design

Modern Lines

Modern luxury dining room

Credit: Peter Dressel; Designer: Frances Herrera

There is plenty of opportunity to liven up a room that sticks to a more traditional color scheme. For major wow-factor, focus on covering just one wall with a two-tone gray stripe.

Interior design by Frances Herrera

Well-Accessorized

Unique crystal chandelier

Credit: Edward Addeo; Designer: Frances Herrera

A statement piece like this lighting fixture really stands out when the furniture is clean, simple, and sophisticated. Dark mahogany wood paired with pale blue fabric create a cozy dining space.

Interior design by Frances Herrera

Mix and Match

Large round dining room table

Credit: Mark Burstyn; Designer: Sabrina Linn

This room is proof that you can mix materials (dark and light woods, gold and silver fixtures, wood and plastic chairs) and still have a pulled-together look.

Interior design by Sabrina Linn

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