A black and white scheme will always look striking whatever the room. White walls and black and black furniture adds drama to balance. Fill up the background with wooden accessories displayed on shelves for warmth.

You don't have to spend a fortune to create a stylish dining room. Create an instant visual impact on a budget with a bold paint decorating effect teamed with contemporary furnishings. This navy blue painted arch makes a striking modern focal point that is easily achieved. 

The right seating will, of course, make or break a dining experience. The curved and comfortable shape of these Nordic-style seats are incredibly inviting and do not compromise on design. Teamed with a wooden table and matching bench, the look is laid-back, creating the perfect area to eat and relax. 

Rattan is having a huge revival and makes a great material choice for dining rooms in conservatories and garden rooms as they have an alfresco feel. Durable and sturdy, it's a material that looks even better with age and the intricate woven patterns makes a strong visual style statement. Echo the natural material with handwoven artwork and accessories on walls to add to the artisan feel. 

Put your dining table in the spotlight with the perfect pendant lighting. As it will hang over your table and not be a hazard, you can choose one that falls almost to eye level for added impact. As the light fades, positioning it low will help create an intimate atmosphere, especially if you install a dimmer switch. 

Make the most of stylish wall panels by displaying a mini art gallery from its narrow ledge. Not only will it look interesting the low-level placement will meet guest diners' eyes while seated, creating a visual conversation starter. Add extra character by choosing frames in different shapes and sizes. 

Up the luxury stakes with plush fabrics and reflective surfaces. The blush pink and gold hues of this seating look super-luxe upholstered in soft velvet with gold-effect legs. Here, the soft colours looks grown-up and sophisticated set with a warming and dusky rose carpet. 

The joy of table linen is that it can transform the look of a dining room and hide a multitude of sins if your furniture has seen better days. This soft green tablecloth softens the harsh black dining table in a flash while pom-pom edging adds boho charm. 

Make the entire wall a focal point in the dining room by hanging a beautiful mural wallpaper. Blend the feature into the room by picking out the details. Here, the illustrated flamingos are colour matched perfectly to the pink coral statement chairs and contemporary pendant light for an ultra-chic luxurious look. 

A statement floor is a hot trend but can be expensive. However, you'd never guess this intricate patchwork effect is, in fact, vinyl rather than tiles until you are right up close. The warm colourway picks out the natural tones in the wooden table and chairs for a coherent finish that is full of inviting character. 

If your dining room is, in fact, a kitchen-diner, create a broken plan space for evening meals with design features. Alternative flooring types zones the two areas while a glazed screen acts as an attractive room divider without compromising light. 

Everything about this industrial-look kitchen-diner is on the current trends list. Clean lines and Tolix-style chairs look modern and edgy. The copper splashback frames and warms the space and Crittall doors enhance the loft-style living space.

Get a restaurant feel in your dining room with a bespoke built-in booth. The space-saving addition will provide a cosy feeling that is coordinated yet casual. We love this soft blue cushioned cubicle that's picked out with matching coloured blinds.

Benches look great in breakfast rooms or more relaxed dining areas as they give off a cool canteen vibe. They are also super space-saving as you can squeeze on an extra person when needed, and they are easily pushed under the table when not in use.

If your dining room is kept only for special occasions you can go all-out with a striking colour choice. Paint the walls a strong dark grey for a dramatic impact. This room balances the colour with warm natural wood and lush greenery – it's so inviting. 

If you are not lucky enough to own a separate dining room don't rule out other areas. This walk-through has been transformed into a dining space using a narrow table and chairs. The wide windowsill doubles as a bench when cushions are added and a refreshing pale colour scheme maximises space. 

If you are looking for a dining room style with interior design credentials go for intense colour and bold furniture. Everything in this dining room is large and luxe, but by using just two accent colours, the look is still elegant and ordered. Hang or lean a large piece of artwork to create drama and if you can't install a pendant light put the table in the spotlight with a striking oversized floor lamp. 

Round dining tables make a refreshing change to classic right-angled styles, and are ideal for snug spaces. They are visually softer as they obviously don't have straight lines and are thought to be more social as you are always facing everyone at the table. This wooden circular design has a cool 1970s vibe which is enhanced by other curvaceous furniture such as the circular rattan rug and round velvet pouffe. 

Use dining room storage as a means of display. Store your best glassware and crockery neatly in mounted open shelving and hide the 'everyday' pieces in a matching sideboard beneath. If space is tight use the extra surfaces for colourful additions like fresh flowers and candles. 

Enhance the sense of space in your dining room with white walls and ceilings. Double doors and windows will let light stream in and reflect off the bright surfaces. It also offers a crisp blank canvas for adding character and texture with oversized furniture and a striking chandelier focal point. 

Patterned wallpaper, upholstered seating and full-length curtains will give your dining space a cosy yet elegant feel that is perfect for long, intimate suppers. Add to the atmosphere with plenty of dark coloured candles. 

This clever table with bench seating could work in a kitchen or outside on decking, depending on the time of year. Perfect for a kitchen-diner that can be opened up to the garden, its simple rustic style means it looks perfectly at home wherever you put it.

Coastal colours are a calming choice and a great way to incorporate upcycled chairs into your dining room scheme by painting them various shades of ocean blue. Complete the seascape theme with a bleached wooden tabletop and pale whitewashed flooring. Love this fresh theme? Check out these coastal decorating ideas for every room. 

Eames DSW Side Chairs have become hugely popular in dining rooms and are a real design icon. Available in an array of colourways to mix and match, they are functional, stylish and literally pieces of 'furniture art'. If you can't afford the real thing there are many replica versions to suit all budgets. 

Make your dining room scheme lush and beautiful with exotic botanical prints and jungle-style greenery. Frame eclectic wooden furniture with statement fern print Roman blinds and then fill the room with plenty of large green potted plants and natural wood furniture

Incorporate the windows by hanging blinds that work with the scheme. Roller and Roman blinds always look smart and can be pulled right up during the day to allow lots of natural light into the room or lowered for privacy at night. This scandi floral print and chartreuse colourway gently lifts the neutral painted walls and adds a hint of refreshing spring style.

Who says family dining can't be stylish? Light-wood furniture, calming colours and plenty of light will create a relaxed and harmonious eating space to accommodate everyone. Plus, this practical table is topped with durable and easy-to-clean Formica; so it's ready for everything that happens in a busy home.

Greenery makes a pretty addition to a dining room especially when entertaining, whatever the season. This simple room with a touch of industrial is instantly softened thanks to the hanging statement garland. If you can't hang a frame above the table like this, then dress a sideboard with foliage instead. 

Dining rooms with large tables can sometimes look too formal. For a more relaxed look think about simplicity as well as functionality. Even though this room is obviously for entertaining its laid back appeal is created with pared-back, mix and match furniture. The additional stools and houseplants add just a touch of welcoming colour. 

Simplicity will make your dining room look elegant and spacious. Bare walls and natural flooring allows modern furniture to become the main design statement in this relaxing room. Choose interesting shapes; these Fritz Hansen Grand Prix chairs are classic and will look good for years to come.

A white farmhouse table and cross back chairs will bring plenty of country comfort to your dining room. Painted oak furniture in creamy colours is easy on the eye and timeless. Choose chairs with fabric seat pads to soften the hard edges of the wood; a plain fabric will look effortless or go for a pattern to jazz things up.

Pale walls and washed out blonde flooring are mixed with the natural materials of brown leather, raw wood and seagrass to create an elegant space with just the right amount of retro. Dress with 1970s ceramics, overhanging greenery and starburst mirrors to pull the whole look together.

Generously proportioned and upholstered in this soft grey-green velvet, these formal chairs give the space character and offer a comfortable spot to while away the hours. You do need to have a large room with high ceilings to pull off this look, but if you need to fill a big space a table is the way to go. Continue the classic style with a warming polished wood floor and elegant neutral colours like sage or cashmere pink. 

Soft lighting is the ultimate mood maker, especially when dining. Whether you go for a single candlelit centrepiece table or fill the room with votives, you can't fail to make the space feel special. If your room is open-plan, zone the area and make it intimate with temporary voile curtains and enhance the hygge vibe by adding faux fur to seating. Need inspiration? Check out these bright ideas for lighting your home.

Whether it's original or replica, dark finishes and statement shapes will give your dining room a trendy mid-century feel. Choose slimline furniture to create the illusion of space in a small room. This muted choice of wall colour works very well with dark furniture. Finish the look with thoughtfully chosen accessories: a sunny framed print, retro ceramics and fresh foliage are all that is needed.

The beauty of decorating a dining room is that you don't need a fussy scheme to make an impression. From a formal dinner to a casual supper you can refresh your look every time you dine with a new table setting. Your dining room table is literally a blank canvas. Choose coordinated crockery, eye-catching centrepieces and layered linens to create a different visual masterpiece every time. 

Adding a rug to the dining room can help achieve a number of positive factors; it will help zone the space especially in open-plan diners, anchor the room to draw the eye to the table, marry up a decorating scheme and, of course, the additional texture will soften the look of the whole space. 

If you enjoy setting the table make sure your backdrop is a neutral scheme to suit every season. White walls and an oak dining set can be styled for lots of different occasions. This modern festive scene looks super chic with black decorations, smoked glassware and finished with frosted, seasonal foliage. 

The much-loved neutral palette can look fresh and elegant in a dining room. Blend soft grey tones and patterns with pale painted wood for a timeless yet bright feel. Upholstered seating and full-length curtains will warm the sometimes chilly shade up with inviting texture. 

Open fires are wonderful in any room for adding cosiness and comfort but seem slightly grander when lit in a dining room. Team that crackling fire with a rich wooden floor, plush green velvet seating, a touch of friendly foliage and you've got the perfect recipe to enjoy a long, lavish meal you won't want to finish. 

Extending tables are perfect for big families and entertaining guests. They usually have an additional hidden piece in the middle to pull out when needed and don't compromise on style. This stylish version has strong lines with those angled legs and has been matched with mustard quilted dining chairs to look fresh and on-trend. Stuck for space? There are lots of options for cool, convertible furniture that'll grow before your eyes.

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