Dining Room Ideas: Inspiration For Spaces Big & Small (Ahead Of Xmas Dinner)

With Christmas fast approaching, we want to help you get your home ready for this important time of year. 

Having recently shared some cosy living room ideas and Christmas decorating tips on the Tiles Direct blog, we thought it only right to continue on this theme and move into the dining room. 

Whether you need kitchen-dining room ideas or design inspo for a separate dining room, we’re going to be dishing up a veritable feast of ideas to help you get your dining area ready for that all-important Christmas dinner!

From colour schemes to decor themes, let’s pull the crackers and get stuck in.

Stick with tradition

For many of us, the festive season is all about traditions. So, when it comes to dining room decor ideas, why not stick with a traditional theme here, too?

Keep colour schemes uniform and typically Christmassy across the board. Yes, we’re talking green and red with lashings of gold for added flair. 

To fully capture a traditional feel that’s Christmas-card worthy, the entire room needs to have that magical, warm feeling you see in Christmas movies. 

Let’s start with lighting. Use table lamps, fairy lights and candles throughout the room to emit that authentic, traditional glow. If you have the space, a small Christmas tree simply decorated with twinkly lights and a few red and gold baubles will enhance the traditional vibe.

Next up: greenery. For that authentic feel, make sure there are plenty of real (or faux) garlands and wreaths draped along mantelpieces, shelves, windowsills and more. For a showy finish, add ribbons and bauble in red and gold – perfect for table centrepieces if you have a large dining table.

To dress the table, a crisp white or red tablecloth will give a clean base to embellish with those essential decorative touches. From shimmering gold candelabras and cutlery to napkins, crackers and handmade place names, make sure each element ties into the colour scheme and overall traditional theme for a cohesive finish. 

Go for cool, monochrome decor

The full Crimbo colour scheme isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still make your dining space feel festive. 

Modern dining room ideas are all about pared-back interiors that still give you that Christmassy feeling but in a fuss-free, simple format. It can also provide a more curated and reserved look that projects a high-end vibe for grown-up Christmas get-togethers.

To master the minimalist look, stick with one or two key colours, making sure the finish feels clean and refined. We love the idea of going monochrome with your interiors, restraining the colour palette to black and white. 

This wintery dining room idea doesn’t have to feel stark and cold, though. By introducing a variety of textures (as well as shades of grey), you can soften the overall aesthetic making it feel cosier.

With the floors, bring a clean and sleek finish with white floor tiles. Finished with a dark grey patterned rug, these tiles will feel far from cold underfoot.

For tables, complement a crisp white cloth with shiny and black silver decorations like tealight holders, baubles and glass ornaments that will bring guaranteed sparkle and character when you need it. 

From napkins to boucle seat covers, use fabrics in white, grey and black where possible to bring a warm and softer finish.

Keep things simple

If you’re working with an open-plan dining space, it can be tricky to know how to dress the space for Christmas. Our tip is to keep the design simple. 

This doesn’t have to mean boring, though. It’s more about making sure the right features are the focus of attention, as open-plan spaces tend to have a lot going on. 

For instance, in open living-dining rooms, ideas should look to create contrasts between these two distinct zones. Similarly, with kitchen-dining room ideas, you want your dining table to draw the eye away from the potentially hectic kitchen, defining it as a separate zone but retaining decorative cohesion.

This sounds a little tricky, but it is in fact incredibly simple to do. 

First, invest in a simple yet striking dining table set that will stand out against soft furnishings in the living room or a backdrop of pots and pans in kitchens. 

Next, keep the decor minimal on the table. Forego table cloths to fully display your beautiful table that’s garnished with a simple, green centrepiece. If you must use placemats, keep the materials natural and neutral coloured to allow the smaller touches to be the focal point.

Opt for quirky colour schemes

Christmas centres around traditions, including regimented colour schemes. But if you’re tired of the same old red, green, silver and gold colour combinations, we’re here for you.

This year, push tradition aside with quirky, less conventional colour schemes that will look equally as festive but truly unique.

For a full-on colour extravaganza, we’d suggest using a mixture of strong colours and patterns that will deliver a pretty, eye-catching finish. The benefit of this approach is that these colours don’t necessarily even need to go well together – sometimes clashing hues bring their own beauty.

For instance, pink, orange and red with a turquoise undertone can create beautiful, bold contrasts that still bring festive cheer. The trick is to mix and match different patterns throughout your dining room decor that feature these underlying shades.

From patterned floor and wall tiles to the all-important tabletop, layer up different colours and patterns to your heart’s content. 

With the table, channel eclectic interiors with mismatched tablecloth fabrics or placemats. Use bright floral centrepieces and plenty of coloured glassware and crockery with colourful candles and ornaments to give it a magical, characterful feeling that works for festive occasions and the everyday. 

Add a touch of luxury

Christmas is invariably a time of year for indulgence, from rich foods to parties and presents. So, why not indulge yourself with a lavish and luxurious dining room design this year?

With the right ingredients, you can create an opulent, grand dining space to enjoy the festivities. 

For colour schemes, pair rich tones like plum, ruby red and emerald green with gold or silver for a stunning regency decor vibe. 

Fabrics should be lush and sumptuous materials like satin, silk and velvet with plenty of frills, tassels, layers and ruching for added texture. We love the look of a matt gold satin oversized tablecloth that drapes down to the floor, paired with velvet-covered seats and all-gold table decorations and crockery in jewel tones. 

To up the ante of your luxury dining room ideas, give the floors a freshen up with classic marble-effect flooring. Finished with a traditional Persian-style rug and a vintage-style home bar corner, and your dining room will look every bit as grand as the set of the Great Gatsby. 

Whether you’re working with a small kitchen-dining space or a separate dining room, we hope our dining room ideas have inspired you to create a sumptuous, stylish and practical dining space this season and beyond. 

You’ll find even more helpful home design ideas and practical tips for every room on our home interior design blog.