We’re just starting to enter the coziest and indoor-focused time of the year. As October winds down and we dip into the nearly-empty candy bowl, it’s time to start thinking about how to create memorable fall and winter dining experiences with some fresh dining room colors!
Yes, we’re just beginning the season of feasts. Between the end of October through the New Year, many homeowners are hosting at least 2-3 important events and meals, which is why it’s the perfect time to rethink the dining room experience and get the color inspiration flowing!
As a color expert, you know that it’s hard for me to discuss color choices without addressing how colors need to match the emotional intention of the space. If we consider the dining room’s purpose and the desired emotional response, it inspires us to use colors that can accomplish our goals and set the right mood!
In fact, some studies have shown how certain color choices elicit different hunger responses. For example, oranges, reds, and yellows stimulate the appetite (those famous golden arches), and colors on the cooler spectrum, like blues and purples, can calm cravings.
When I think of great dining room experiences in a residential setting (restaurants are different), I picture warmth, laughter, comfort, simplicity, and utility. I, personally, do not enjoy screens, TVs, or any other electronic distractions buzzing in my dining room.
I find the dining room is a place for family and friends to enjoy each other’s company and decompress from the day without distractions. The purpose of dining room colors is to simultaneously decompress heightened anxious emotions and stimulate warmth, comfort, and relation; this is why dining room color choices are truly important.
We’ve all been in dining rooms that either excite us, put us to sleep, or somewhere in between. Hopefully, no dining room colors have made you nauseous. Believe it or not, some bad color combinations were once very popular.
Traditionally speaking, dining room colors have been dark, warm, and muted in the United States. This trend has been in place since the turn of the mid-19th century, if not earlier. The dining room was thought to be a place of reverence and appreciation. However, the color choices that came with these connotations were somewhat “sleepy.”
Deep dark browns, maroons, and even dark mustard-yellows dominated the dedicated dining room. The furniture choices would also emulate this dark/rich theme with large oak or cherry wood tables, bars, and credenzas. The “traditionalist” and historical dining rooms were regal looking and full of reverence, but they didn’t emulate much energy with the color choices.
Countering the traditionalist schemes, some reactions by interior designers and furniture makers were to go to the opposite end of the spectrum, and they began using glass or metal tables, giving the room a whole new feel with brightly upholstered dining room chairs. I should note I think we can agree that there’s some middle ground to be had, and that’s where many of my dining room color suggestions come in!
It’s possible to have reverence, elegance, and respect for the past while also having enough energy to spark conversation and keep the dining experience lively and the space inviting!
When creating the best design for a space, I’m all about harmony and balance. Your dining room can be warm and traditionalist but provide enough energy for conversation and fun. Even without placing an ounce of colorful paint on the walls of your dining room, you can change its use and emotional intention. What do I mean by this? Create the mood you are after by playing with the lighting conditions of your dining room. Fling open those curtains (or remove them altogether) and go with a lighter room, which can immediately turn your formal dining room into a friendly breakfast area, with morning sun welcoming everyone into the space.
I enjoy the regal look of big beautiful wood furniture; even the darkest wood stains can be balanced with some color choices. However, it’s important to note the wood furniture can be a cornerstone of your dining room color scheme. The wood color palettes in your dining room can be the featured color scheme.
Picture an elegant dining room in the early 20th century Victorian; it has dark walnut trim with a matching dining room table and chairs that can seat eight comfortably. The walls are painted soft apple green, bringing an energetic contrast to the ornate-traditionalist space. A vase with yellow and white flower arrangements sits in the middle of the table. A fun Edison bulb chandelier hangs above the table to add a little bit of modern design pop to the area!
Or, if your home is more modern and has more minimalist design features/furniture, neutral colors can serve as a base/backdrop to highlight your culinary works. For example, If you are a chef who wants the food you prepare to be the center of attention, keeping neutral colors around the dining room will highlight the rich and ever-changing colors of what is being served! Quiet colors in the dining room will highlight your culinary masterpieces!
However, if you’d like the dining room space to pop with color, I love the combination of soft and warm colors on the walls, working harmoniously with the neutral colors you’ll usually find in modern dining spaces. Accents of pastel aqua-blue plates and napkins create an even friendlier vibe that will put anyone in a good spirit when sitting down to a meal.
Last but not least, the quiet and soothing dining room offers a world of opportunities for places to add colors to your room. Colorful table linens, candles, glassware, floral arrangements, the world is your oyster when it comes to adding seasonal colors to your dining room!
So, what do you think? Are you ready to host meals this holiday season with fresh dining room color arrangements? Do you still use a traditional dining room, or has that portion of your home been turned into something else? Please share your thoughts, stories, and ideas! I always love hearing them!
