The dining room is the place where you can live in the present moment with the ones you wish to spend more time with. 

A well-designed dining room has the power to affect our mood – to embolden, and to inspire us to become more animated, and to encourage lively conversations. But with so many design inspirations to choose from, where and how do we start?

Photography: Greg Cox/ Bureaux

May Lim, of interior design consultation firm Design iOi, points to inspiration from styles such as modern-luxe, Scandinavian, tropical and industrial as a few of the popular choices, but she stresses the importance of functionality.

“Frankly, any style can work in your favour and you should go with the one that best suits your needs and personality,” she says. “Good space planning and smart design are more crucial.”

For Heah, the style of the dining room should be a continuation of the living room, with each space spilling effortlessly to the next.

“While the simplicity of modern architecture denotes purity, it doesn’t seem to impose the same level of grandeur as traditional architecture,” he muses.

“I love adding old cultural pieces to a contemporary setting or adding modern pieces to a traditional setting to create a juxtaposition between the past and the present.”

While strong, darker colours are making a comeback, homeowners are still leaning towards neutral colours that last and keep the area bright, especially during the day. But to keep the colours from looking one-dimensional, Lim suggests highlighting with a feature wall.

Photography: Greg Cox/ Bureaux

“Having a feature wall incorporates textures such that it doesn’t look flat and is a great way to elevate the look and feel of your dining area, making it more exquisite and contemporary instantly,” she says.

Heah believes that using bold colours as the base of a dining room might be overwhelming and could be daunting after some time.

“It is a good tip to leave the dining room in a neutral colour palette and bring in a pop of colours from nature to set the mood depending on the occasion,” he recommends.

“On the other hand, using organic materials such as solid wood or stone will create a calming energy and a tactile experience that will further improve with age.”

The dining table is the heart of the home. In some homes, it is used solely for dining while in others, it is the multifunctional furniture of choice. You will find the dining table is not just used for dining, but also as an office, for storage and décor. For families with children, it is also a place for learning and education. Socially, it’s the “catch-up area” of choice for guests outside of dining times.

Photography: Greg Cox/ Bureau

“A reliable set of a dining table and chairs is very important as homeowners tend not to purchase new ones for a long time,” Lim says. “That said, mismatching your chair designs creates a more homely feeling and could add character to the space.”

You can dress the table with napkins, cutlery holders and a crockery set to impress, yet a dining table set isn’t the same without an added glow at its centre.

“Popular pendant light designs today include modern statement pieces like a stylish multi-light ring LED that plays with layers to create shapes and brightens the whole apartment effortlessly,” Lim adds. “Long Nordic-style pendant lights are also in trend for their minimalistic, yet modern look.”

This isn’t to say that bigger is definitely better. For some, a more intimate experience with family members may be what they are seeking.

“Investing in what kind of dining furniture would depend on the style of the dining room, but quality and durability are two factors that should not be neglected as function and beauty should go hand in hand,” Heah concludes.