Philadelphia is a city full of history and older properties. While the home you’re living in might have been built in the 19th century or earlier, there’s no reason why your dining room needs to look tired and dated. These dining room ideas will help revitalize your space, making it look like it firmly belongs in the 21st century, not the 18th or 19th.
1. Get Exciting Lighting
The light fixtures in your dining room can make it look older than its years. Take a peek at the fixture that hangs over your dining room table, if you have one. If it features a stained glass lampshade or brass details, it’s probably not doing your space any favors. Luckily for you, Philadelphia has a number of lighting stores that specialize in modern fixtures. The team at Bulb, a lighting showroom in Center City, can evaluate your dining room lighting situation and offer suggestions that will make the room more up to date. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly way to breathe new light into your dining room, the Ikea in South Philadelphia has a number of overhead or pendant lighting options that won’t break the bank.
2. Mix and Match
Traditional dining rooms tend to feature matching furniture sets, matching dinnerware, and matching textiles. One way to cast aside tradition in your dining room is not to be afraid to mix and match. In fact, most modern dining rooms don’t feature anything that matches exactly. Update the room by juxtaposing things that don’t seem to go together. For example, combine rustic-looking benches with upholstered chairs on the ends of the dining table, or use clear plastic chairs with a more refined wooden table.
A safer way to mix or match is to play with different color or pattern combinations. Choose two different patterns for the upholstery on your dining room chairs, for example. Just make sure the patterns share the same color scheme. If you want to play it really safe, stick with solid, complementary colors. You can also try using brightly colored dining room chairs with a more traditional looking finish on the table.
3. Add a New Coat of Paint
When it comes to updating your dining room, you might be surprised at the difference a new coat of paint can make. Pick one wall in the room to serve as the focal point and paint it a sharply contrasting color from the rest of the room. Put a sideboard or hutch along the wall to further draw attention to it. You can also try painting the furniture in the room to create contrast and update an older set. For example, give a tired set of dining room chairs new life by painting them white. If you have room in your budget, you can also add new upholstery to the chairs in a modern pattern.
Modern dining room ideas don’t have to deplete your savings or drain your wallet. You can update your Philly home with a few quick changes to the walls, the furniture, or fixtures in the space.
Image Source: Flickr/Shashi Bellamkonda
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