How to Style a Dining Room - The Cult Edit

The shape of a dining table matters.

Round dining tables are inherently sociable - their curved nature allowing conversations to flow naturally. No corners, no head of the table, everyone equally placed. It’s cafe culture at its finest. The other plus: they take up less room and give the illusion of more space. For smaller dining rooms, this opens everything up, whether it is an open-plan dining situ or a closed-off space.

Rectangular tables suit longer, narrower rooms and work well for larger gatherings and families where you need to seat more people efficiently. A structured, traditional seating experience, a rectangular table can also be pushed up against the wall. Lastly, if you need your table for dining as well as work, they’re the ideal multitasker.

Oval tables are a bit of both. They have the sociability of a round table with the capacity of a rectangle - ideal for those sporting a larger dining room. And for those who need flexibility, an extendable dining table is one of the smartest investments in the room: compact for daily use, generous when you need it.

This is the single most overlooked element of dining room design. 

Upholstered dining chairs - in velvet, boucle, or fabric - transform the experience of sitting at a table for any length of time. Hard wooden seats are fine for twenty minutes. For a three-course dinner with friends, comfort becomes the difference between a great evening and one that ends earlier than it should. Banish the fidgeting - invest in chairs that are genuinely pleasant to sit in for hours.

A high gloss dining table has a reflective surface that plays with light in a way that no other finish does.

And for smaller rooms? The reflective quality also adds the illusion of space. In darker shades that lean into Mid-Century, this creates a sense of theatre. Neutral shades suit Scandic and Minimalist interiors.

The key with high gloss is to mix materials and finishes. Pair with matte upholstery to balance the shine and let the table be the star, or take a look at dining tables with high gloss frames and marble tabletops. 

Release yourself from the shackles of mono-materialising with contrasting textures, and embrace mismatched dining chairs, lighting, and home decor. 

One of the most talked-about moves in contemporary dining room design, it’s this simple: either mix chair styles but keep the colour consistent, or mix colours in a consistent silhouette.

A marble dining table amplifies this approach perfectly. The natural variation of the stone means no two tables are identical, and it pairs with almost any chair style - from sculptural velvet to rattan-backed wood frames - without effort.

The Nordic approach to dining is simple: light woods, clean lines, a round or oval table, mismatched chairs in neutral tones, and a pendant light that does something interesting overhead.

The Scandi dining room is deliberately unfussy and creates undeniable warmth. The key to embodying both Scandinavian and Japandi interiors is to resist the urge to overdecorate and replace furniture too quickly. Invest in high-quality pieces and let the materials do the heavy lifting.

Compact doesn’t mean compromised.

Where a room requires connection and intimacy, a smaller size can actually work in its favour. A common mistake is scaling back accessories and opting for everything in a size XS. Sparcely decorated small dining rooms aren’t a good use of space. 

Don’t be discouraged from adding home decor, including a rug that will help zone the space. Choose a rug that's large enough for all four chair legs to sit on it when pulled out - this is the most common mishap in dining rooms, and it makes the space look even smaller.

For the table itself, round wins in a small room every time. It takes up less visual space, allows easier movement around it, and seats more people per square metre than a rectangular equivalent. A compact round table with two to four chairs is the most sociable small dining room arrangement available.

Reflective surfaces - mirrors, high gloss finishes, glass - in small dining rooms create the illusion of depth. A mirrored wall or large mirror behind the table is particularly effective. Avoid heavy, dark curtains or anything that blocks natural light.

For lighting, you can afford to go for a statement pendant light overhead to utilise the space.

Most dining rooms spend the majority of their lives not being eaten in. Which means they need to look considered between meals, not just during them.

Sculptures + Decorative Pieces: A dining table cleared of place settings is a display surface. Use it as one. A small sculpture, a stack of art books, a ceramic bowl gathering dust at the sidelines. These pieces give the table purpose and personality when it's not being used for food.

Greenery + Floral Arrangements: Seasonal flowers in a statement vase are the simplest upgrade. For something longer-lasting, branches, dried grasses, or eucalyptus bring height and organic texture without the maintenance. A trailing plant on the sideboard adds life without taking up table space.

Candles + Candlestick Holders: Candlesticks on a dining table in a cluster of different heights - some tall tapers, some shorter pillars - create visual interest whether in use or not. Choose candlestick holders in materials that complement your table: brass for warmth, stone for weight, coloured glass for lightness.

Textiles: A quick, low-effort move, the classic table runner keeps the surface looking intentional between meals without the formality of a tablecloth. On chairs, a simple throw or cushion softens the seating and adds colour without changing the furniture.