Suggestions for Small High-traffic Dining area

3 years ago

Hello,

Looking for suggestions on how to improve our dining area and make the best use of our space. It currently feels dull and awkward (see photos).

The room is located in the center of our open-ish floor plan, so we want to optimize traffic flowing around the area.

We like to entertain and often have family over, so we’d like to be able to seat 6-8 people if needed. Our current table allows us to seat enough people but it feels massive for the space. Maybe a different shape table would be better?

We love the chandelier, but I’m not sure if it’s too visually heavy. It’s definitely off-center and blocking the route to the back door - that’s where the builder put it. We’ve considered removing it and having recessed lights installed.

The large wall over the stairs is also exciting but we have no idea what to do there.

Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated!!

Featured Answer

decoenthusiaste

3 years ago

Your wainscot, floors, table and chairs are so dark, and the chandelier is not adding enough light. Looks like you could use some under cabinet lighting in the kitchen too. Are you using LEDs? Fans here advise them and 4000K for best natural daylight. This may be a bigger project than you envision, but have you considered changing the railing to a pony wall with a bench and pulling the table and a new light fixture over there. It would open the path to the back door, align the table with the window, and it looks like the stairs are off limits more than used any, so going around the table to get to them might not be terrible, considering the overall improvement.

Not actually at stairs but you can get the impression it could substitute for the one below.

The Orchard, Ozark Craftsman Home · More Info

Not actually with a bench, but again for concept if this was made to look like the one above

49th · More Info

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Comments (7)

User
3 years ago
try to do whatever you can to keep the lamp. ask arond to price out how much it would cost to move it to the ideal spot. a pendant lamp over a table is a million times more pleasant than recessed lights.

I'm in the minority, but I despise canned lights -- unless you can find the perfect spot for them to shine directly onto the middle of the table and not cause a glare in anyone's eyes from any angle. plus the downlighting makes everyone look ghoulish. hate it.
yvonnecmartin
3 years ago
It feels heavy because it is so dark. A rug underneath would help, but of course that would be an upkeep problem. Maybe you could try slipcovers for the chairs. Or maybe you need new chairs.

I vote for a different chandelier or different lighting altogether.
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User
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
if you chose a different style of light with a single chain or cable, you could move it anywhere you want by swagging it (provided you don't move it too far). a super easy DIY project if you know somebody who's comfortable with hard wiring.

but if you really love your current chandelier, it would be worth it to have an electrician move it to the perfect spot. of course you first need to decide the new placement of your dining table. have you tried just re-orienting it? (so it's parallel with the stair railing?) hard to tell from your photos, but that might clear the path to the back door while still allowing plenty of space around the table.
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anj_p
3 years ago
The rectangular table may be part of the issue. I don't know your dimensions, but a round table that can be extended may work better in the space. Or possibly turning the table the other direction (it looks like it's jutting into your kitchen. Again, hard to tell without dimensions. But definitely a shift the lighting might help. Agree that recessed lighting is probably not the best choice for that space. Dining areas need definition, and the fixture provides that. A rug would also help.
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apple_pie_order
3 years ago
Could you reuse the chandelier someplace else? It is not putting out much light so the area feels dull. A bright new fixture would be good.
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dippitydoppitydoo
2 years ago
Hi what did you end up doing? i would turn the tsble in different direction, a little closer to the railing and swag the chandelier - or have electrician fix.

Too mich dark- needs to be broken up /balanced somehow. That can be done with a rug, but that might be asking for trouble under a dining table if you actually use it.

Certain light color stained woods can look noce with dark floors, depending on undertone etc.

dark floors and light furniture looks nice, its just how prsctical it is for you. Even a light grey or ivory rug that has some variation or a pop of color to coordinate with the light fixture would be nice- especially if it is washable rug.

Chairs can be white painted or leather/fabric.

I can even see having a really nice white ish marble or quartz table- practical /easier to maontain than a lihht rug or fabric chairs… and thst would help balance the dark cave like feeling on thst side. Hope it all worked out/works out for you!

Its all easier said than done! Everything cost money or time, or both!
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Suggestions for Small High-traffic Dining area

decoenthusiaste

Comments (7)

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yvonnecmartin

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anj_p

apple_pie_order

dippitydoppitydoo

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