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8 Ways to Make a Dining Area Feel Cosy
From layered lighting and soft seating to relaxing colours, check out these ways to dine in comfort
Whether you want a comfy space for dining alone, are looking to create relaxed family mealtimes, or like to invite friends to gather and share food and conversation, a cosy dining area can enhance our homes and lives.
So don’t let your dining zone, whether a separate room or, more likely, carved out of a kitchen, be an afterthought. Take a look at these ways you can give it its own identity and turn it into a space where everyone’s happy to linger.
So don’t let your dining zone, whether a separate room or, more likely, carved out of a kitchen, be an afterthought. Take a look at these ways you can give it its own identity and turn it into a space where everyone’s happy to linger.
2. Provide comfy seating
Whether you team your table with benches or chairs, make sure they’re comfortable and linger-worthy. Here, in a scheme by Imperfect Interiors, upholstered seats offer a relaxed dining experience for residents and guests alike. No one wants to rush dessert in the race to escape a hard chair.
And if food is likely to drop or drip? Washable loose covers like these will allow you to relax, too.
Whether you team your table with benches or chairs, make sure they’re comfortable and linger-worthy. Here, in a scheme by Imperfect Interiors, upholstered seats offer a relaxed dining experience for residents and guests alike. No one wants to rush dessert in the race to escape a hard chair.
And if food is likely to drop or drip? Washable loose covers like these will allow you to relax, too.
3. Zone the space for an intimate mood
This dining area by Born Designers is open to a large kitchen, but it’s been given its own identity, which helps it to feel intimate.
The rug under the table is key; it’s subtle, but enough to delineate the area. Note that it’s big enough for diners to sit comfortably with all four chair legs on it.
In addition, the area immediately around the dining table – the walls flanking the French doors – have been panelled, which also helps to zone and cosy up the space, and a large pendant light hangs low for an intimate glow.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to builders, carpenters and decorators, on Houzz.
This dining area by Born Designers is open to a large kitchen, but it’s been given its own identity, which helps it to feel intimate.
The rug under the table is key; it’s subtle, but enough to delineate the area. Note that it’s big enough for diners to sit comfortably with all four chair legs on it.
In addition, the area immediately around the dining table – the walls flanking the French doors – have been panelled, which also helps to zone and cosy up the space, and a large pendant light hangs low for an intimate glow.
Thinking of renovating? Find everyone you need, from interior designers to builders, carpenters and decorators, on Houzz.
4. Keep draughts at bay
It’s lovely to have a dining area near a window or glazed doors onto the garden, but, for a cosy experience, make sure there are no draughts once the temperature drops in the evening. Thick, full-length curtains, as in this design by TOTUS, or a Roman blind that fully fills the window recess, will ensure guests are comfortable after dark on colder days.
Equally, if your dining area is in a very sunny spot, consider sheer curtains that can be deployed to block any glare if necessary.
It’s lovely to have a dining area near a window or glazed doors onto the garden, but, for a cosy experience, make sure there are no draughts once the temperature drops in the evening. Thick, full-length curtains, as in this design by TOTUS, or a Roman blind that fully fills the window recess, will ensure guests are comfortable after dark on colder days.
Equally, if your dining area is in a very sunny spot, consider sheer curtains that can be deployed to block any glare if necessary.
5. Go round
If it fits in with your design, a circular table can be a great way to create a cosy mood, ensuring no one is stuck on the ‘end’ and everyone can join in. Perhaps there’s something in the fact that the wine bottle is never far away, too…
A round table is also a gentle shape in an open-plan kitchen-diner, as in this Oakwrights space, in contrast to the angular kitchen units, helping to both soften the overall scheme and zone the dining area and give it a welcoming vibe.
If it fits in with your design, a circular table can be a great way to create a cosy mood, ensuring no one is stuck on the ‘end’ and everyone can join in. Perhaps there’s something in the fact that the wine bottle is never far away, too…
A round table is also a gentle shape in an open-plan kitchen-diner, as in this Oakwrights space, in contrast to the angular kitchen units, helping to both soften the overall scheme and zone the dining area and give it a welcoming vibe.
6. Fill a large space
The design of this dining area by Catherine Harhalakis Interiors is a great example of how to make a large dining space feel more intimate.
The trick is to not leave the table floating, but place furniture and objects around it. A sideboard would work nicely, or perhaps a small armchair or two, but if there isn’t enough room for that, try a long shelf. The one spanning this dining area isn’t very deep, yet it introduces plants, artworks, candles and ceramics into the space, creating warmth and interest.
The brick backdrop helps with the cosy mood, but you could equally paper one wall or paint it in a rich, warm shade.
The design of this dining area by Catherine Harhalakis Interiors is a great example of how to make a large dining space feel more intimate.
The trick is to not leave the table floating, but place furniture and objects around it. A sideboard would work nicely, or perhaps a small armchair or two, but if there isn’t enough room for that, try a long shelf. The one spanning this dining area isn’t very deep, yet it introduces plants, artworks, candles and ceramics into the space, creating warmth and interest.
The brick backdrop helps with the cosy mood, but you could equally paper one wall or paint it in a rich, warm shade.
7. Bring in greenery
The power of nature to relax and reset us isn’t in doubt and surrounding your dining area with houseplants is an easy way to add a cosy mood.
Large, sculptural plants, like this one in a design by Naomi Callan, ensure an immersive feel, but you could drape trailing plants from a high shelf for a similar effect.
Ask your designer if they use Houzz Pro software: tools such as 3D Floor Plans and Mood Boards can help you to visualise designs for your space.
The power of nature to relax and reset us isn’t in doubt and surrounding your dining area with houseplants is an easy way to add a cosy mood.
Large, sculptural plants, like this one in a design by Naomi Callan, ensure an immersive feel, but you could drape trailing plants from a high shelf for a similar effect.
Ask your designer if they use Houzz Pro software: tools such as 3D Floor Plans and Mood Boards can help you to visualise designs for your space.
8. Layer lighting
The right lighting is key to creating a cosy mood in a dining area. As in this welcoming corner by Q Design House, a mix of sources ensures warmth, with a pendant over the table plus wall and/or table lights around it giving a gentle glow.
Choose shades and lighting positions that mean diners won’t be dazzled by bare bulbs, and have lights on dimmers, so you can set the perfect mood.
More: What Happens When you Hire a Lighting Designer?
Tell us…
Do you have any tips for making a dining area cosy, especially in an open-plan space? Share your ideas in the Comments.
The right lighting is key to creating a cosy mood in a dining area. As in this welcoming corner by Q Design House, a mix of sources ensures warmth, with a pendant over the table plus wall and/or table lights around it giving a gentle glow.
Choose shades and lighting positions that mean diners won’t be dazzled by bare bulbs, and have lights on dimmers, so you can set the perfect mood.
More: What Happens When you Hire a Lighting Designer?
Tell us…
Do you have any tips for making a dining area cosy, especially in an open-plan space? Share your ideas in the Comments.
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The move in the past couple of years towards warmer shades is, in part, about creating homes that feel comforting and connected to the natural world. As such, earthy colours and natural materials are a safe bet for giving your dining space a cosy mood.
In this scheme by Lydia Allen Interiors, shades from cream to olive through sand and ochre are layered in the form of plump cushions, while woven rattan chairs and wood panelling offer tactile comfort.
If you’re drawn to these colours but prefer a slightly more decorative look, embrace the trend for naturalistic wallpaper, with an intricate design in warm hues as a backdrop.