From Formal To Casual

Do you recognize this scenario? When you first styled and furnished your dining room, you went with a traditional formal look: heavy cherry wood furniture, brocaded wallpaper, chair rails, 3-level glass chandelier, sconces, prints with large gilt-edged frames, glassware and porcelain figurines in the hutch, cloth runner on the buffet, etc. The styling and appearance were right for the time and you were proud of the look of quality and elegance. Times change, however. Styles change, the needs of the family changes, grandkids come along. One day you look at the dining room and realize that it is not being utilized by the family because it is too formal and people are afraid of “messing it up.”

If you spend more on casual get-togethers, especially with children in attendance and upkeeping a formal dining area can be bothersome, then it’s time to change your dining room into a fun, hip place where the atmosphere speaks of warmth, casualness and familiarity.

The chandelier comes down and in its place goes recessed, hidden indirect lighting around the entire ceiling. The wallpaper comes off replaced by paint in brighter colors-greens, yellows, etc. The chair rails can stay but the paint color above and below the rails can be different, complementary colors. The ceiling can be painted with a color in the palette colors of the room, but changed from white.

The wall can do much in creating a positive ambiance, as well as a casual look. You can make use of small, colored frames and pretty artworks. Personalized items like photos can make the room look more welcoming.

In addition to repainting the walls a lighter shade, spice them up with adornments. Simple artworks and framed photographs will show a more personal side. A painted artwork is nice too if you want prints on the wall but would rather paint than cover with wallpaper. The advantage of paint is that it’s easier to change when a new favorite color strikes the family. Updating it to suit the changing seasons is also a good idea to be up-to-date with the design trends.

If the floor covering is wall-to wall carpet, that could be taken up and replaced by a casual style of wood flooring. A large area rug could be placed under the table (be sure to allow enough clearance all the way around the table so the chairs will still be on the rug when moved back to allow seating). The area rug colors should tie together the wall colors, the tablecloth colors, and the cherry wood color. If the carpet is to remain, an area rug can still be utilized over the carpet. You can’t change the carpet color or the nap/texture but you can compensate for the carpet color/texture by the right choice of a large area rug.

The hutch is difficult to change structurally or in color but you can change what is in it. Instead of the glassware and figurines and porcelain pieces in there now, have more casual plates, pottery glassware, your thimble collection, a collection of small dinner bells, etc. Put in there things that the family recognizes and associates with good time and good memories. Place prints that contain some of the things found in the hutch on either side of the hutch.

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