More Rooms
Mix and Don’t Match for a Funky Dining Room
Forget formal and create a fresh new look in your dining room with our 10 ideas for great mix-ups
Dining rooms are so often about matching chairs, sets of china and perfectly placed candlesticks, but that can feel too formal. Worse, all that matchy-matchy style can suck the fun out of dinner time and put you off using this valuable space. The solution? Chuck out the rule book and take an anything-goes approach to kitting out your dining space.
Mix chair colours
All the chairs here are the Eames moulded plastic DSR design, but by combining different colours, this dining room has an informal, playful feel.
All the chairs here are the Eames moulded plastic DSR design, but by combining different colours, this dining room has an informal, playful feel.
Mix china
Matching sets are yesterday’s news. Instead, put together a collection of patterned, vintage and colourful dinnerware for a bright, mismatched look. The benefits go beyond the visual: if you break a plate or cup, there’s no need to hunt down a matching replacement or buy a whole new set.
Matching sets are yesterday’s news. Instead, put together a collection of patterned, vintage and colourful dinnerware for a bright, mismatched look. The benefits go beyond the visual: if you break a plate or cup, there’s no need to hunt down a matching replacement or buy a whole new set.
Mix seating styles
Chairs, stools, benches, armchairs, highchairs – they can all get along well when arranged around a table. Here, three matching Eames chairs anchor the eclectic dining scheme.
See 10 ways to mix and match your dining room style
Chairs, stools, benches, armchairs, highchairs – they can all get along well when arranged around a table. Here, three matching Eames chairs anchor the eclectic dining scheme.
See 10 ways to mix and match your dining room style
Mix built-in and freestanding
Bench seating built against a wall is great use of space in a dining corner and can act as storage, too. Teamed with a few chairs, it creates versatile seating that works for solo dining or crowd catering.
Bench seating built against a wall is great use of space in a dining corner and can act as storage, too. Teamed with a few chairs, it creates versatile seating that works for solo dining or crowd catering.
Mix materials
A variety of textures and finishes will add depth and interest to even the most simple scheme. Here, plain white floorboards are softened with a vintage rug, while gleaming silver tin tiles make a statement overhead.
A variety of textures and finishes will add depth and interest to even the most simple scheme. Here, plain white floorboards are softened with a vintage rug, while gleaming silver tin tiles make a statement overhead.
Mix locations
Plates don’t just belong on a table. A collection of one-off plates and saucers hung on a wall makes a great display.
Plates don’t just belong on a table. A collection of one-off plates and saucers hung on a wall makes a great display.
Mix in some personality
Photos give a more intimate, friendly feel than prints or paintings. Here, family snaps are arranged informally in a mix of different-sized frames behind this cosy, multifunctional dining space.
TELL US…
How do you like to mix things up in your home? Share your tips in the Comments.
Photos give a more intimate, friendly feel than prints or paintings. Here, family snaps are arranged informally in a mix of different-sized frames behind this cosy, multifunctional dining space.
TELL US…
How do you like to mix things up in your home? Share your tips in the Comments.
It takes a little confidence, but throwing in different styles creates a space that’s exciting and unique. Here, country chairs and a chunky refectory table are lit by an array of contemporary exposed bulbs, which brings an industrial vibe. And then there are the ties…
Learn how to create a Boho style by mixing and matching