How to Make the Most out of Your Dining Room Space

Nov. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Instead of putting these things out of sight and out of mind, or letting them overflow untidily throughout the house, why not turn your dining room into a space where you can display them attractively, or at least store them conveniently?

Choose dining room furniture that matches your personality
In a recent dining room makeover for House Beautiful magazine, contributing editor Frances Schultz said: "In the spirit of preserving the formal dining room—which I'm all for—let it relax a little into a space that works with the way you actually live." This is far more important than going for what looks traditional, modern, rustic or any other adjective; finding dining room furniture that suits your lifestyle and your personality. Storage furniture should clearly be solution-based, but as you’re going to put it in a very visible and public space, aesthetics are also important. As with many elements of interior design, balance is everything.

Bookcases and bookshelves
Bookcases and bookshelves can be vital space-savers, particularly in smaller homes. But as well as the convenience of storing your books neatly alongside the wall of your dining room, it can add a touch of style to your room. Of course, if you’re not a bookworm but you love films, why not put DVD’s on display in the dining room for a modern touch.

Once again, balance is important, so consider the functional elements (shelf dimensions, for example) as much as how well the bookcase fits in with the rest of your dining room furniture.

Using display cabinets to show your personality
Display cabinets are ideal if you’re more interested in showing off your ‘things’ than simply storing them. They can help you get the most of the vertical space available to you, and can look absolutely stunning, especially when coordinated with the rest of your dining room furniture.

 Display units come in all shapes and sizes. Some are perfect for prominently displaying large items, while others are better suited to collections of smaller items.

Sideboards: The ultimate in style and function
If you’ve got the space, a sideboard can be an ideal all-in-one storage solution for your dine room. As well as looking great itself, a sideboard has plenty of space on top to display your ornaments, while the drawers and cupboards can be used to store all manner of things conveniently out of the way.

Don’t let your treasured possessions be hidden away from the world, forgotten and unloved, use the available space in your dine room to give them the pride of place they deserve.

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Over the years, we all accumulate a lot of ‘things’. Whether fine china, rare vinyl, books or even awards, if you haven’t got enough space for them they inevitably end up shoved away in a drawer or the attic where no one can see them.