Many people have a dining room that is rarely used so they want to use their dining room for multiple purposes.
A library dining room is a great option to use your dining room as a book storage, reading space, home office, homework space, and additional room in your home but still have it available those few times of year when you need a formal dining room.Here are a few interior design tips & tricks for turning your formal dining room into a library dining room.
Design Style
Before you start decorating your library dining room, you must first figure out the design style that you want in your room.
Consider the overall feeling that you want your dining room library to have. Do you want it to be comfy & cozy where you can plop down and take your shoes off? Would you prefer an elegant and refined showplace to impress your guests? How about a dark & moody old library with antique books? Maybe a coloful & fun hangout space is more of what you want?
Your dining room library is most likely open to other rooms in your home, so the style needs to complement those room styles also. It doesn't need to be the exact same style, but it does need to feel like it is cohesive and belongs in your home.
Search for images online of interior design and home decor styles that you like as inspiration for your own home. A popular place to search is Pinterest where you can save your favorites. After you have saved many favorites, purge your least favorites until you are left with your best option.
Once you have narrowed down a particular style, it will be easier to choose the right furniture, decor, and color scheme.
Choose the Right Furniture
Make sure to select the best furniture for your library dining room so that it is able to serve dual purposes.
The dining table is the centerpiece of the room, so it is important to choose one that is both practical to use as a desk and a dining table, as well as looks good and is in the style that you want for the room.
Make sure to not choose a table that is too small so you can seat many people for dinner, but also one that is not too big that you cannot move around easily or have room for extra furniture for you to store your books.
When you select your dining chairs, make sure that comfort takes priority over style since you might be sitting in those chairs for several hours at a time. Typically, a chair with an upholstered seat is more comfortable than one that is all wood, and an upholstered back is also better than a wood or metal back.
Make sure you allow plenty of room to walk around your table.
Of course, you will need bookshelves - bookshelves are a must-have in any dining room library.
You can choose freestanding bookcases, built in bookshelves (perhaps with closed storage below for dining room storage or storage of not-so-pretty books), or wall mounted bookshelves. You could even have a bookcase that opens on a hinge, revealing a hidden room behind the bookcase.
Depending on the size of your room, you might want bookshelves on only 1 wall, 2 walls, or maybe even all 4 walls.
Arrange books and decor items on your bookcases alternating between vertical and horizontal orientations for a more unique display that doesn't look like a boring and basic public library.
In addition to the dining table and chairs, you may also want to include a few extra pieces of furniture, such as a buffet, china cabinet, or sideboard for storage or a comfortable armchair for reading.
Incorporate Artwork
Add artwork to your library dining room so your room looks like a home and not like a boring and sterile library basement.
Your artwork can be original framed art, photography, sculpture, pottery, something you created yourself, or whatever you find beautiful.
Don't just select art to fill the space - make sure to take your time finding art that you truly love!
Try to have your art cover 60-75% of your empty wall that is not covered by furniture, curtains, or something else.
Framed family photos can also be used as art.
Choose the Right Lighting
The best designed rooms don't settle for just one light source in the center of the ceiling.
This is especially imporant in a library dining room where good lighting is required for reading.
Try to have multiple sources of light in your room to make the room more interesting and allow multiple different activities to work in the same space.
You should have ambient light, which is all-over light, that will typically come from a chandelier in the middle of your library dining room. Don't settle for a basic small chandelier - make it special and unique.
Color Scheme
Make sure to create a well developed color scheme before decorating your library dining room.
The easiest way to create a color scheme is to select one large item for your room, perhaps a large rug or large piece of art, that has multiple colors in it and use those colors as your color scheme.
You should select at least 3 colors (but you can use more) and repeat those colors in 3 or more places throughout your room.
Also use lighter and darker versions of your preferred colors to add depth of color.
You can "cheat" a bit by covering some of your lesser important books in a paper jacket that is one of your color scheme colors.
Another idea is to get a can of spray paint in a unique color that you like and paint a few of your older accessories that you no longer like in the new color for a fresh and new look.
Choose the Right Tableware
Don't forget that your library dining room also needs to function as a dining room on occasion, so you will need to get all the items you need for a dinner party.
Make sure to know the washing instructions of the china you select, since a lot of fine china is not dishwasher safe.
Consider mixing and matching sets of china for a custom look.
For a formal mismatched look, everyone should have identical place settings, however each piece of the place setting is from a different china set. You can even swap out a few pieces seasonally or per occasion to set the appropriate mood.
For a more casual mismatched look, each place setting can be different, but ensure that the color, pattern, or some other element of the place setting is the same among all of the sets so it creates cohesion.
Consider using accent places that have a bold color and/or pattern since everyone has seen basic white china with a gold or silver edge.
Incorporate Fabrics
Fabrics make a room feel more cozy and less sterile. They can also reduce echoes and make a room more quiet.
Select upholstered dining chairs with both an upholstered seat and an upholstered back for optimal comfort during meals and other activities. Most dining chairs come with a basic white fabric that is rather plain and boring. Consider reupholstering your chairs for a one-of-a-kind look that complements your design style and color scheme.
Also add curtains, an area rug, and maybe even some throw pillows to add softness and style to your room.
When you are using your library dining room for dining, you might also need a tablecloth, a table runner, and/or placemats.
Don't be afraid to mix and match different colors, textures, and patterns for a unique look that is yours and yours alone.
Add Decorative Accents
Traditional dining rooms typically don't have too many decorative accents, however a library dining room is more like a living room, so it should have decor.
If you want a vintage look, consider adding antique globes, vintage typewriters, and/or old-fashioned cameras that no only look good but are also conversation starters. Bonus points if those items belong to you or a family member with a story to tell about the items.
If you want a more modern look, consider adding abstract sculptures or modern art pieces.
You can also add decor that ties into your love of books, such as bookends, paperweights, or other book-related decorative items.
For added color and to make your library dining room feel less sterile, add fresh flowers and/or plants.
Adding a fireplace would really make your library dining room a place that you never want to leave.
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