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Ever find yourself flicking through home inspiration magazines and being struck with jealousy over how fantastic their living room set up looks. 

It has it all. Elegance, luxury and a place that you actually want to sit down and enjoy a family meal at or host a dinner party. 

With so many different styles out there it can be hard to identify what the core aspects are that are needed to revamp your uninspiring dining room, and make it a room that you are proud of. 

Here we will identify the core elements and explain how you can use them to make a chic space. 

Lighting

Lighting is an important feature for any and every room, and it is vital that it is being used to maximum advantage. Improving your lighting not only showcases the space you have but can be used in a variety of other ways. 

Creates Feature Points

Light fixtures are no longer just for a practical lighting solution. They are designed to allow the owner to showcase their personality and draw attention. 

Not only can the lamp or fixture become a feature all on its own. But, where the light is placed, what it is lighting up, also works to draw the eye. Through this nifty trick, you can emphasise certain parts of your dining room and draw attention where you want it the most. 

A top trick for this is to use a statement light fixture and have it hanging directly over your dining table and velvet dining chairs. Whether you are looking to create an industrial look with exposed light bulbs, or add luxury with a chandelier, having the fixture above your table will immediately make the table and lighting the main feature in the room. 

Soft Furnishings

Including soft furnishing to your dining room, allows you to bring the cosiness of your home into this particular room. 

Once a room to eat in, the kids to sit and do their homework, or even a dumping ground for nick nacks. Adding soft furnishing can transform the room into one that is inviting and enjoyable to sit in. 

Use A Rug Under Your Table

Including a rug that your dining table and chairs sit upon, adds an additional layer of interest. It breaks the room up, it provides additional texture and can be used to tie together any colour scheme that you have within the room. 

In addition to the aesthetic vibrance it can offer, it also brings forward a level of cosiness and makes the dining table an inviting place to go and sit. It can add warmth to this room of your home, and is a very easy way to change the dynamic of the room. 

Use Your Curtains To Wow

Often overlooked, this soft furnishing is more than just a method of providing privacy within your home. 

Curtains can be used to change how a whole room feels. When they are too short or too long they can make the room look unfinished or less desirable. 

When hung from the ceiling and run down to touch the floor, they can be used to make the ceiling seem higher and manipulate your perception and feel as though the room is larger than it is. 

Use Large Statement Pieces On The Walls

Unlike other rooms in the house, the dining room is one that has the capacity to handle larger images or statement art work. 

Ultimately, when hosting a dining party, it is things like that start conversations, become a point of interest and something that you can enjoy whilst sitting down. 

Mirrors

Alternatively to art, mirrors are a wonderful way to fill large, blank walls. Not only a natural way to fill dull walls, but mirrors can also help increase your lighting and help in making the room appear larger. 

Add Some Contrast

One thing each of those magazine images has in common is somewhere there is a contrasting element. 

It could be that the plain wooden table has been paired with industrial metal chairs. 

Or that a large vase with vibrant flowers is providing a splash of colours and breaking up the space. 

Contrasting colours and textures is what makes elements of the room stand out. 

That doesn’t mean that you can’t do it tastefully. If you have a natural preference for natural or neutral decor, you can still create contrast in ways that complement your style. This could be through incorporating house plants to offer natural colour, or within the statement art hung on your walls.