With the holidays right around the corner, if your dining room has become a little dated, now is a great time to refresh! Read on for the latest trends in dining room décor – and some tabletop ideas to make your place settings shine.

Blended Styles. For some time now, we’ve seen a more eclectic approach to decorating, including the dining room. While suites are still very popular, it’s no longer requisite that everything matches. Consider different colours, upholsteries, chairs – it’s a bit of anything goes – but we recommend you find commonality across at least one key element, whether finish, style, fabric, etc. You want the look to be deliberately mismatched.

Bench Seats. Perhaps the hottest of all trends, bench seats are a great option! Not only do they add fabulous visual appeal and interest, but they’re also practical. There’s always room for one more person, a bonus during the holidays.

Rustic. There’s a definite movement toward rustic styling in home décor, but it still exudes elegance. Nowhere is this more apparent than in dining room furnishings. Whether greys, browns or whites, the finish is rugged, but the lines of the pieces remain sleek and clean, some even with tufting or other formal touches.

Materials. Wood is no longer the only material used for tables. Today we see glass, metal, marble and even mirror, often in combination or used in conjunction with wood. The effect can be cool and contemporary or warm and traditional.

On the Walls. Many dining rooms have lots of open wall space. Capitalize on it by adding bold wallpaper, a saturated wall of colour or a huge piece of abstract art. If you have the real estate, and it won’t look overwhelming, right now bold is preferred over subtle.

Lighting. You can’t go wrong with a classic chandelier, but this season, the focus is on industrial lighting. Like the fixtures featured here, the designs are distinctive and fabulous, even a little funky, and largely in nickel and chrome. It’s a wonderful touch of contrast in a traditional space.

Table Top Suggestions. Simplicity is trendy – a ‘less is more’ look is so sophisticated, yet still extravagant enough for the holidays! Here are some quick ideas:

• The latest in silverware. Choose to impress with the very latest gold finished flatware or silver edged in gold. Even mixing and matching your vintage silverware is very on trend.
• Easy napkin ring. Wrap white linen napkins in a simple red ribbon anchoring a small fir branch. Place centre plate. (It looks lovely on while plates!)
• Choose a plaid tablecloth. Red and green don’t look kitschy when they’re in found in plaid – very on trend this season.
• Classic candles. Red candles in silver candlesticks are classically beautiful – or in keeping with the latest trends – choose brass or gold toned holders.
• Mason jars as candle holders. For an informal look, use mason jars as candle holders, or fill them with small, sparkly Christmas tree balls.
• Natural is always in style. Adorn your table with simple fir branches decorated with pine cones and holly berries. Treat it as a runner of sorts, up the middle with candles interwoven. Or even think outside traditional holiday decor with a centrepiece made of lemons. In addition to looking very fresh, it will also be very fragrant.
• All white is fresh and festive! Choose white linens and tableware, adding bling with gold and silver accents. Mix and match your dishes using modern and vintage, adding touches of cream/ivory.

PS. Check out Rachelle Mesley, our Head of Design, on CHCH Morning Live with some additional holiday dining decor tips and how to build those gorgeous lemon centrepieces (she’s on at the 5:50 mark)

Tags: decor, design tips, entertaining, Furniture, Holidays, lighting, trends