Silk Flowers and Your Dining Room Decor
A Dining Room Transformation, with the Help of Silk
Flowers
Silk flowers  have served to replace the real things in more
and more homes in recent years. Considering the hectic
lives of today’s families, it’s no surprise. They’re
maintenance and hassle-free (the silk flowers, not the
families).
Despite our hectic lives, there has been a recent movement to
return to the family meal. Mile-long dinner tables surrounded
by a dozen chairs are surely declining in popularity, but
there’s no harm in designing a dining room that can join
together families and be enjoyed by all.
Here are a few suggestions for making your dining room a
central part of your home:
o Create a dining table centerpiece using silk flowers that
pull together the color scheme or theme of the room. Remember
that a centerpiece  will be just that - the center attraction of
the room. A simple vase filled with silk flower stems  or a more complex silk flower arrangement can
provide a dramatic effect. Or, a wooden beam carved out to
hold candles and silk flowers will complement your rustic
décor. Grasses or other greenery in wooden or metal
containers offer a tranquil view, while bowl(s) of faux
fruit can be an appetizing focal point.
o Other additions to the dining room table can offer an
esthetically pleasing effect. Placements; runners made from
lace, linen, or bamboo; and table settings designate your
dining room table as the center gathering place of your home.
All of these elements can be changed up for each season,
brightening or warming the room.
o Chairs are an integral part of your dining experience. For a
country or rustic feel, use mismatched chairs that you might
find at used furniture stores or flea markets. Or, serve up a
homey feeling with chair cushions for relaxing. You can also
make a breezy, sophisticated look with skirted slip covers.
o A dining room’s window dressings can be changed with the
seasons for a fresh look that you’ll never tire of. Use heavier
drapes to block drafts and create a feeling of warmth during
the cooler months. When the warm weather hits, use lighter
materials, like linen or lace, to open up the room and invite
the sunshine in.
o An area rug under the dining room table can balance and focus
the room. Be sure that the rug is large enough so that chairs
don’t catch on the edge of it. The chairs should sit fully on
it, even when pulled out for dining.
o Some folks prefer a bare table, while other see benefit in a
tablecloth - either to cover an undesirable tabletop, or to
keep the table clean. Be cautious when choosing a table
covering. If an area rug, walls, or curtains are heavily
patterned, go for a solid colored or lace tablecloth. The
dining room should be relaxing, not a busy sensory
overload.
o Adjustable lighting can change your dining room from a place
for family gatherings to a room for a romantic dinner, with the
flip of a switch. Install a dimmer switch for your main light
source, or place a few lamps around the room. Lighting is an
integral, but often overlooked, part of good and versatile
decorating.
o If there’s enough room in your dining room, a buffet or
sideboard will come in handy (and look great) for storing and
displaying china and other trinkets.
o Walls can always be painted for a fresh look, and can also be
wallpapered, bordered, wainscoted, or chair railed for a unique
look, tailored to your taste.
o Framed art is always a good standard for dining room wall
décor, but don’t forget about tapestry hangings, mirrors, and
framed poetry or biblical passages that speak of the family
meal.
No matter your personal taste, every good dining room has one
thing in mind - family time. The evening meal is one time when
the whole family can gather and discuss their days, and their
futures. It’s not just about the food…it’s not just about good
design…it’s about the people that will gather
there.
by Jacinda Little - May, 2009
Back to
Top
###
Source: http://www.freshsilkflowers.com
| 
