1. ADD A RUG UNDER YOUR DINING TABLE
Soft furnishings aren't just for the living room and bedroom. Selecting a good rug to sit under the dining room table adds that little bit extra to make the space feel like a luxury dining room. A rug also works as a clever zoning technique, anchoring the dining room table and chairs, so it is an example of considered design in the home.
2. GET CLEVER WITH YOUR LIGHT FIXTURE
Statement dining room lighting adds so much to the look and feel of the space and with good lighting, you can turn an unloved, small dining room into an elegant space. The perfect fixture needn't be expensive but can act as a beautiful centerpiece dangling above the dining room table, creating an eye-catching design feature and help to illuminate the table.
3. ADD A PERMANENT CENTERPIECE
A centerpiece that is in constant rotation is a great addition to your dining room table, and shouldn't just be reserved for special occasions. Simple but effective, adding fresh flowers to your dining room table and decorating the table when it's not in use makes the most of the surface as a space for decor, and is easy to do on the cheap. Look to your garden for inspiration on what is in season, or invest in a weekly spectacular bouquet.
4. REMEMBER TEXTURE IN THE DINING ROOM
As well as a rug, a bit of texture on the table can go a long way to soften the scheme and bring a feeling of elegance to the space. Those harsh corners of the tabletop will instantly be softened, helping to create a more luxurious space in an easy and simple way. A tablecloth is essential if you've not splashed out on the table itself too, covering all manner of sins.
5. USE THE SPACE TO SHOW OFF YOUR ART
Your dining room is another area where you can show off your art collection and add interest with beautiful wall art to your dining room walls. 'Always add artwork to your walls or surfaces of a dining room, I love paintings on canvas,' says Marie. An art collection doesn't need to be sourced from auction houses either, art is so subjective so it can be a piece found from rummaging in an antique shop. If it calls to you and your design tastes then it is worth displaying with pride.
6. THINK ABOUT CROCKERY AND GLASSWARE
Another simple change you can make to your dining area to make the space feel more expensive is considering how you set the table for dinner. When setting your dining room tablescape, don't be afraid to use those heirloom dishes that are normally stored in the back of the cupboard to add that carefully considered look. Use them in your everyday dining and embrace the mix-and-match style. Use large serving bowls and patterned platters, mixing china with beautiful olive wood can create a cohesive look, even if they aren't a set.
7. THINK ABOUT THE TABLE ITSELF
When it comes to the dining table itself, wood is a great material to select, and can give a feeling of luxury and true quality in the home, and doesn't have to cost the world. Robust enough to survive throughout the years, beautiful and fitting with any type of aesthetic, it can easily look expensive and can be spruced up on the cheap by giving an unloved table a varnish and sand down, and make a feature out of the wood itself - a material that fits with any interior design.
8. THINK ABOUT DINING ROOM CHAIRS
Instead of investing in a brand new set of chairs for the dining room, embrace the mix-and-match look - you might be surprised the quality you can pick up on the cheap at antique shops and markets if you keep your eyes peeled.