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Rustic dining room storage solutions for entertaining

reclaimed wood industrial dining room furniture

It’s that time of year again when entertaining is definitely an indoor activity! Whether you love to hold sophisticated dinner parties, cocktail evenings or just have friends around for casual evenings in you will want to entertain in style, clear of dining room clutter. We look at some great rustic dining room storage solutions to help your parties run smoothly …without having to leave the fun to look for shakers, stirrers, serving dishes and all those other items you like to have close to hand when entertaining.

4 rustic dining room storage for easy entertaining

1. Drinks cabinets

The Blackbone collection offers some real statement pieces of rustic furniture with clean lines which combine striking dark oak with an industrial gold or silver base. Parquet patterning on the doors lifts this beyond the everyday furniture collection. Choose from the two different style drinks cabinets which are a great alternative to a traditional wooden sideboard for your dining space. These large dining room storage cupboards are also perfect to use as a larder. Many of us shop a little differently these days with many people wanting additional space in their home to keep a little more food in than they normally would, these large cupboards provide the perfect hidden storage solution.

2. Kitchen dresser

A kitchen dresser is a perfect solution to add extra storage space in the kitchen – a combination of hidden storage and open storage space. The bottom of the kitchen dresser can be used to store things you want to keep out of sight with the top usually having glass doors for more attractive display pieces. For a smaller space, you can opt for the Worcester dresser, crafted from reclaimed wood and painted a neutral white, it will match many different interior decor styles. The Chelwood dresser has a generous amount of doors and drawers to provide storage and style – made from pale reclaimed wood it will slot right into a light and airy dining space.

3. Glass display cabinet

A glass and wooden display cabinet is always a popular choice when it comes to dining room storage – with the Standford glass display being as popular as ever, especially if with a reclaimed dining table from the Standford range. This is the place to show off your best bits for all to see! Set out your best wine and cocktail glasses and decanters as well as your favourite decorative dinner set. One drawer provides hidden storage – perfect for table linen, a bottle opener and serving spoons.

4. Sideboards

You can never really go wrong with a rustic sideboard in the dining room – this is generally classed as an essential piece of furniture in most households up and down the country. But as we are talking rustic here, I am going to give the Kingsbridge sideboard a special shout out! Crafted in the most gorgeous, full of character, reclaimed oak it offers a generous amount of hidden storage behind its four parquet patterned doors. Being a lower piece of furniture it works great if you feel a tall storage unit would look too overpowering in your dining room – the top can be simply dressed with a lamp or decorative candlesticks and a wall mirror.

How to dress your dining table for a stylish Halloween

black and gold dining table decorations for Halloween

If you have organised a spooky Halloween dinner party for friends and family then you might want to give the dining table a little bit of a Halloween makeover. Go for something a little bit more stylish and alternative with our top tips for a stylish Halloween.

Top tips for a stylish Halloween

Set a colour scheme

Kids love to see ‘busy’ and fun decorations with lots going on and lots of colour but it tends not to look very sophisticated. Set a colour scheme for your table decor – like white and gold, it doesn’t have to be orange.

We love how pale pink has been bought into this Halloween table setting – small Halloween ornaments can be clustered together used as a room decoration, on a mantlepiece for example, or on a rustic dining table where you can create a spooky centrepiece. The beauty is that these pieces can be stored away and used year after year.

All black

All black never fails to impress and is the perfect colour for Halloween – it always looks dramatic, stylish and sophisticated, especially when combined with the warm wood tabletop of a reclaimed wood dining table. Of course, mixing in a touch of gold will also help to break up and bring some glamour to the black table setting. Add some faux cobwebs to the back of upholstered dining chairs and stand a witches broom and black hat in the corner.

Work with nature

If you have reclaimed wood furniture then you have the perfect opportunity to bring in natural elements. A twig tree to suspend cutouts of bats and spiders from, an autumnal garland around the fireplace. If you have a rustic sideboard then make the most of the surface by adding some more Halloween displays, something chic and simple, like an autumnal display of flowers and berries.

Halloween wreath

Wreaths are gaining in popularity for every seasonal celebration. Traditionally part of Christmas decorations only, wreathes have made their way to Easter and now are gaining popularity as a Halloween decoration. You don’t have to hang one on the front door but you can use it as a chic wooden dining table decoration. Make one yourself using Halloween decorations bought in any store and add them to a wreath made from autumn foliage and some candles for a spooky atmosphere.

Pumpkins

A carved pumpkin is probably the first thing that springs to mind when you think about Halloween so this humble fruit (and, yes, it is a fruit not a vegetable) should not be left off the list. But you don’t have to stick with orange, you can paint small pumpkins black or white and add some glitter over the top to bring in some glamour. And of course, if you are looking for a farmhouse style Halloween table setting then traditional orange pumpkins are absolutely the right thing.

Here, pumpkins and gingham napkins give the farmhouse table an elegant country feel while still looking super stylish. Wouldn’t your guests love to squeeze up on a wooden dining bench and dig into a spooky Halloween meal around this beautifully set table?

How To Look After Beautiful Fabric Dining Chairs

It’s important to take your time choosing your fabric dining chairs. You should consider the colour, the texture and how they work in the style of your dining space to make sure you pick the perfect set that effortlessly complement your reclaimed wood dining table.

As beautiful and durable as upholstered dining chairs are, they will most likely show some signs of everyday use over time. Of course, if you have a young family, that day may come sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, stains and marks, even if they are just small, will be increasingly noticeable, if only to you! We can share a few insider tips on how to keep your fabric dining chairs in tip-top condition!

First of all, it depends on the fabric….different treatments are needed for different fabrics.

How to care for all fabric dining chairs

Vacuum your chairs

Vacuuming regularly will stop dust and food particles from getting ground in between the fibres of the fabric. We recommend regularly lightly vacuuming using the upholstery attachment, but take care not to snag the fabric of the chair.

Move the chairs around

It is a good idea to rotate your chairs around your dining table. There are two good reasons for this, one, the amount of light they are exposed to can vary in different parts of the room, even if they are not in direct sunlight and two, we are creatures of habit and tend to sit in the same spot around the table. These will obviously show signs of wear quicker than chairs that are not used as frequently.

Give your chairs some fresh air!

Open the windows from time-to-time to let in some fresh air. This will help disperse the build-up of any smells that get trapped in between the fibres of your chairs.

How to care for velvet dining chairs

A velvet dining chair is a thing of beauty, you will find velvet covering on a huge array of designs from striking modern chairs all the way through to traditional and formal high back dining chairs. The sumptuous luxurious fabric is a beautiful contrast to the rugged texture and look of a reclaimed wood dining table.

Spills

No matter how careful you, your family and guests are little accidents will happen. The best way to treat these is to spot clean them with a water-free solvent – it’s best done as soon as possible. Keep some close by in a wooden sideboard or console table. You can buy spot cleaner in many dry cleaners. As with most preparations please always test some before use on a small unseen patch of the velvet.

A soft-bristled toothbrush

This can be used to spot clean your chairs. A velvet brush is also a great investment you can gently vacuum your chairs and then brush the nap in one direction to keep them looking perfect.

Stubborn stains

These are difficult to treat yourself. If you have ground-in stains on your chairs, that are harder to remove, we suggest consulting a dry clean specialist to help.

How to care for linen dining chairs

Linen is a woven, very durable, fabric that will bring a modern touch to your dining room and, even better, it is super easy to clean.

Upholstery shampoo

This is the perfect thing to clean linen dining chairs with. Again always test before on a hidden area, before using fully and as always, try to clean up spillages as soon as possible. A good hint for using this is to not use too much and get the fabric too wet.

Dry cleaning

Whether the chairs have marks or stains on them or not, having them professional cleaned is something that can be done periodically to prolong the life of the fabric. It’s best to get the whole set done at the same time just in case the colour lifts slightly.

What chairs to choose for your rustic dining table

You have your gorgeous new rustic dining table picked for your dining space, maybe you already have some chairs you want to use or maybe you’re looking for some new ones. Discover different options of dining chairs that pair beautifully with a rustic table.

Wooden dining chairs

The Standford Industrial range marries together an industrial and rustic look beautifully. The reclaimed dining table from the collection is an industrial style table, so let’s look at chairs that match it. To soften the industrial look consider a set of wooden chairs. The Standford Wooden dining chair with an upholstered seat is crafted from reclaimed wood and will sit perfectly around a rustic dining table or industrial dining table. Alternatively, the Standford leather chair is another very popular choice. This classic seat design sat on solid industrial legs with the tan leather blending easily with many different styles of table, not just rustic. The Standford collection also includes a stylish faux leather dining chair perfect for if you are trying to achieve a sleek and slightly more modern look in your dining space.

Faux leather dining chairs

Faux leather dining chairs are so convincing these days. They look and feel just like real leather and are a great ‘wipe clean’ choice for a household with children…as well as being the animal friendly option. The Cleo faux leather dining room chairs are a perfect addition to a rustic table and will add contrast to your dining space by mixing rustic and modern. You can mix and match chair colours – we love how great grey and tan look together, the tan complementing the wood on your table and the grey adding contrast.

Dining benches

We all know that benches are “the thing” when it comes to dining room seating right now. They are right up to date and also bring the benefit of being able to get extra people around your table as well as bringing a casual mood to your dining space. There are so many different styles and coverings to choose from. A classic wooden dining bench can be easily mixed with other rustic or reclaimed wooden dining table and chairs, as can soft and plush velvet benches. A velvet bench for example is the perfect partner for our sophisticated Chelwood Large Reclaimed Wooden Dining Table bringing a dash of bling to your dining seating.

The aforementioned Cleo range of dining room seating also features benches and corner benches, both with backs for super comfortable dining. If your dining space is in a corner then you can save space by pushing them up against the wall.

Glamorous industrial dining that oozes style

industrial dining table with grey and blue velvet dining chairs

Industrial furniture is known for being practical, streamlined and functional – but who doesn’t like a bit of bling? Here we look at how to achieve an industrial but glamorous look in your dining space.

Top of the list has to be the ever-popular Mitcham Industrial Oak Spider Leg Dining Table a perfect blend of striking shiny legs topped by a full of character reclaimed wood tabletop that will definitely delight your diners. The Mitcham range has dining room storage covered too in the shape of a stunning industrial sideboard!

The Standford range features several dining table designs guaranteed to get your guests talking. This collection includes rectangular, round and extendable dining tables as well as console tables and glass display cabinets – everything you need for the industrial wow factor.

The Oasis collection is another stunning example of how glamorous the dining table can be. Pair this table with the Oasis Dining Chairs.

Add in some of this season’s must-have house plants to bring in some greenery to your room, this will add another layer of luxury. In addition to ceiling lights, you can bring in glitzy decorative floor standing lamps or tabletop lamps, use these to subtly highlight your favourite features in the room. Tall candlesticks also look great and give height when displayed on a sideboard or console table. Mirrors also add a bit of sparkle to a room so make sure you hang one of those to reflect features and bounce light around the room.

Although you don’t want to completely overdo the glamour, and draw the eye away from other features, dressing the table does give a luxurious finishing touch. Place a runner down the middle of the table with a glitzy centerpiece on it. This is a place to add contrasting decorative items that can be changed to suit your mood and the changing seasons.

The industrial look as we know is all about being functional, practical and streamlined and we hope that our hints will help you decide how to elevate this look to create a gloriously glamourous dining space.

How to create a rustic family dining space

This week we have been exploring how to make spaces at home a little more rustic, in this blog, we are looking at the dining space and easy ways to bring in some rustic warmth ready for the coming cooler months. The dining area is one of those spaces that will be used for quick midweek dinners as well as more formal occasions – so it is good to remember this when choosing how to decorate and furnish this space. Remember to take into account who will usually be dining at the table – a rustic wood dining table is a great family choice as it will already have stunning natural marks and undulations on it….which will help to disguise any additional ones made during day to day use! Being solid wood, a reclaimed dining table is also much easier to repair by furniture technicians.

The dining room

There is a huge array of rustic furniture available these days giving you plenty of scope to create a basic rustic dining room or to elevate your room to an eclectic blend of rustic and modern – a rustic dining table crafted from reclaimed wood would look great in either.

To keep it simple opt for a minimalist style table and wooden dining bench and if you want to blend rustic and modern you can pair this very same table with a plush velvet bench, velvet chairs or more modern faux leather dining chairs.

Adding a rustic sideboard allows you to bring in another element of cosy rustic to really reinforce the theme…. this also gives you ample storage opportunities for your serving dishes and table linen…. saving your room from getting cluttered and unruly!

A ‘faded look’ rug under the dining table and chairs will bring in extra rustic warmth and will anchor it in the room – it will also help to zone the area – this would also work in a combined dining and living space.

A fire place is not just for the living room – if you have a fireplace in your dining space then make the most of it – you can also add wood cladding for extra warmth and make the most of any exposed brick, stone or beams.

Dining area in the kitchen

If your dining space is within your kitchen then you just as many opportunities to bring in some cosy rustic elements. Rustic and farmhouse just belong together, so if you are lucky enough to have a farm-style house then you can go to town and bring in a butchers block instead of larger a rustic sideboard – a kitchen dresser is a classic piece of farmhouse furniture offering ample of storage and usually open shelving at the top to show off your more decorative crockery.

A breakfast bar or bar table is another feature in the kitchen that you can give a touch of rustic . The Dorset kitchen stools with backs look great at a breakfast bar – hang pendant lighting above the breakfast bar produced from a natural material like rattan or wicker.

What should I put on my dining room table?

spider leg dining table with grey runner

We see image upon image of stunning table centrepieces on various social media platforms all styled to perfection! In this blog, we look at some gorgeous centrepiece ideas to make your reclaimed wood dining table Insta-worthy….

Candlesticks

Candlesticks are a classic table centrepiece that never loose their style. Historically essential as the main source of light for diners sat around the table, we now tend to use candles to bring atmosphere and ambience to the room. They make the perfect centrepiece for any dining table with so many different styles and colours available you are bound to find just the right thing for your table

Fresh or dried flowers

A floral table display is another classic dining table decoration – some believe the origins of using flowers to decorate a home goes right back to the Romans who used them to scent their home and of course they look pretty too! Your floral table decoration can be either fresh cut seasonal flowers, or for something more permanent, you can opt for a dried bouquet. Dried flowers look particularly good on a reclaimed dining table and are just perfect for a farmhouse table. Before going out and buying the biggest bouquet for your dining table think about how it will sit on the table with your serving dishes and of course your diners. If you pass platters around then consider a lower level decoration – if you have a long table or a wooden extendable dining table consider two or even three smaller arrangements to place along the middle of the table.

A cluster

A cluster decoration would look great on a round table – designers like using odd numbers so go for three or five coordinating or contrasting items to create interest on your table. You can use a mix of vases, candlesticks, serving bowls and small houseplants.

A table runner

Although the wood on a rustic dining table is already stunning on its own, a linen runner can add contrast and an anchor to ‘frame’ your centrepiece. We have opted for industrial themed table decorations in grey and black which are displayed here on the Lansdowne industrial dining table. The industrial look can be softened by adding coordinating cushions and houseplants.

A tray

If you like a practical centrepiece for your table then you can simply stick to dining table essentials – instead of the table looking cluttered with little bits and bobs then arrange mats, coasters, cutlery, salt and pepper pots on a tray that will sit in the centre of your table. Using a tray makes the centrepiece look like one item on the table, it will also keep these items together when they’re not in use.

Seasonal fruit

A fruit bowl is always a good display item – remember those plastic fruits we all went mad for in the 70’s and 80’s?!! Well now we all want to eat more fruit it is a great reminder for all who walk past the table – especially for kids! Or go for something more decorative with interesting looking fruits and vegetables in a bowl – it will get the conversation started, for sure.

The pros and cons of a round dining table

It’s the time of year where our thoughts turn back to indoor improvements after spending summer focusing on the garden and other outdoor spaces. So read on if you’re thinking of replacing your main dining table or round kitchen table. In this blog, we look at the pros and cons of opting for a round reclaimed dining table.

PRO Perfect for a small space

A small round dining table is perfect for a more compact dining space…one reason they are so often found in the kitchen for less formal dining areas like breakfast and lunch! They fit well into a dining alcove or corner in an open plan living and dining space and with rounded edges, they do give the illusion of taking up less space.

PRO More sociable and great for families

A large round dining table is ideal for families who like to wind down together for mealtimes, playing cards and board games. They are also much more sociable as diners can easily make eye contact and engage in conversations with others around the table.

PRO A round table with a pedestal base

This is a good choice if you like to entertain, without legs and corners, it is easier to seat more at the table.

PRO A good choice for homes with small children

A round dining table has no sharp corners – this may be a consideration for those who have young children and toddlers in the home – they are much less likely to bang their eye or head on a sharp edge.

Now you know about the pro’s, let’s look at the other factors you need to consider before you decide between a rustic dining table or opt for a round dining table.

CON A dining bench will not work

One downside of a round dining table is the fact that a bench will not work with it. This is a shame as we do love how a wooden dining bench allows you to squeeze up and fit more people around the table – they’re perfect when you’re entertaining and for larger families.

CON It could be too big or too small

You need to get your measurements right with a round dining table and make sure you have enough space all around the dining table to pull out your dining chairs.

CON Less space in the middle for serving dishes

Yes, a round dining table does give you less space to place your serving dishes in the middle of the table – however, if your dining space is big enough you can team it up with a wooden sideboard or a console table in a smaller space. Both these will give you some hidden storage too!

Brighten a dining room with sunny yellow

yellow daffodils on a rustic dining table

Let’s face it, yellow can be a tricky colour when it comes to interior design, but we think it is a brilliant shade to work with and here we will look at some ways to bring summery yellow into the dining room whatever the season.

There are many hues of yellow you can choose, from barely a whisper of yellow to a much darker, bolder shade. Yellow works beautifully with reclaimed furniture, especially in the dining room. It might be considered a summery colour, but you can use yellow to brighten your dining space all year round. Use it as a base to bring in the oranges and reds of autumn, in the winter brighten the gloom and grey, and in the spring, it will quickly chase winter away!

Yellow and the farmhouse style

Yellow works with most interior styles you just have to vary the shade a little to get the look you are after. But when is comes to farmhouse style, yellow is definitely the go-to colour for many. You can choose a gentle buttery yellow for the walls and brighten it up with other bolder yellow pieces throughout the space. We are all familiar with the farmhouse dining table with a yellow checked cloth on it with a striking vase of fresh-cut flowers – it gives off feel-good vibes and adds a happy brightness to the entire room.

Be bold with yellow

To bring in a subtle hue of yellow then opt for a soft coloured yellow wall, a colour reminiscent of old fashioned vanilla ice cream – if it really isn’t your thing you can easily paint over a pale colour! However, if you are leaning more towards a vibrant statement yellow then go for it! You can bring in this colour by using a few key pieces in your room.

A rug – a rug in the dining room anchors the dining table – choose yellow!

An armchair – we love to use accent chairs in any room and the same goes with dining room furniture – choose a bold statement-making yellow armchair – set this in the corner of your room to really bring in a dash of sunshine.

Dining chairs – yes, why not show off your style by opting for yellow dining chairs. We love how modern accent items work absolutely beautifully when styled with a reclaimed wood dining table.

Accessorise in yellow

If you want to bring in a small ray of sunshine then opt for yellow accessories on a rustic dining table such as ornaments, vases, plant pots and dining chair cushions. Fresh cut flowers is another way to bring in just a little yellow and will lift the room.

Yellow for the body and soul

Research suggests that eating yellow food as well as orange and red is a way of getting some good sunshine into your body and if it is good for the inside it must be good on the outside too!.

Yellow is a colour associated with communication, self-esteem, and power – making it a positive colour to use in your home. It conjures up feelings of happiness, summer, positivity and optimism – so it sounds like we should all be using it a whole load more in our homes!!