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The Beauty of the Small Dining Table

Small dark wooden table with linen cushions

If you dream of a large welcoming dining room complete with a substantial reclaimed wood dining table taking centre stage against other pieces of reclaimed wood furniture, you are not alone. It’s a fantasy many of us harbour, but the reality is often a lot different. And this means that when it comes to choosing a dining table for a small space, we have to make sure we make a clever choice. That said, the range of options when it comes to small dining tables is not limited. Just how do you make the most of your dining space with the beauty of a small dining table?

1 Opt for a foldaway or extendable table

If you use the dining table occasionally, a foldaway table gives the best of both worlds – you have a dining table when you need it but plenty of floor space when you don’t. A round extending table could offer the same benefit in that you have a smaller table for most days, but more dining space when you need it.

2 Go bright

The temptation to maximise the feeling of space is to go with white walls and reflective surfaces but, some designers are of the opinion that if the space is small, you should embrace it. Bright colours with a hint of pastel shades are right on trend at the moment. As well as pastel shades for the wall, opt for jewelled coloured upholstered dining chairs for your small round dining table or add coloured table covers to brighten up and make a feature of your reclaimed wood dining table.

3 Opt for a bar table

For homes where space in the kitchen really is very limited, opting for a dining table, especially if it’s just for the two of you, could swallow up space you can ill-afford to lose. There is another option and it comes in the shape of a bar table.

There are many stylish bar tables and so you are sure to find something that fits with your style whether that is the industrial style or the farmhouse look. Add some comfy bar stools and you will be happy to while away an evening supper, linger over a long lunch or catch-up with friends over a quick morning coffee.

4 Opt for streamlined dining benches

You don’t just have to think about the dining table but the chairs too. When you have little space to play with, no matter how small or bijou your chosen industrial dining table or round dining table is, with dining chairs added it can all feel too much and too cluttered.

Stools can make for a handy seating solution at a dining table when space is limited. That said, they aren’t suitable for everybody, but as an occasional seating solution, they are perfect.

The solution may lie in a streamline dining bench. No clutter and no fuss, when not in use, simply pop under the table or push up against the wall.

5 Think outside the box

If you have plentiful space in the hallway or corridor, for example, but limited space in the corner of your kitchen diner, who says that you can’t think outside the box and utilise this space as your dining space?

With the right accessories and choice of dining table, it may be more comfortable all round to move the table into an area where there is more space for the table and for diners. Maybe not the bedroom (or bathroom!), but a living room, walkway or long hallway could be ideal. Give it try!

5 Ways To Bring Natural Light Into Your Home

With the days short and the nights long, daylight is in short supply. And when the sun doesn’t get to shine through the thick layer of cloud, it’s a sad reality that we live in the shadows throughout winter. Making the most of precious daylight in the home just got easier with these five hints and tips.

1 Go Scandinavian with light woods

The Scandinavian style is appealing during all seasons but in winter, it comes into its own. Using Scandinavian furniture will help to accent light in the home, but still be fetching when you want the feeling of cosiness.

Pale oak is a beautiful timber for all types of furniture, from a wood dining table to cabinets and sideboards.

2 Embrace Scandinavian design

Scandinavian design is simple yet elegant, warm and pleasing to the eye, just one of reasons why we love it.

As well as using a light wood such as pale oak, the dimensions and rounded edges of this kind of design sets it apart from other designs and styles, enhancing any room.

It is rare to see dark wooden items in Scandinavian furniture, with the lighter style still bringing the snug and comfort we all need at this time of year.

3 Embrace light that enhances natural daylight

Dimmable lights are a must as there are times when you need a little extra light to be able to see but you don’t want bright lights that block out natural light.

As well as dimmable lights, consider opting for lighter, barely-there shades for the winter months too, such as a pendant ceiling light with either a bamboo or rattan shade.

Glass table lamps on the hall console table are also ideal for throwing light into shady corners, as well as in the living room and other areas of the home.

4 Wash those windows

It may not be your favourite household chore but keeping your windows clean inside and out will make a difference to how much light penetrates your home.

There is also something very satisfying about being able to see clearly through a sparkling clean window. If you don’t have the time, there are plenty of window cleaning companies who clean both interior and exterior windowpanes.

5 Make the most of reflective surfaces

Reflecting the precious little daylight there is in the home over winter is also key to optimising its presence. And this is where reflective surfaces come in to play.

Opt for glass cabinet doors for display units, for example, as well as plenty of mirrors across the home. Place a wall mirror opposite a window to get the most out of daylight and reflect it throughout the space.

A floor mirror is not just for the bedroom either, with the hallway or landing also appreciating a wall mirror to play with the light.

Embracing natural light in our homes plays an important role in our wellbeing. How do you maximise light in the darker winter months?

Take a sneak peek behind the scenes of our latest photoshoot

A photographer taking a close up photo of our Sussex Oak Parquet Industrial Oval Dining Table

Discover how our furniture and homeware are brought to life on set of our photoshoots.

Simon, our photographer, getting the right angle of our Sussex Oak Parquet Industrial Oval Dining Table. Don’t you think the black Bamboo Orbital pendant light complements the black metal spider legs wonderfully?

It’s been a busy few months here at Modish Living HQ! As well as sourcing, selling and ensuring the delivery of our beautiful reclaimed wood furniture and sustainably sourced furniture and homeware, we embarked on a series of lifestyle photoshoots. Four shoot days, 15 different interior settings in one studio, using over 25 items of furniture… It was a lot of work, but a hell of a lot of fun! Go with us behind the scenes and discover what it takes to get the perfect shot.

The first shoot was held on a stifling hot day in July and a sense of eager anticipation was heating up in the Modish Living studio as much as the temperature outside. The styling props were being unwrapped, the furniture assembled and Macy and Dave, our resident pooches, were wagging their tails in excitement.

While good design speaks for itself, it is the interior experts who help style and shoot our collections that truly bring them to life. We teamed up with stylist, Gemma Gear, and photographer, Simon Eldon, to create the inspiring set of visuals you see on our website and social channels.

Using her brilliant eye for detail and knowledge of interior trends, Gemma had already created a multiple of mood boards with the key creative direction for each scene. With the furniture in situ, Gemma put her styling magic to work, dressing the sets with a mixture of Modish Living home accessories and other props to bring a little reality and create a genuine ‘at-home’ environment.

This helps you visualise how our collections could work in your home. We all know that no matter how lovely it is, a wooden table on its own can sometimes look a little uninspiring. Set it within a dining room with complementing upholstered dining chairs, a wooden sideboard, big mirror and modern lighting, dressed in beautiful linen table covers, stoneware and glasses and you can see the reclaimed wood dining table in its full lust-worthy glory.

Once the set is ready it’s time to get snap happy. Simon begins by taking a series of shots from various angles, each with different exposure times to get different lighting effects. It’s all very technical and as Simon waves his bright camera lights around to create different shadows and highlight particular elements in a shot, we’re thankful to have his photographic expertise.

It takes a number of attempts to get the shot we want. We look at different chair options. Should we use leather dining chairs or a wooden bench? Does a tall planter look better than a large plant? Once we’re all happy, it’s straight onto the next scene – well, maybe a brief, but absolutely essential, interlude for a cuppa and a chocolate biscuit! The furniture for the next shoot has already been assembled and whilst Gemma is busy styling the new set, the previously photographed furniture and props are dismantled and boxed safely away before the team start assembling the pieces for the next shot – as you can well imagine, it’s all go!

It’s a long day, and as we watch the sun setting behind the sea (the perks of having a studio with sea views!), we’re exhausted but thrilled with the end results.

Our Amalfi Industrial H-Bar Oak Dining Table looking ready for its close-up

Macy trying to steal the limelight from our stunningly styled Standford Industrial Reclaimed Wood Extending Table

Gemma adds the finishing touches to our Large Farringdon Reclaimed Wood Trestle Table Dining Set. Did you spot our new Sintra Round Wall Mirror in the background?

Simon checking how his shot of our Dorset Reclaimed Wood Extending Table with Bamboo Darcy Double Pendant light looks on screen.

Gemma and Simon with co-founder, Hellen, bringing our Mitcham Spider Leg Industrial Dining Table to life.

From stylish dining room to a chic bedroom.

Our resident model back in the frame, showing us her best side!

Keep a lookout for all the beautiful images from our photoshoots on our website and social channels. And, don’t forget to share your favourite photo at @modishliving.

Create a cosy reading nook with a Scandi twist

Autumn is on the doorstep and the promise of chillier evenings and crisper mornings are with us. It also means that we have the perfect excuse – not that we ever need one – to curl up on an autumn afternoon with a good book. What makes this even more of a wonderful thing to do is the surroundings in which we do it and that means getting the style just right.

The Scandi style is perfect for this. Clean lines with detail, rather than clutter, it still exudes a warmth that makes it a popular choice for many. So how to create a Scandi style reading nook?

Start with the comfiest armchair possible

The best thing about enjoying a chapter or two is that you get to physically and mentally relax in a soothing, calm space, perfect for allowing the stresses of modern life to slip away. But it means having a comfy armchair into which you can sink.

A leather armchair is perfect and with a light, neutral fabric colour you have the start of a Scandi-style reading nook. Choose one that is wide and generous in its proportions so that you can lounge whilst you read. Why not add a small footstool too, for when you’re lulled into having a little nap?

Start to frame the armchair

With your warm-to-the-touch velvet armchair in place, you now need to frame it in its position. This alone is what creates the standalone space that is clearly your reading nook.

A must-have piece of furniture is the Scandi reading nook is an oak side table. Its light colour coupled with the soft curves of its rounded legs make it a typical Scandinavian piece and ideal for resting your unfinished book and that large cup of hot chocolate that makes relaxing for a few hours so very pleasant.

Accessories

With the two main pieces of furniture in place, you can now start to dress the space, giving it a calming visual appeal, making it the perfect space to loiter.

The Scandi style is all about including neutral but warm colours, with natural, soft materials that make the space inviting and warm, without the clutter and fussy detailing.

A large grey rug is cosy underfoot, adding the perfect finish to your reading nook, along with these other accessories;

– Light – you’ll need to consider the lighting in the space. The best light by which to read is natural light, with shade from the bright sun. However, with light lacking in autumn and winter, a table lamp or a wicker pendant light would be a wonderful light solution.

– Mirror – decorative mirrors are ideal on two fronts: adding detail but also being practical by reflecting light in your reading nook giving it both a practical edge and a visual warmth.

-Senses – creating a calming space is about appealing to all senses and infusing your reading nook with a gentle, pleasant scent will make all the difference. Candles and diffusers fit the bill perfectly, adding fragrant notes without being overpowering.

With your Scandi reading nook in place, now all you need to do is find the perfect novel…

Restore harmony in the bedroom with a round mirror

A mirror in the bedroom is considered a necessity. As well as checking your appearance, a bedroom mirror also helps to reflect light around the room and create an illusion of space. But where should you place the mirror? And what style works best?

Opting for a round bedroom mirror

The round wall mirror adds interest to a room with interior designers telling us that when you are opting for just the one mirror, opting for a round one is a great choice. And when it comes to size, choosing one that fits with the proportions of the room helps to accent its appeal.

When it comes to positioning the mirror, consulting with the ancient traditions of Feng Shui can help. As well as making sure that mirrors don’t face each other, you will also need to avoid a mirror above your bed and, if possible, facing your bed too. Also, try not to position it facing the door and don’t hang it on a south-facing wall. This might limit your options, you may think, but get the round wall mirror in the right place and it can make a real difference to the light in the room.

Which mirror suits your bedroom style?

Reclaimed wood furniture is the kingpin of many styles from rustic to contemporary and Scandinavian – and there is a delightful round mirror to match!

The Scandinavian furniture style is popular, especially for the bedroom. With its warm and familiar features, it makes for a calm, restful space.

There is no reason why you can’t have two mirrors in the bedroom (just make sure they’re not facing each other!) with this dressing table mirror perfect with oak bedroom furniture. The handy cutaway in its base is perfect for storing small items such as earrings and rings.

Wall mirrors are ideal, especially when fixed at a point that means you can check no hair is out of place as you leave you boudoir to face another busy day or enjoy a fun night out. And sometimes, simplicity is best, like this narrow framed large round mirror, perfect for sitting alongside the oak dressing table mirror.

If you would like a little more decoration and detail but don’t want to stray too far from the Scandinavian style, the vibe from this retro round wall mirror could be just what you are looking for. It has detail without clutter, perfect for the Scandi style.

But there’s no reason why you can’t have a hint of luxury and glamour in the Scandi inspired bedroom. Just be subtle with a hint of detail that attracts attention but doesn’t bowl the room over. This Industrial Window Mirror placed in an area where the light catches the metallic of the finish will do the trick.

Round dining tables that won’t cramp your kitchen

Wycombe Oak Round Dining Table and Chairs

The round dining table is perfect for any kitchen but when you are short on space, it comes into its own. Allowing you to move easily around the space, a small round dining table offers diners plenty of space. Bid goodbye to the awkward banging of elbows with these three ideas for the small kitchen dining area.

Make a statement with an oak round dining table

Just because space is tight, it doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t make a design or style statement with your chosen round kitchen table. This is exactly what this oak dining table delivers – a statement, without sucking space. The central pedestal leg with its four splayed feet adds to its beauty, as do your choice of dining chairs. Brown, faux leather dining chairs are ideal with this oak round dining table, don’t you think?

Sleek Scandinavian round dining table

In the smaller space, too much detail simply adds clutter, and this means paring back on the detail to create an unfussy, yet welcoming space. This can be hard to do, especially if you are not a fan of the stark, minimal look.

Breathe life into a smaller space with the Scandinavian style, characterised by light woods with a smooth finish and rounded edges. There is a warmth and elegance to this style that makes it perfect in so many settings

For the smaller kitchen, it is more than ideal.

A small round dining table in the smaller kitchen makes sense – it offers the same dining space without swallowing floor space – and with the minimal, yet warm tones of the Scandinavian style, the softer corners and lithe legs also contribute to this lighter look.

Team this table with beautifully crafted wooden dining chairs to create a sense of cohesion and symmetry.

A round dining table that grows when you need it too!

A round extendable dining table is surely one of the best investments anyone can make. We all know there are times when the reclaimed wood dining table needs to be much bigger than what it is. The same is true of the dining table in the small kitchen.

Round dining tables are popular for many reasons – many people, for example, admire its curves and lack of sharp angles. Others opt for a round table for one reason and one alone: it’s a social table.

There is no ‘head of the table’ seat. Every diner is equal to the next and no matter where you sit, you can see everyone else.

But we think this round extendable dining table is just amazing. In its ‘smaller’ format, it is the ideal round dining table for 4. But start to crank it open – and you really do! – this small round dining table starts to grow, become a beautiful elliptical shape for your next dinner party.

Perfect as the extendable round dining table may be, you need dining chairs to match. Add yet more layers of detail with grey upholstered dining chairs with just enough detail that doesn’t crowd or cramp the space.

Dine in Scandi style with these oak tables

Hudson Living Wycombe Oak Extending Dining Table

We’ll never tire of the clean lines of Scandinavian interior design style. The oak dining table is the perfect centrepiece in the Scandi-inspired dining room but what about seating and accessories?

True to the Scandi style

The Scandinavian style is an amalgamation of furniture and accessories in a room that has a clear connection. Full of natural materials and an abundance of wood, the minimal approach is far from sparse but instead, oozes a warmth that is attractive to everyone.

Clean lines, softened angles and light woods are typical, as is a heavy dash of functionality which is why an oak dining table, with an oak bench, is the ideal choice. If there is a typical Scandinavian dining table, it is rectangular with rolling edges matched by equally unfussy seating. Keep the remainder of the room lightly accessorised with neutral colours on the walls and perhaps a bright dining room rug to add a zing of colour and you have the stylish, Scandi-setting you crave.

Curls and rolls

There is nothing brash or confrontational about the Scandi style and this is something that can be emulated with Scandinavian furniture. Essentially, the delicate appearance of the slim, round legs on an oak dining table make it an ideal choice, more so if you have a tendency towards minimalist interior design. Functional with a heavy dose of style, why not consider a dining bench, as well as matching dining chairs, to maintain the practicality of this dining table?

Stick with tried and tested tricks for the Scandi-style, such as framed mirrors to reflect the light and when it comes to accessories and sculptures, maintain curves and neutral colours.

Extending a warm welcome

When it comes to the dining room, entertaining and extending a warm welcome to guests runs through the core of Scandi-style. Whether it is a planned get-together or an impromptu evening with good friends, an extending 6-seater dining table comes into its own.

Again, with a matching dining bench, you could squeeze plenty of guests around its curved edge and matching wooden dining chairs bring instant balance and symmetry to the dining room.

Opt for plenty of candlelight and let the gentle flickering of a naked flame accent the hues and tones of oak. Accessories such as lanterns also make an ideal addition with their classic shape and design.

Circle of change

Once you have formed the basis of an interior design style you love, you can add a personal touch with small twists and quirks This round luxury oak table, with its heavy-set central pedestal leg, is a brilliant alternative to those showcased so far.

And here’s a bigger twist – dark-coloured wooden dining chairs. An elegant contrast full of drama, this is a combination that will enhance every mealtime.

Maintain the same neutral backdrop and accessories so that the table and the wooden dining chairs remain the focal point of this stylishly designed room.

Scandinavian Style Oak Dining Tables Under £800

The Scandinavian style is a beautiful one, streamlined, minimal and yet warm and welcoming. Its simplicity is key to its success, a factor that works well in the dining room. If you have a nordic landscape planned for the dining area, a Scandinavian oak dining table and chairs will be top of your list.

Why choose a Scandinavian oak dining table?

As a wood, oak is robust and yet so very beautiful that it suits every home. Better still, there is a beautiful oak table to fit every budget. Considering how long you’ll have the table in your dining room, investing in a beautiful dining room table is the foundation of your dining room.

Delightfully versatile, how you dress the dining table can also help make it the practical piece of dining room furniture you need.

1 Opt for the largest oak table you can

If you regularly entertain or have a large family opting for an oak dining table and chairs that is large enough to accommodate everyone is clearly essential. A 6-seater dining table makes perfect sense – not too big to swamp a room, it still offers plenty of seating options. Its light colour and light frame make the Scandinavian oak dining table the perfect choice.

If you have the space – you need about a metre from the back of the dining chair and the nearest object to form a corridor around your dining table – you could opt for a larger dining table, such as an 8-seater dining table. Mix it up with the industrial dining table style if you want the block table top but without the heavy leg and frame.

Quick tip – struggling for space in the dining room? Opt for a round oak dining table. Anything circular promotes the flow in a room, making it easier to move around the space.

2 Dining seating

The lightness of the frame means that dining chairs should emulate this. Anything too blocky will look too heavy against the lithe frame of a Scandinavian styled oak table.

This doesn’t mean you can use coloured fabric upholstered chairs – far from it! – but consider the tone and ‘weight’ of the chair.

A great solution is the dining bench. There is a utilitarian appeal to a minimal bench that sits well alongside the oak dining table. A table flanked by an oak bench on either side is a superb solution to the busy kitchen diner and doesn’t swallow floor space either.

If you don’t want a too matchy-matchy finish between the Scandinavian dining table and chairs, you can always switch it up a little with a sprinkling of the industrial style. Working well with an oak table, the lighter metal frame of an industrial dining chair adds a little extra zing.

3 Dressing the dining room

The dining table is the not only essential piece of dining rooms furniture you need. Alongside the table and dining chairs, you need storage solutions with the small oak sideboard coming in at the top of the list.

But again, opting for ‘lighter’ pieces in terms of both colour and design is key to allowing the oak dining table to be the star of the show.

Detailing is key. If you want the dining table to stand out, opt for one with statement legs or frame such as in the case of an oak dining table with interesting industrial legs. Or go all in; opting for a Scandinavian style oak table with slightly chunkier finish with a frame that sits well with the dining benches.

Which Scandinavian oak dining table would you choose?

How to use patterned rugs in the living room

Patterned Rug in Living Room with Velvet Sofa

Patterns are all around us, from those we create to those that nature gives us. Using pattern in the home adds detailing and texture, lifting a space to give it character. We’ve long been told that mixing patterns is ‘dangerous’ in terms of interior design but with patterns in fabrics, soft furnishings, wallpaper, bare brick wall and on the floor, just how do you create a cohesive style with patterns? We take a look, setting the patterned rugs in the living room as the main feature.

What fits your style?

If you are adding patterned living room rugs to an already decorated room, you will need to be clear about your style. For example, bold floral tropical prints are very much on trend but maybe don’t sit well in the ultra-industrial styled living room.

The Scandinavian furniture style never goes out of fashion but trends tweak it, adding warm twists. Using pattern rugs is an ideal way of lifting what some find a bare space. A warm abstract grey rug with white patterning slides into space without jarring against the basic principles of this style scheme. It fuses perfectly with an all-white backdrop, and the lighter woods and colours used in this type of scheme.

The geometric rug in this industrial living room sits well with the patterns in the wall under the window and the brickwork too. Paired with the velvet sofa, perfection is not hard to find…

Choose neutral, light tones for guaranteed success

We are considering adding patterned rugs to the living room with the décor in place, something we know many customers do. If you are renovating from scratch, designers suggest starting with the rug colour and bring the rest of the room to the rug.

However, with everything in situ, success in adding pattern comes in the style of pattern fitting with your overall room design but also colour.

Dark background to patterns can make them feel overly oppressive as well as old-fashioned and out of place in some cases. Opting for lighter, neutral tones is a guarantee of success. Imagine a white and sand rug alongside your reclaimed wood coffee table in your industrial style living room, and you can see just how successful it would be.

Be bold

Colour and pattern can lift a room but take care with boldness in both colour AND pattern. Occasionally what can work in a room is a bold colour with a traditional pattern rug, perfect for framing a leather armchair by the fireside or even alongside your leather sofa.

More than one patterned rug in the living room

Can you mix patterns? We often think the rule book says no but rules are meant to be broken…

Choose similar colours and patterns that are also similar such as a traditional pattern or a light coloured palette. A multi-coloured rug, for example, offers many possibilities. The great thing about using different styles of patterned rugs is they define areas and zones but, keeping a sense of cohesion with similar colours or patterns stops the feeling of the room feeling cluttered and disconnected.