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11 Ways to Create a Wintry-Luxe Holiday Dining Room

October 03, 2016

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Turn up the drama for your next holiday soiree with a mix of dark hues, rich textures and metallic accents.

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Go Glam

This small dining room was given a dramatic, woodland-inspired transformation with a mix of darkpine green, black, charcoal and neutral brown-gray. The deep green wall color works well year-round and also mixes well with seasonal hues like deep red, rich violet and gold.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Ground the Space

A key factor in creating a dramatic dining space is grounding the area with a rug. Black and white is a color combination that works well with virtually any palette, and its stark contrast is helpful in breaking up the monotony of a strong, dominant color. Here, black and white was used and repeated on the floor and also on the wall with vintage graphic art.

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Less is More

To create drama, think of each decorative element in reference to its visual weight and shape. Different textures and sheens of varied materials anchor the tablescape, from the seagrass and cork chargers to the brass place settings to the thistle centerpiece.

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Thistle Centerpiece

There are many flowers that work well for styling holiday tablescapes such white lilies, berry branches and poinsettias. Try a different approach this year with thistle. Often known for having a country look, thistle has a moody mix of blue-violet and green coloring with faded green stems. Thistle works best when bulked up with two to four bouquets.

Photo: Tomas Espinoza. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Dark Faux Fur

If your dining room chairs aren’t dark, give them a simple update for the holiday season by draping faux sheepskin over the back. While black is often the most effective, charcoal and dark brown work just as well.

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Modern Holiday Flair

Keep it sophisticated when choosing decorative objects for your dark and moody tablescape. For a simple nod to Christmastime, a trio of modern cones made of wood veneer sheeting were crafted.
Steal the Look: Cut each piece of wood veneer sheeting to size. Then, cut a slit up the center to fit two triangles together. Dip pieces into black paint for a clean, crisp hint of contrast.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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A Touch of Leather

For a hint of glam, try working a touch of leather into your dining room setup. Here, stitched leather coasters were used to help protect the tabletop surface and introduce a rich texture.

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Fabric Napkins

Holiday celebrations are special, so skip the paper napkins and bring out the fancier stuff! To pop some pattern onto the table, these fabric napkins were used to introduce a classic Greek key pattern. The stitching is a faded shade of gray that creates a more tone-on-tone look.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Texture Play

As you're putting together your tablescape, pay attention to how the textures of each element play together. Here, the perfect balance of refined wood, soft fabrics, mixed metallics and cork and seagrass strike the perfect combination.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Vintage Charm

Add an element of surprise to your table setting with charming party favors guests can take with them. Here, vintage candleholders were repurposed as vessels to hold personalized tree ornaments.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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All About the Stacking

If you're dining on a smaller table, try adding depth by stacking elements. On this round pedestal table, most of the decorative elements were also chosen for their round shapes. The lack of corners saves room, and by stacking different materials, visual depth is created.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Conversation Starters

Breaking the ice is the key to a successful gathering, and it's easy to do with clever objects certain to spark conversation. To play off the modern tree structures, these matte black woodland creatures were added to the mix. Plus, they also make great party favors for guests.

11 Ways to Create a Wintry-Luxe Holiday Dining Room

Go Glam

Ground the Space

Less is More

Thistle Centerpiece

Dark Faux Fur

Modern Holiday Flair

A Touch of Leather

Fabric Napkins

Texture Play

Vintage Charm

All About the Stacking

Conversation Starters

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