10 Essentials You Need for a Craftsman Dining Room
The Craftsman style is inspired by the style of houses built in the United States between 1903 and 1930. The concept was popularized by furniture designers such as Gustav Stickley and William Morris. Some of this interior design style’s key features are practicality, using locally-sourced materials, and creating harmony with nature. You can use the Craftsman style in any room in your home, including the dining room. If you are a fan of this style, here are the 10 essentials you need for a Craftsman dining room.
1. A Wooden Dining Suite
While glass and metal tables look fantastic with contemporary style, the only option, if you are trying to replicate the Craftsman style, is a wooden dining suite. Wood is a vital component of the style, as it combines the three key elements; practicality, harmony with nature, and using local materials, says Love to Know. Rustic tables work particularly well, and choosing chairs with floral pattern upholstery ties with the natural theme.
2. Exposed Beams
A common feature of Craftsman homes is exposed beams, says Home Stratosphere. Sometimes, people cover this with a lower ceiling when renovating homes. If you buy a period house, you may find a stud ceiling is covering beautiful beams. If you have the skills or can afford a building team to remove the stud ceiling, then exposing the beams will add height to the room. If you cannot expose the beams, then it is possible to add beams to the existing ceiling.
3. Paneled Walls
Paneled walls are another common feature of Craftsman houses. If you do not have paneling already, it is a reasonably simple task to add some paneling to the lower half of the walls or to a feature wall. If you find the wood too dark for the room, then you can brighten it up by adding some lighter colored paint.
4. Warm Décor
Craftsman style houses are warm and homely, and you should reflect this in your choice of colors for the dining room. Earthy tones such as mustard yellow, deep beige, and terracotta are good options. However, many people choose to combine the Craftsman style with modern design concepts to create a space that has traditional features but still feels light and open. A good color scheme if this is your preference is light gray as this is light and bright while giving a contrast to the darker tones of the furniture.
5. Add a Window Seat
The inclusion of built-in furniture pieces reduced the need to buy additional furniture for Craftsman houses. Many dining rooms featured a window seat, so you should try to include these if possible. They look particularly good in bay windows. An alternative is to add a chaise lounge with floral print fabric in front of the window. Window seats are interesting focal points, and they provide an informal place to sit with views of the garden.
6. Consider Built-In Cabinetry
Another built-in element in Craftsman-style houses is the cabinetry, which you will often see in both the kitchen and the dining room. Wooden cabinetry not only adds visual appeal to the room and contributes to the overall design theme, but it also serves a practical purpose. It is a place where you can store your tableware and dinner service, along with any other items you need to store away. Try to use the same type and color wood as the other wood elements in your room, such as the table, flooring, and paneling.
7. Add Stained Glass Elements
Stained glass was widely used in Craftsman houses, so you should try to incorporate some stained glass into your design. If you are not fortunate enough to have stained glass windows in your home, then there are other ways that you can incorporate stained glass elements into your Craftsman dining room. This Old House suggests handing a stained glass light fitting. Another way to add stained glass to your dining room is to find decorative pieces that feature stained glass. These look particularly good if you position them in front of the window, so the light flows through the stained glass.
8. Incorporate Metals
Although wood is the predominant material used in the craftsman theme, metal is also an important material. However, you should avoid shiny modern chrome items and choose metals such as brass or wrought iron. You can incorporate these into your dining room in the light fittings and accessories. Another way to use metal is to choose chairs with metal backs to sit around your wooden dining table. Floral designs contribute to the style’s focus on creating harmony with nature.
9. Use Wooden Flooring
In most Craftsman-style houses, wooden flooring is used throughout the property, including in the dining room. Therefore, adding wooden flooring is one of the best ways to replicate the style in your home. Wooden flooring is also a practical option for a dining room, as it is easier to deal with food and drink spillages on a wooden floor than it is if you spill on a carpet.
10. Lay Out a Large Rug
Adding a rug is a fantastic way to include some pattern and color into a dining room, and it also contributes to the warm and homely feel of the style. Ideally, you should choose a rug large enough to position it below the dining table and chairs. Not only will this help to define the dining area, but it draws the eye to the center of the room. However, larger rugs are usually more expensive. If you have a limited budget, choose a smaller rug, and position it opposite the dining table. The best rug options for a Craftsman dining room are those that feature a floral pattern, such as a William Morris design.
