7 Things That Immediately Make Your Dining Room Look Bad, According to Designers

Your dining room should be the perfect blend of style and function—ready to host everything from casual dinners to festive celebrations. But sometimes, even the best intentions can result in a space that feels less polished than you’d hoped.

To help you avoid these blunders, we asked some of our favorite designers to reveal the biggest DIY-er mistakes that can cheapen a dining room’s look. Ahead, they share the biggest offenders, plus, share expert tips for what to do instead.

A Lackluster Light Fixture

Nothing casts a bad light on your dining room like a lackluster light hung over your dining table. Whether it's a flush mount with no personality or a dusty hand-me-down chandelier that doesn't suit your style, the wrong lighting can quickly drag down the aesthetic of your entire room and make it feel less than luxe.

Erin Williamson, the owner of Erin Williamson Design, emphasizes the importance of choosing a dining room light fixture with real personality.

"Whether it's a vibrant vintage Murano chandelier or a sleek, modern LED halo pendant, a standout piece can become the focal point of the room, instantly elevating the entire space," Williamson says.

Williamson selected a wavy-armed wrought iron chandelier with globe bulbs for one of her projects since the squiggly armature added a whimsical element that felt fresh and approachable.

"Opting for a piece that feels thoughtfully chosen, rather than a generic museum reproduction, immediately dials up the sophistication factor," Williamson explains.

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Too Much Uniformity

Dropping a matching dining table and chairs into your dining room might be easy, but it runs the risk of making your room feel less than novel, which can cheapen the overall look.

Instead, try mixing styles like the firm Tyler Karu does in the eclectic dining room above. Combining contrasting textures and styles—such as romantic French Louis chairs with an industrial metal table—adds interest and makes your room look expertly designed.

"A juxtaposition of antique and modern is insouciantly elegant," Ksenya Malina of New York interior design studio Time and Place Interiors says. "It’s perfectly okay to pair a fancy designer chair with a flea market find. It shows your ability to appreciate beauty at varying levels of sophistication."

No Vintage

You'll hear designers say it again and again: vintage decor adds character, and the dining room is no exception. Even with a hefty budget, a space full of all-new pieces can feel sterile and impersonal.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to go all in with antiques. Jessica Nelson, a designer and founder of Jessica Nelson Design, says that you only need a few vintage pieces to elevate a room.

For example, Nelson paired vintage European dining chairs with a modern farmhouse table, creating a space that feels layered and bespoke. 

Underwhelming Floors

While skipping a rug in the dining room may seem practical—spills and crumbs don’t mix well with textiles—leaving the floor bare can make the space feel incomplete.

If you skip the rug, consider a patterned floor like a parquet design with a decorative border that adds elegance and polish without the need for a traditional floor covering.

If you're not undertaking a full renovation, however, you might reconsider throwing down a rug. Malina personally likes Persian designs for their durability.

"From a practical perspective, vintage Persians are one of the most resilient dining room rug options," Malina explains. "Their tight weave makes them sturdy and resistant to wear."

Malina loves Persian rugs since they take spills well and dry naturally; plus, their patterns camouflage stains.

Skipping Decor Touches

Like any room, accessories are essential to making a dining room feel well-designed. Without them, the space can end up looking a bit too sparse or budget-conscious.

If you’re short on space for a buffet or sideboard, get creative with where you add accessories. A bold centerpiece bowl can make a statement, or you can place a plant pedestal or decorative column in a corner and top it with a striking plant or sculpture.

Forgetting to Have Fun

A dull dining room can make even the best pieces feel cheap. To elevate your room, inject some whimsy and personality.

"Don’t be afraid to experiment with intriguing, unique designs, or placing artwork or decor where they traditionally don't belong," Malina says.

This will help keep a home from looking stale and flat as if it came out of a catalog. The chicest homes mix a bit of modern and traditional styles, leaving enough space for design surprises, Malina says.