How would you style this room?

[Laurasanford789]

It's essentially a dining room there is a rustic style round table and chairs on other side.

This section however is the bit I'm struggling with

Ideally I'd like extra storage I don't want to loose the mirror as I feel it opens things up a bit more

I want to try a rug but I'm.pretty sure the cats would pee on it they did the last time I had one there

It just feels so empty, I do want to add a little chair somewhere maybe

I love rustic styles if that's any use

Big houseplant?

A pair of lamps on the sideboard?

The mirror seems a bit too big against the sideboard… maybe try hanging it portrait way up so you get more of a golden ratio (1:1.6)

You need to add colour, softness, texture and possibly pattern. Maybe a feature chair to the right of the side board with a basket of books or magazines next to it, a nice floor standing lamp and a big statement plant, you will have a nice reading corner. Plants and candles on the sideboard. Maybe a selection of baskets to the other side. TK Maxx Homesense is excellent for doing something like this.

several big plants could work.

or more pictures on the wall - make it a gallery wall with lots of pictures.

you could also replace the sideboard with one that is twice the width - you would get more storage and could put nice things on the top for display - bowl of fruit / vase / sculpture etc.

It looks very bare at the moment @Laurasanford789. Are the table and chairs pushed up against the opposite wall? Or is it a really large space? Because it seems empty of interest/furniture in the centre from what your pic shows.

I get what you're saying re: rugs - one of our DDogs (sadly passed away last year 😢) was like that - but a rug would definitely soften the space. Perhaps look at Ruggable or similar where you can wash in your machine at home? Otherwise, lots of textures, pattern, plants, lamps and art will help and I agree with @parietal that the room could take a larger sideboard.

It looks pretty dark.

I think a huge feature lamp, in a bright colour. An oversized one.

Got small kids? Could do a bright bean bag or two instead of a feature chair.

Also, you can get washable rugs if that helps with the cat. Could also just put your cats scratching post there.

Maybe add some colour to the walls. Change the light fitting to something lower and more atmospheric over the table. Lamp on the sideboard. I’d add a nice armchair too if you have the room. More things on the walls and plants as others have said.

Machine washable rug and lamps. Overhead lights usually cast a slightly bleak atmosphere over a room. You need to have lower level lamps around the room. Plants would be great too, but one of my cats used to treat houseplants as bonus convenient litter trays, so that may not work for you 😿

How much do you want to spend? A wall of fitted bookcases would work if you want to spend that much. You can hack the Ikea ones to make it cheaper. As long as done properly, they look great.

What do you want to use the room for? Is it a dining room that gets used every day? What other function does the room have? Do you work in the dining room or do the kids play there or do you have a piano (or other instruments) in there or do you like to read in there or do hobbies? What do you want to store there? There's no point filling with stuff for the sake of it, you need to have a room function in mind.

But from the one corner we can see:

1. have the ceiling light low over the table. You can get attractive fabric covered cables in all sorts of colours to extend it and if the table isn't central you can get a hook in the ceiling over the table and use a long cable to get it in the right place. Not expensive, looks good.
2. How much storage do you need? I'd replace the small sideboard and corner shelving with something bigger so the space is filled more and it looks more cohesive.
3. It looks dark, is that just because it's November or because the room is north facing or because it doesn't have big enoigh windows? That suggests two things, where do you need functional lighting in the room and/or do you like the idea of painting the room dark and embracing the coziness?

Maybe give us a plan of the room with dimensions so we can help.

@JaninaDuszejko
Thank you

I love the idea of the light over the table makes more sense I'd need to get a helping hand in for the electrics as I have no idea how to go about removing the existing light

Next to table on other side is a window but it's frosted and has blinds on it constantly because without the blinds you can't see out the window so just looks a bit unsightly basically it looks better dressed with blinds so yes does get light its just pic was taken in evening

So the space is for eating and storage mainly yes, I was thinking of high units instead of the two separate but the cost is ridiculous, and I felt a mirror was needed on the wall where unit is as that's the first thing you see when you enter the room so I thoughy it kind of opens it up a bit rather than just having units in front of you filled with stuff, and as much as I love the rustic look I also don't like to much clutter as it's not a massive space so I'm conscious about keeping it open and airy looking still if that makes sense

@JaninaDuszejko storage eating but also an armchair in there of some kind

I would change the light fitting to something with opals, so it’s not as glaringly bright. And a big piece of art or framed print above the console, instead of the mirror. Dress the top of the console with a vase, a large candle, a lamp or a beautiful bowl for storage- dress it with three things of varying heights.

Add texture with a (washable) rug or jute rug, add a couple of comfy slim occasion chairs, a little side table for drinks, and dress the chairs with a textured cushion or throws