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From wall colour to tableware...

Dining room décor, from wall colour to tableware, can have a bigger impact on mealtimes than you realise. According to Rebecca Snowden, interior style advisor at Furniture and Choice, the way we decorate our dining rooms can impact what we eat — and how good it tastes overall.

Whether you have an open-plan space or a separate dining area, planning the right interior scheme is key to enjoying our favourite foods and creating the right atmosphere for hosting.

Give your dining room a sense of wellbeing and calm with the right hues. According to Rebecca, we should be choosing colours that won't hinder our taste experiences.

'Many of us choose paint colours and accessories that appeal to us, not always considering how it might affect the mood and tone of our homes,' says Rebecca. 'Colours can evoke powerful emotions and memories, therefore having a profound effect on mood, wellbeing and behaviour.'

When it comes to right colours, green and red are the best energising hues to choose. 'Our brains associate green shades with nature and healthy eating, which can in turn increase appetites and help us get more enjoyment from our food,' advises Rebecca. 'Red can also be a great colour for those who often play host, as it energises us and can increase social interaction, while also making people feel hungrier.'

From flush ceiling fittings to elegant shades, enhance meal times with the right lighting. Creating the perfect ambience for a dinner party can be easily achieved with natural light, as well as stylish fixtures.

Rebecca adds: 'Natural light is always best, but if that is not available, make sure the lighting is bright enough so people can see what they are about to enjoy; this stimulates the excitement of seeing the food itself and will make the experience of eating it that much more enjoyable.'

While scented candles look and smell great, they can actually affect the taste of your food — especially if they are overwhelming scents.

Instead of candles and diffusers, opt for a mildly scented cleaning product to banish any unwelcome odours. 'It can be as simple as just using antibacterial washing up liquid diluted in water. Using harshly scented cleaning products will cause that smell to linger, which isn't a bad thing in living areas, but in the dining room it can easily hamper the taste of your food,' continues Rebecca.

When choosing tableware, be careful not to overwhelm the senses. According to research, white plates tend to enhance sweet flavours in food, while black angular plates will bring out more savoury flavours. Patterned plates, on the other hand, will interfere with what your eyes are seeing, drawing you away from the food.

'Stick to plain crockery as to not overwhelm the senses,' advises Rebecca. 'Depending on if you have a sweet or savoury tooth, using plain white or black dinnerware is usually best and helps the food to really stand out on the plate.'

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This design combines industrial style and mid-century Scandinavian design. The perfect contemporary dining table for city living, it boasts a beautifully crafted solid American oak top with powder coated metal legs.

Dimensions: W90 cm x H76 cm x D90 cm

The advantage of a glass-topped table is that it allows light to flow through it, and gives your dining area a contemporary feel. There's lots to admire with this tempered glass top and brass-finished dining table.

Dimensions: H76 cm x W110 x D110

This is a great space-saving dining table because the benches – with hairpin-style legs – fit neatly underneath the table when not in use.

Debbie Drake, Head of Design at Dunelm, says: 'Bench dining tables, whilst being both stylish and practical, are a great option for saving space in your kitchen or dining room.'

Dimensions: Table – H76 cm x L110 cm x W70 cm / Bench – H47 cm x L80 cm x W29 cm

We're big fans of this stylish dining room table, with graphic legs and a smooth brown marble-effect top. Made for contemporary living, it can comfortably fit four people.

Dimensions: H75 cm x W110 cm x D11o cm

Handmade by Itojo in their Lancashire workshop from carefully selected reclaimed wood, this round dining table exudes character and texture. It sits on heavy-duty steel legs – you can choose from hairpin or box legs (pictured).

Dimensions: H75 cm x D86 cm

Looking for something a bit different? This hexagonal dining table is as much beautiful as it is practical. The natural wood grain from the solid timber tabletop, combined with tapered brassy legs, makes this a luxe addition to your home.

Dimensions: H76 cm x W110 cm x D95 cm

Made from solid American oak and oak veneers, this flip top table converts from a small four-seater square table to an eight-seater rectangular one in an instant. It's ideal if you ever need to extend the table for entertaining.

Dimensions: W90 cm x H76 cm x D90 cm

Dining for two? MADE.com is selling this contemporary round dining table with a smoked glass top and graphic legs. Its round shape means it will easily fit into a tight spot.

Dimensions: H75 cm x W90 cm x D90 cm

Striking a balance between function and beauty and oozing timeless appeal, this round, light oak small dining table is perfect for Scandi interiors.

Dimensions: W100 cm x D100 cm x H70 cm

Ideal to use as an additional dining space in your kitchen, this compact table and stools set in oak and black is the ultimate space-saver. Why? Because the seats can easily slot under the table in cube form.

Dimensions: H75 cm x W90 cm x D90 cm

This wood-effect dining table and chairs set only takes up 1m by 1m space, keeping your room neat and tidy. The matching chairs, with faux leather padded seats, neatly tuck under the table.

Dimensions: H76.5 cm x W85 cm x L85 cm

Finished with a timeless wood grain effect, this compact round dining table is the perfect choice for smaller spaces. The black colourway is striking and bold.

Dimensions: H78.5 cm x D95 cm

With a nod to the industrial trend, thanks to the white frame and grey concrete effect tabletop, this bar-like narrow dining table offers an elevated height to enjoy your meals. Conveniently, there's also space for storage.

Dimensions: L115 cm x H102.7 cm x D50 cm

A dining table that definitely deserves centre stage, we love the sloping wooden slats here on the base, finished off with a rounded table top.

Dimensions: H76 x W90 x D90 cm

Neat and tidy, this contemporary glass round dining table for two is perfect for small open-plan spaces, or in a kitchen, and its lightweight design will give you an uncluttered feel. You'll be pleased to know that the surface top is made from clear tempered glass which is easy to keep clean.

Dimensions: H76 cm x D80 cm

Perfect for breakfast for two, this three-piece breakfast table features three shelves for additional storage. The compact design ensures less space is taken up, making it ideal for a kitchen, and the stools tuck neatly under the table.

Dimensions: H91.4 cm x W106.7 cm x D142.2 cm

Perfect to use as a freestanding breakfast bar in the kitchen, this bar table creates an instant worktop and dining space. It comes with matching grey stools.

Dimensions: H91 cm x W90 cm x L55 cm

Perfect for smaller spaces, place this table against the wall or use freestanding. The leaf folds out easily when you need more space. Bonus: the pull-out drawer is handy for napkins and coasters.

Dimensions: H75 cm x W96cm (Max. length: 86 cm / Min. length: 51 cm)

Perfect for a family of four, this table set comes with two dining chairs and a bench on the opposite end, which can also slot neatly underneath when not in use.

Dimensions: L114 cm x H75 cm x W68cm