In their article “40 Standout Ways to Elevate Your Dining Room Decor” for Good Housekeeping, Monique Valeris, Caroline Picard and Lauren Smith McDonough remind us why dining room spaces are so important to the flow and function of a home. Picard, Valeris and Smith McDonough write that “the dining room is the heart of the home.” The dining room is where “you enjoy delicious meals and enjoy quality time as a family.” Given this, “it's only right that you'd want a clutter-free space that's full of style.” This applies not only to current homeowners but also to prospective homeowners interested in purchasing your house. Dining rooms are near universal symbols of family time, holiday dinners and romantic date nights. As such, the dining room is one of the most important rooms of the home to stage before listing for sale. Staging your dining room before listing your home on the MLS can help prospective buyers better visualize the lives they could live there. Recent data from the National Association of Realtors’ 2019 Profile of Home Staging notes that the dining room is the third most staged room in homes across the country. According to the same NAR profile, “83% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.” When one considers the impact home staging can have on a sale combined with the importance of social spaces in the home, choosing to stage your dining room is a no-brainer. Follow below to read all our tips for staging a formal dining room in 2021.

8 Home Staging Tips for Your Dining Room in 2021

Though the basic principles of home staging are applicable to all homes -- no matter the valuation, architecture or age -- others are more appropriate for certain types of homes. For example, a contemporary dining room should be staged slightly differently than a traditional one. Below, find our eight universal tips to staging a dining room in 2021 -- regardless of the size, shape or style of your home.

#1 Deep Clean

First in our list of tips on how to stage your dining room is to deeply clean the space. This step is fairly obvious as it applies to every room in the home. Even those the homeowner has no plans to stage should be thoroughly cleaned, decluttered and depersonalized. In her article “6 Easy Ways to Stage Your Home for Free” for The Spruce, Ronique Gibson explains. As Kiernan Middleman recommended above in our section on scenting dining rooms, Gibson suggests making your home “as clean as a hotel.” Gibson writes that “homebuyers will look inside closets and under sinks so you must clean every nook and cranny.” As such, homeowners should “dust, vacuum, mop, and wash everything—even the pets.” Consider removing the rug under your dining table as well. Just like fabric wall coverings, rugs can retain smells from the ambient air.

#2 Don’t Scent Anything Artificially

Second on our list of universal dining room staging tips is to avoid artificial air fresheners. Homeowners often attempt to mask underlying odors with artificial sprays, candles and/or cleaning supplies. Unfortunately, the presence of these scents can actually alert prospective buyers to the possibility of an issue. Worse yet, some prospective buyers might be allergic or have a sensitivity to certain artificial fragrances. Jon Gorey elaborates in his article “The One Unexpected Thing That Immediately Turns Off Buyers” for Apartment Therapy. Quoting Boston real estate agent Kiernan Middleman, Gorey writes that “‘people today are simply more sensitive to air fresheners than they used to be.’”

According to Middleman, artificial scents are going out of fashion. Instead, what prospective buyers really want is “‘fresh air.’” To avoid bad smells, be sure to clean your dining room thoroughly and leave the windows and doors open to get rid of cleaning smells before showings. If a light fragrance is preferred, opt for the almost indiscernible scent “like eucalyptus, lemongrass, or ginger.” Middleman explains to Gorey that these types of scents “‘are often used in the lobbies of high-end hotels and spas.’” Because our olfactory sense is that which is most strongly tied to memory, it is likely that these fresh scents “‘may remind someone of a vacation they went on, or a great massage they had, which would likely be a positive association.’”

#3 Tear Down the Wallpaper

Unless your dining room’s wallpaper is brand new and fairly neutral, you should probably remove and repaint before listing your home for sale. From grasscloth to metallic, wallpapers can be polarizing. Some wallpapers can even absorb food smells, making it difficult to create a space that looks and feels truly clean. In her article “12 Tips on How to Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale” for Investopedia, Amy Fontinelle explains why tearing down the wallpaper might be your best bet. Fontinelle writes that “it is unlikely that a potential buyer will like your wallpaper [because] people's tastes in colors are very specific and highly personal.” Instead, homeowners should remove their wallcoverings and “paint the walls with a neutral color.”

#4 Arrange Chairs to Accommodate Foot Traffic

When staging furniture in your formal dining room, prioritize walkability. Making it easier for prospective buyers to walk through the dining room not only increases comfort but also improves appearance. Homeowners should keep in mind that a dining room must function appropriately, look beautiful and appear lightly lived-in. As such, you might consider pushing in all but one chair to make the space feel lived in while also providing lots of space to walk around.

#5 Center the Table Under a Light Fixture

In her blog post “Dining Room Rules,” Emily Henderson explains how to choose a light fixture and where to hang it when staging your dining space. Henderson writes that homeowners should “pick a chandelier about half the width of your dining table.” Choosing a pendant light or chandelier with “the right scale” ensures that the space “feels more pulled together.” Centering the light fixture might be even more important when staging. Emily Henderson recommends centering the primary light fixture over the table instead of placing it in the direct center of the room. However, some dining rooms “have a junction box that is off-centered to where your dining table is.” For homes in which this is the case, “either swag the chandelier over or have the junction box moved so that the light is directly over the table.” Doing so will provide the right amount of light over the table while perfectly balancing the space by providing a focal point for the room.

#6 Replace Heavy Drapes

While dining rooms are typically darker and moodier than sunny breakfast nooks, letting light in is always a good idea. As such, homeowners should get rid of heavy drapes, replacing them with lightweight curtains in neutral colors. In their article “7 Expert Home Staging Tips You Can Do Yourself” for Real Simple, Sarah Yang and Katie Holdefehr explain why replacing window treatments is a must. Quoting Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab Yang and Holdefehr write that “‘simple, functional window coverings on opened windows allow a space to breathe and appear visually larger and more open.’”

This is especially important in formal dining rooms, which can often feel cramped and closed-off. Yang and Holdefehr recommend opting for “floor-length curtains [hung] near the ceiling, instead of at the top of the window frame, to make the room appear taller.” Be sure to choose curtains that are seasonally appropriate. Also, make sure to pull the curtains before opening your home to potential buyers during an open house. This will flood the space with natural light to complement that which is provided by artificial light fixtures.

#7 Pay Attention to Other Dining Room Furniture

When staging your dining room, you might be tempted to focus solely on the dining set. You might hang a gorgeous chandelier and set a beautiful tablescape. However, it is crucial not to neglect your bar or buffet when home staging the dining room. In her post “81 Home Staging Tips That Help Buyers Fall in Love” for HouseLogic, Emily Burg explains. When staging your dining room, homeowners should “let buyers entertain the idea of entertaining.” As such, homeowners should stage different zones if there is space to do so. Consider placing a bar cart in the corner or adding “a few wine glasses and a decanter on the buffet.” Hang a neutral black and white photograph over the china cabinet or add a ceramic art object on top of the sideboard in your small dining room.

#8 Toss the Tablecloth And Add a Centerpiece

Tablecloths and traditional table runners can trend a bit old-fashioned. If your dining room table is not quite presentable in its bare form, consider renting a period-appropriate, high-quality set instead. Allow the table’s craftsmanship to shine through, accenting with fresh flowers and elegant place settings. When choosing flowers for your centerpiece, avoid fake flowers and silk houseplants. During showing days or open houses, opt instead for fresh flowers in a simple vase or an expertly potted plant.

In his article “What Staging Practices Should We Avoid When Showing Our Home?” for The New York Times, Tim McKeough offers his recommendations for dining room tablescapes. Quoting Connecticut professional home stager Birgit Anich, McKeough writes that centerpiece arrangements should never be fussy. Instead, “simpler is usually better.” Anich explains that “‘orchids always work well, because they’re beautiful and modern…[and] tulips are great in the spring.’” Home stagers often choose these types of flowers because they are fresh and commonly liked. As such, they usually make a great first impression when the buyer walks from your living room into your dining room.

Final Thoughts from Sandpiper

By following these eight steps, your dining room will make your home appealing to buyers. It will welcome prospective homebuyers and encourage them to realize their vision in your space. To learn how to stage your historic home, head over to our recent post “Staging Tips for Historic Homes in St. Louis.” Stay tuned for more staging tips, market trends, interior design tips and more from Sandpiper by subscribing to our blog.

Eight Tips for Staging a Formal Dining Room in 2021