Brighten up your dining room with white wood

The interior equivalent of a breath of fresh sea air, this laid-back mix of white wood and invigorating hues will make every day feel like summer.

Love this dining room

• White furniture makes this scheme feel light and bright – opt for classic, colonial shapes to keep it sophisticated.

• Floaty curtains in a floral design add a feminine touch to counter all the white.

• Add plenty of plants – potted flowers in wicker baskets are an easy DIY update.

• Combine vintage crockery with ship’s lanterns and collected seashore finds to add colour and interest to every surface.

Styling Tip

Update dining-chair seat pads in a sunny yellow shade to add a splash of colour that complements your accessories.

Good Idea

Bunting adds an instantly jolly, holiday feel. Make your own by sewing fabric-sample triangles on to ribbon.

Decorating with shoreline textures

Rustic Wood – Whitewashed cladding on walls, simple shelving and an oak-toned tabletop provide subtle character and help the room look warm and welcoming.

Natural Linen – Rough, tactile and relaxed, choose this unbleached fabric to reupholster furniture, dress windows, or use as napkins and runners for informal dining.

How to craft a display

• Transform picture frames by colouring in calming hues. Sand them down, clean off the dust and apply a chalky matt paint (try Annie Sloan).

• When dry, prop against a wall and use to showcase your treasured pictures, postcards and seaside finds.

• Finish by adorning with beads and hang bottles holding single flower stems from the frames with twine.

Photography: Holly Joliffe