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If you like hosting dinners and parties, making an impression on your guests is not always a question of luxury goods and big budgets. Simple ideas and well hand-picked feature items can make your dining zone more dreamy and friendly than ever. Here are 12 simple ways to enhance your dining room without breaking the bank.
An oversized piece like this antique clock makes a strong focus point and anchors the room in a very natural way. Note the treatment of the niche that reminds the walls of a cottage: this helps to create texture and a rhythm that connects to the partition played by the cupboard, the dining table and chairs. TR Building & Remodeling Inc., photo by Paul Johnson Photography, New york.
A colorful rug helps to define the dining area and makes a bold accent to focus the view toward the center of the room. Accessorize with matching colors, like these flowers and/or contrasting features like the green painting on the back wall. Design by Marcus Gleysteen Architects, Boston.
An original artwork can make a big impact on a dining room, especially when you set up its own focused lighting. This give give height to the room and set the mood instantly. A painting or a framed photography works well with a cupboard beneath. Via Signed by Tina. 
Add an off beat feature like this unexpected DIY chandelier. This won’t disturb the main theme of your decor but will sparkle curiosity from you guests. Via The Painted Home.
Ethnic and rustic items are powerful features when you balance them with white walls and a stripped down dining room layout. All the warmth of these baskets finds an echo with the table linens and accessories. Design by Jute Interior Design, San Francisco.
A feature wall, drenched by a warm color gives an anchor to a lightweight dining room furnishing. This focus point can be enhanced with an artwork with a matching color palette. Design by Jo Alcorn, Toronto. 
Open wall shelvings are a great way to show off your collections, photos or plants. They add a sense of organization and humanity, a bit like a library room. Design by Vanillawood, Portland.
Neutrals and pastel colors help to set up a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. Contemporary features likes the table and chairs add structure to the room while the abstract painting is an invitation to introspection and daydreaming. Upscale Construction, San Francisco. 
Creating contrast with colors (the picture on the wall) and texture (the white rug) is a good way to give a sense of human scale in a majestic architecture. M.S. Architecture, New York.
Bring color into a world of bright white and you’re sure to make an impression! Playing with textiles is a more subtle and feminine approach than painting an accent walls, as we saw previously. Design by Tara Seawright.
Show off your collection of posters! Here the framing is all the makes the differences. You can opt for various poster themes, but with the same frame treatment. Here the sobriety of the black frames enhances the colorful and graphic look of the pictures. Design by Shirley Meisels, Toronto.
Sometimes, a simple feature item like these quirky gourd vases is enough to draw interest to the entire room. Make sure to echo the design of your accent pieces with a few matching colors through the room, here with flowers and napkins. Design by MuseInteriors, Photo by Michael Partenio.
