Even when the dining room is really a dining area, it benefits from being treated as its own space, with a table that feels properly placed, lighting that works at any time of day, and enough detail to make even the smallest dining space feel special. Similarly, make sure you have comfortable dining chairs that your guests will be happy to sit in for hours (no one will want to stay and talk into the small hours if they’re sitting on an uncomfortable chair, however stylish it may be). Lots of savvy home stylists also include a sideboard in the dining room as a helpful place to keep tableware and glasses, and as an extra surface when you're bringing in more dishes than the table can handle.