Liven up your space with these bold decor ideas and reclaim that neglected space.

If your formal dining room is the loneliest room in your house, it's time to turn it into a comfortable everyday spot that still feels elegant enough for hosting dinner parties and holiday meals.

A few simple design upgrades can make a staid room feel fabulous, fresh, and inviting, making every night an elevated dinner party, whether you're serving one or an entire crew.

Even better, choosing your new dining room accoutrements is (almost) as simple as picking up takeout, with a one-stop shop like The Home Depot, where you can get all of your chic decor needs. Read on for bright ideas to add some much-needed flavor to your meal zone.

1. Opt for plush chairs in a bold hue.

Keep things comfy with beautifully upholstered chairs in a luxe material like velvet, which adds a touch of opulence. Going with an unexpected color choice will ensure the plush seating doesn’t remind you of your grandparents’ house.

If you're feeling particularly plucky, mix-and-match chair sets for an avant-garde look. When going that route, stick to streamlined silhouettes to keep things from looking overly busy. These mustard yellow chairs strike the perfect balance with a vivacious shade in a sleek midcentury shape that would blend well with a wide range of other styles.

2. Pair a geometric mirror with a sculptural chandelier.

Choosing a chandelier and mirror with shared materials, finishes, or design styles can achieve a sense of intentionality, so the room feels cohesive. For example, take a farmhouse-chic approach with a rustic chandelier and an arched windowpane mirror, both of which feature black metal frames.

Or find commonalities in shapes, like this space-age chandelier paired with a hexagonal gold mirror that mirrors (pun intended) its globular starburst proportions.

3. Keep a stocked bar cart—and we’re not talking about the liquor.

We trust you've got the spirits covered when it comes to your bar setup, but don't forget to make the most of that extra surface space. Not everything on your bar cart needs to be functional or even related to happy hour.

To add character, play with objects such as artistic glasses to sculptural vases to objets d'art. Vary the height and size of all the pieces to create a dynamic vignette. Adding in something organic, like flowers or a leafy houseplant, brings warmth. Freshly cut blooms would look stunning in this set of vases, or place a graceful orchid as an eye-catching accessory. For those without a green thumb, go with faux flowers.

Finally, don't neglect your flooring. Rugs are essential for pulling any room together. In this space, the half circles of the rug play off the curved shapes of the chairs, as well as the neutral tones of the patterning on the accent wall, finishing off a cohesive design scheme.

Pro tip for dining room rug shopping: Measure your table and chairs to make sure the rug is roomy enough for guests to get up and down comfortably. It should be large enough that dining chairs remain on top of it, even when they're pulled back from the dining table, to keep the legs from catching on the edge. The rug should end before it reaches all the other furniture like a bar cart or a sideboard. Think of it as an island of texture and pattern that anchors your table in the space.