While formal dining rooms are probably the least used room in an entire home, they have the capability of being the room that adds the most impact and style to the home. A homeowner can use the dining room to set the mood for the entire home, or can choose a theme that makes it stand out on its own. One theme that is perfect for a formal dining room is Tuscan style.

To create a Tuscan Style Dining room, the first thing you have to do is add architectural home decor elements to the room. If your dining room already has columns, you are halfway there. If your dining room does not have columns, you can have some built, or you can create a trompe l'oeil affect using wallpaper or hand painted columns. Another thing you can do to add a Tuscan feel to your dining room is to give the ceiling a decorative finish. You can have it painted to resemble clouds, or you can add a gold leaf finish.

Furniture for a Tuscan Style Dining room should resemble 18th century Italian Provincial of which you can easily find reproductions. Chairs should be richly upholstered, and lighting fixtures should have an antique bronze finish. Window treatments should be simple, but the fabrics should be luxurious.

There are numerous accessories that would go well in a Tuscan style dining room. Antique decorative sconces would be a great addition, as would this Laurel Grape Rectangle Decorative Iron Wall Plaque. At approximately 2' high x 4.5 feet wide, this wall art is on an impressive size and would serve well as a focal point in your Tuscan dining room. This cast iron wall hanging features grape vines and on a wood look frame and can be hung horizontally or vertically.

• November 2007