7 Outdated Dining Room Styles Still Common In Massachusetts Homes

Massachusetts homes often hold onto dining room traditions that have faded elsewhere. Many Bay State homeowners cherish these nostalgic designs, even as modern trends sweep through other parts of the country. Let’s explore these persistent dining room styles that continue to grace homes from Boston to the Berkshires.

1. Colonial Cherry Wood Everything

Cherry wood dining sets remain a Massachusetts fixture despite falling out of favor nationally. These dark reddish-brown tables with matching hutches and chairs dominated the 1990s.

Many homeowners inherited these heavy, formal sets from parents or grandparents, creating sentimental attachments that trump style considerations.

2. Nautical Overkill

Rope knots, ship wheels, and lighthouse centerpieces create coastal-themed dining rooms that sailed past charming into kitschy territory years ago. Cape Cod and coastal Massachusetts homeowners particularly embrace this maritime overload.

While subtle sea touches can work beautifully, all-out nautical themes now feel more theme park than tasteful home.

3. Formal Dining Room China Cabinets

Remember when every proper Massachusetts home showcased wedding china behind glass? These towering cabinets still command dining room walls throughout the Commonwealth, though rarely opened except for holidays.

Young homebuyers typically prefer open shelving or no display storage at all, making these traditional pieces increasingly obsolete.

4. Wallpaper and Chair Rail Combos

Floral wallpaper above with contrasting paint below – separated by a wooden chair rail – screams 1980s Massachusetts dining room. This look persists in homes from Springfield to Salem.

The busy patterns and strict horizontal dividing line create visual clutter that modern design avoids. Yet many homeowners maintain this style out of tradition or postponed renovations.

5. Matching Dining Sets with Fabric-Seat Chairs

Those coordinated dining sets with identical fabric-covered chairs? Pure 1990s Massachusetts suburban charm! The floral or striped upholstery inevitably shows every spill and stain.

Contemporary homes favor mixed seating with durable, cleanable materials. But walk through an open house in Lexington or Concord, and you’ll spot these matching sets holding strong.

6. Brass and Glass Chandeliers

Glance up in Massachusetts dining rooms and you’ll spot them – those gleaming brass chandeliers with frosted glass shades. Popular during the 1980s-90s housing boom, they’re practically Massachusetts dining room birthmarks.

While modern homes embrace matte black, brushed nickel, or statement lighting, these brass fixtures stubbornly illuminate Sunday dinners across the Commonwealth.

7. Dusty Artificial Plants and Dried Arrangements

Silk flower arrangements or dried hydrangeas collecting dust atop dining room sideboards represent peak 1980s Massachusetts dining decor. These faded faux botanicals often accompany equally dated table linens and napkin rings.

While live plants and fresh flowers dominate contemporary styling, these artificial arrangements remain steadfast in many Massachusetts dining rooms.