Probably no other element in a home affects its ‘mood’ more than color,” writes Lauren Liess in Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating (Abrams, 2015). Eliciting a sense of ease and tranquility, this blue bungalow dining area proves the cool color can also be cheerful when rendered in bright, clear tones. In our take on the space, lapis John Robshaw drapery fabric, a pair of pale aqua slipcovered dining chairs, and blue hydrangea walls create a layered, painterly effect. Mix-and-match chairs are a modern, low-key seating solution, and upholstery provides comfort during long, lingering meals. White accents, such as matching porcelain table lamps and a hand-molded ceramic platter, pop against the backdrop like clouds in a light-filled sky, while a natural fabric pendant casts a flattering glow. The result? A perfect mix of elegant and ahhh.

In Lauren Liess’s Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating, natural textures such as wood and linen ground a cheerful blue bungalow dining room.