It's been more than 20 years since Frances Mayes published her best-selling memoir Under the Tuscan Sun which culminated in the Diane Lane film, sparking Tuscan villa fantasies the world over. Those dreams of restoring a villa in the Tuscan countryside may have faded for most of us, but that love for this charming, old-world style certainly hasn't.

Here, stylist Allira Bell shows how to bring Tuscan flavours into your dining room, without any of the ornate heaviness that we once associated with the style in the nineties.

1. Take your cue from the sunbaked colours of the Tuscan hills, and fill your space with earthy ochre, olive green, deep brown and golden yellows. While warm colours should dominate your palette, it's worth adding some cooler hues to balance out the look. Royal blue and sky blue make a lovely contrast with the terracotta tones.

 
 
2. Even if you don't have an archway, you can allude to the curves in your space with a round dining table or curvy sculptural ornaments.

   
 
3. Keep it simple and rustic with a timber dining table and wood and timber dining chairs. If you enjoy entertaining and have the space, a long rectangular wooden table is fantastic for long lazy lunches. Wrought iron dining sets also work the part.
 
   
 
4. Bring old-world charm with an iron, gold or bronze chandelier or, if you prefer something less ornate, consider a simple drop pendant light that's not too modern. We chose a wood beaded pendant for its chandelier shape and natural textures. 

   
 
5. Set the table with a stoneware dinner set and linen napkins in organic shapes, and don't worry if things don't perfectly match. 

   
 
6. Decorate your table setting with produce evocative of Italy - think vividly coloured fruit like lemons and truss tomatoes.

   
 
   
 
7. You may not have a pergola shrouded in grapevines, but you can still allude to the charm of the Tuscan landscape with potted rosemary trees and olive trees.