Photo of a large contemporary open plan dining in Paris with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Formal Dining Room

Meyer Design

This traditional dining room has great contrast between furnishings and architectural elements.
Photo of a large traditional kitchen/dining combo in Chicago with medium hardwood floors, blue walls, brown floor, recessed and decorative wall panelling.

Willowdale Residence May 2015

Avvio Fine Homes

This dining room is from a custom home in North York, in the Greater Toronto Area. It was designed and built by bespoke luxury custom home builder Avvio Fine Homes in 2015. The dining room is an open concept, looking onto the living room, foyer, stairs, and hall to the office, kitchen and family room. It features a waffled ceiling, wainscoting and red oak hardwood flooring. It also adjoins the servery, connecting it to the kitchen.

dining room

Rasmussen / Su Architects

Design ideas for a transitional open plan dining in Philadelphia with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and panelled walls.

Lake Okoboji Home

RLH Studio

This is an example of an expansive separate dining room in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, recessed, green floor and decorative wall panelling.

Coastal Farmhouse

Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods

Design ideas for a large country open plan dining in Other with green walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, grey floor and planked wall panelling.

Bluejack National Cottage

Monarch & Maker

This is an example of a country open plan dining in Houston with blue walls, porcelain floors, exposed beam and planked wall panelling.

Roland Park Dining Room

CTM CONSTRUCTION

Photo of a mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Baltimore with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Urban Living XXL

Walker Architects

Contemporary dining room furniture and modern wood paneling in a modern Boston loft space. John Horner Photography
Photo of a large contemporary open plan dining in Boston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Reception Room & Dining Room

Emma Tutill Ltd

Inspiration for a large traditional separate dining room in Essex with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

The Baker House

Phelps Investments

Mid-sized country open plan dining in Orange County with green walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and decorative wall panelling.

Silver Spurs

Enfort Homes

The dining room at Silver Spurs is magical. The west facing windows get incredible sunsets with horizontal evening light pouring in through the gridded windows onto the brick face surround. A 10 foot table is nearly dwarfed in this space so we opted for double pendants to fill the linear space perfectly!

Farmhouse Fresh

Everything Home

This elegant home remodel created a bright, transitional farmhouse charm, replacing the old, cramped setup with a functional, family-friendly design. In the dining area adjacent to the kitchen, an elegant oval table takes center stage, surrounded by beautiful chairs and a stunning lighting fixture, creating an inviting atmosphere for family gatherings and meals. ---Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/

Rosegate in the Riverbottoms

Raykon Construction

Transitional separate dining room in Salt Lake City with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Rénovation d'un appartement haussmannien

Atelier Nyood

salle à manger, bureau ouvert, bar, fenêtres, plantes, parquet en point de Hongrie, moulures, blanc, bois, marron, table en marbre, table tulip Knoll, cheminé en pierre, miroir, tableau, chaises en bois.

Pumphouse Lane- Dining Room

LDa Architecture & Interiors

TEAM: Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: F.H. Perry Photographer: Sean Litchfield
Photo of a mid-sized eclectic separate dining room in Boston with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and wallpaper.

Country Retreat

RICHARD FELIX-ASHMAN DESIGN

Photo of a large country open plan dining in New York with concrete floors, timber and planked wall panelling.

Soho Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space | TX

Flooret

A classic select grade natural oak. Timeless and versatile. Available in Base. he Modin Rigid luxury vinyl plank flooring collection is the new standard in resilient flooring. Modin Rigid offers true embossed-in-register texture, creating a surface that is convincing to the eye and to the touch; a low sheen level to ensure a natural look that wears well over time; four-sided enhanced bevels to more accurately emulate the look of real wood floors; wider and longer waterproof planks; an industry-leading wear layer; and a pre-attached underlayment.

CALIFORNIA CASUAL MEETS COTSWOLD COTTAGE

RJ Smith Construction

Transitional dining room in Los Angeles with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam, wood and brick walls.

Château APH

Olivier Chabaud Architecte - Paris & Luberon

Rénovation d'une salle à manger de château, monument classé à Apremont-sur-Allier dans le style contemporain.
Photo of a contemporary dining room in Other with brown walls, beige floor, exposed beam and decorative wall panelling.

All Wall Treatments Beige Dining Room Design Ideas

A dining room can be used for casual dining, integrated into an open plan and connected to the living and kitchen areas; or as a formal space reserved solely for entertaining. While it may not be used frequently, it is a great focal point in the home, and requires little furnishings. Here's what you need to consider before you start planning a new dining room...

How will you use your dining room?

First, consider how frequently you will use the space. If you plan on using your dining room on a daily basis, a casual dining set-up with sturdy, long-lasting furniture is best. As for where you position it – well, any unused space in the home can be converted into a casual dining space, whether it be at the end of a kitchen island, or at the bottom of the stairs. A formal dining room, on the other hand, is more suited to a dedicated space, which is more common in heritage homes where space originally wasn’t at a premium. Perhaps you want your dining room to multi-task and accommodate everyday meals, homework sessions and grown-up dinner parties… If that’s the case, furniture is key. Look for versatile dining tables in either Australian or New Zealand hardwood or weathered timber for a more rustic look. These won’t show up sticky fingerprints as much and can be dressed up for guests.

What size and shape should your dining table be?

Your dining table should be able to seat all family members with some room for additional guests – each person should have at least 60 centimetres of space at the table. The right size, however, also depends on how much room you have. A general rule of thumb is to leave no less than 1 metre from the dining table to the wall or any additional furniture, so people have enough room to comfortably move around the space. Rectangular dining tables are versatile and can work in a variety of settings, while oval dining tables are more traditional and can turn any meal into an occasion. If you have a tight space to work in, a round dining table is best, and also a great option if you want to encourage conversation. A square dining table can be a dramatic addition to a dining room, but only if you have the space. It allows everyone at the table to see each other, but the bigger the table, the harder it will be able to hold a conversation with someone at the other end.

What type of dining chairs should you choose?

Once you’ve decided on a dining table, look for dining chairs that share a common design element. If your dining table legs are curved, for example, try to match them with dining chairs that have a similar curve, either in the legs or back. Next, consider the dimensions of the chair. The height of your dining chairs should allow at least 30 centimetres between the top of the seat and the top of the table. And to keep your tush happy, avoid dining chairs narrower than 45 centimetres.

How can you decorate your dining room?

Dining rooms are relatively minimal spaces, but that makes them a great place to splash a little colour through artwork, especially if yours is a formal dining room. If your dining room is lacking warmth, consider painting the walls a deep shade of red or blue, or go contemporary with black or grey. A cosy rug will make the space feel more intimate, while a sideboard or cabinet of curiosities will further personalise the space. Often overlooked, dining room lighting can also drastically alter the mood of a room, creating drama, spurring romance or encouraging conversation. Opt for soft lighting in the dining area with dimmer switches, and choose oversized pendants in large, open spaces or to make the dining area more of a focal point. Finally, add some table settings, such as a lace tablecloth for a whimsy feel, or a more basic table runner for a chic look. If you need some help designing your dining room, consider checking the Houzz directory of interior designers, home stylists, cabinet makers and more!